Spring 2011, 3 credits

Tues/Thurs. 9:30-10:45 am 

Instructor:        Dr. Michele M. Klingbeil

Office:             Morrill IV Room 222

Office hours:   By appointment

Phone:             577-3823

Email:              klingbeil@microbio.umass.edu

Class website: www.bio.umass.edu/micro/klingbeil/320/

Prerequisites:   MICROBIO310, Introductory biology course

Text:                How the Immune System Works, 3rd Edition. L. Sompayrac 2008

ISBN 978-1-4051-6221-0 (try for used copies first)

Additional Materials: There will be numerous review articles and additional reading items regarding
                                  pathogens and mechanisms used to avoid the immune response.

                                  These items will always be accessible through the class webpage (see above).

Infectious diseases are still an important threat to our global health and economy, and represent one of the leading causes of death world wide. The last few decades have brought even more challenges with new and

re-emerging infectious diseases. How does our body fend of these invaders...or does it?

Course Description:

Infectious Disease and Defense is a sophomore/junior level lecture course designed to provide students of microbiology and biology with a basic understanding of the mechanisms by which microorganisms, including bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses, infect animals and plants and cause disease, and the mechanisms of host defense against infectious microbes. Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases of plants and animals and development of resistance to antimicrobial chemicals will also be discussed.

Specific Course Objectives: This is a content-heavy course; the primary learning objective is therefore mainly to learn the course content. At the end of the course, students are expected to:

      •   Know the basic components of the immune system.

      •   Be able to outline host mechanisms during defense against pathogens.

      •   Be able to outline host mechanisms when the immune system fails.

      •   To gain insight into research on infectious agents and mechanisms of pathogenesis.

      •   Know biological mechanisms of pathogen evasion among selected major pathogen groups.

      •   Understand the global importance of infectious diseases.

Grading: Your grade will be based on 3 exams, study questions, and 4 case studies. All the exams will be partially comprehensive, but will emphasize topics under current discussion. Each exam will consist of multiple choice/ matching/true-false/fill-in questions. Additionally, each exam will have several short essay questions. Your factual knowledge as well as your ability to apply that knowledge will be tested. Final grades will be determined on a percentage basis, and may take into account overall class performance and score distribution. However an overall percentage of 50% or lower is guaranteed a non-passing grade.

TENTATIVE Schedule for Exams

NOTE: you will be able to DROP ONE EXAM.

Therefore, there will be NO MAKE-UPS for missed exams.

How to do well in this course:

1.  Read assigned materials ahead of class time.   This will open up more opportunities for class discussion and questions.

2.  Keep a list of example pathogens and all the new terminology you learn during the course of your readings.

3.  Come to class and be an active learner.  My role is to aid you in acquiring information and to help you “think and learn for yourself.”

4.  Study regularly throughout the semester.  Easier said than done.

5. Please take the Academic dishonesty policy seriously.

The following website provides details on Academic Honesty:

http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/

If students are caught engaging in ANY of the examples of Academic dishonesty
listed under Appendix B, the student WILL RECEIVE a failing grade in the class.