The graduate departmental courses are designed to provide an advanced, comprehensive training on the skills required for working with microorganisms, as well as an extensive understanding of all aspects of microbial life.
MICR 5000: Thesis
A student studying for the MS degree enrolls in this course for six hours credit
2-6 credits, Max 6
Permission from major professor required
MICR 5002: Professionalism for the Microbiologist
Introduces the microbiology graduate student to the standards of the microbiology professional and to basic skills in communication and data retrieval needed by all microiologists.
Required of all MS and Ph.D. students in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.
*Microbiology graduate student and permission from instructor
MICR 5012: Molecular Microbiology Laboratory I
Emphasis on good laboratory practices in microbiology and molecular biology; isolation and enumeration of microorganisms; physiological, biochemical, and molecular characterization of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 3223, 4233
*Must be taken in conjunction with MICR 5112 the following semester. No credit for student with MICR 4012.
MICR 5052: Techniques in Molecular Biology
Provides the basic skills for scientific thinking and analysis in molecular microbiological research.
Permission from Instructor required
MICR 5053: Pathogenic Microbiology
Survey of pathogenic bacteria and the diseases they cause as they relate to humans and animals. Morphology, physiology, and pathogenic mechanisms of specific bacterial pathogens.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 2123, 2132; Co-requisite(s): MICR 3223
*No credit for students with credit in 4053.
MICR 5112: Molecular Microbiology Laboratory II
A continuation of 5012, molecular characterization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms utilizing nucleic acids, proteins, cell fractionation, cytology, and antigen-antibody reactions.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 5012
*No credit for students with MICR 4112.
MICR 5113: Advanced Immunology
Advanced studies with emphasis on the regulation of vertebrate immune responses.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 3253
MICR 5123: Virology
Virus-host interactions including structure-function of animal, plant, and bacterial viruses. Discussion of the molecular biology of virus infection and development.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 3033/BIOC 3653, BIOL 3023; Co-requisite: MICR 3223
*No credit for students with MICR 4123
MICR 5133: Molecular and Microbial Genetics
The properties of macromolecules, from the structure of proteins and nucleic acids to molecular mechanisms of DNA replication and recombination, transcription, protein syntehsis, and gene regulation. Gene transfter mechanisms in bacteria and their viruses. Fundamentals of recombinant DNA technology.
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 3023, CHEM 3053, MICR 2123, 2132; Co-requisite: MICR 3223
*No credit for students with MICR 4133.
{sldier MICR 5142: Techniques in Molecular Biology}
Comprehensive laboratory course in research techniques involving classical genetics and molcular biology.
Permission of Instructor required
MICR 5153: Emerging Infectious Agents
An in-depth discussion of the importance of emerging infectious agents, the molecular basis for their emergence, and the broad spectrum of host-microbe interactions favoring the evolution of new infectious agents.
No Prerequisite(s)
MICR 5160: Seminar
Required of and limited to all MS and PhD students majoring in microbiology, cell and molecular biology.
1 credit, Max of 2
Permission from Instructor required
MICR 5203: Bioinformatics
Fundamental concepts of biological sequence information and inferential techniques to assign structure, function, and evolutionary relationship among genes and proteins. No prior programming necessary, but familiarity with computer desktop assumed.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 3033, BIOC 3653 or equivalent
*No credit for students with credit in 4203.
MICR 5213: Enviornmental Microbiology
Microbial processes and diversity. Fundamental and applied aspects of microbial ecology, physiology, energetics, and mechanisms of energy conservation. Microbial transformation of organic, inorganic, and pollutant compounds, and bioremediation. Study of modern molecular tools for the detection of microbes in the natural environment.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 3223, BIOC 3653, or equivalent
MICR 5214: Microbial Ecology (L)
Fundamentals of microbial physiology and genetics of microbial populations under various redox conditions. Species and functional guilds in natural habitat. Community structure and diversity of niches. Population interactions, competition and ecosystem stability. Metabolic activities in natural and managed systems. Microbial capacities and elemental cyclings. Genes and genetic exchange in the environment. Modern nucleic acid tools in microbial identification and evolutionary phylogeny.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 2123, 2132, CHEM 3015 or 3053; Co-requisite: MICR 3223
*No credit for students with credit in 4214.
MICR 5233: Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology
Advanced topics in cell and molecular biology including regulatory mechanisms of gene expression, protein function, cell structure and organization, cell division, and development.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 3033
*No credit for students with credit in 4233.
MICR 5253: Concepts in Medical Genetics
Application of genetic principles in the study of human diseases, including the inheritance, molecular mechanisms, detection, characterization, and discovery of human genes.
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 3023
*No credit for students with credit in 4253.
MICR 5263: Eukaryotic Genetics
Integration of genetics and genomics principles, the basic processes of gene transmission, molecular biology of gene expression and evolutionary genetics by gaining social and historical context in which genetics are developed. Participants are expected to comprehend the dramatic change in our understanding of human genetics and the role such information has in our view of disability and disease.Prerequisite(s): MICR 3033
*No credit for students with credit in 4263.
MICR 5273: Advanced Principles of Microbial Pathogenesis
Familiarize students to the literature, techniques, and fundamental mechanisms used by microbes during infection that enable them to invade, survive, replicate and ultimately manipulate the host to the microbes advantage.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 3223
MICR 5323: Bioenergetics
Bioenergetic reactions and mechanisms involved in energy production in plants, animals and microbial systems.Prerequisite(s): MICR 3033 or BIOC 3653
*No credit for students with credit in 4323.
MICR 5353: Photobiology
The proteins and processes involved in biological photosynthesis, photosensing, and photodamage, including their biological relevance. Involves critical reading of primary literature and examination of protein structures using bioinformatics tools.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 3033 or BIOC 3653
No credit for students with credit in 4353.
MICR 5423: Bacterial Cell Walls - Form and Function
Topics will include structure and synthesis of membrane and cell wall components (including lipids, peptidoglycan and membrane proteins), mechanisms of transport across the cell wall and the roles components of the cell wall play in the survival of the cell (and in the case of pathogens, the ability to cause disease). In addition, antimicrobial agents that affect the cell wall and the mechanisms used to eliminate these agents from the cell will also be discussed
Prerequisite(s): MICR 2123, 2132, 3223
*No credit for students with credit in 4423.
MICR 5990: Special Problems
Investigations into the field of microbiology.
1-4 credits, Max of 10
Permission from Instructor required
MICR 6000: Dissertation
Research in microbiology for the Ph.D. degree.
1-15 credits, Max of 45
Permission from major advisor required
MICR 6112: Molecular Biology of Bacterial Viruses
Advanced study of bacteriophages.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 4123, 4133
MICR 6120: Recent Advances in Microbiology: Discussion and evaluation of recent scientific contributions in terms of the living organism.
1 credit, Max of 6
Prerequisite(s): 1 graduate course in biochemistry
MICR 6133: Cellular Microbiology
The molecular interactions between intracellular parasites and their host cells will be explored, emphasizing the manipulation of normal cellular processes to the benefit of the parasite. The course will involve critical reading of the current literature and development of an understanding of molecular microbe and cell biology research techniques.
*A strong background of undergraduate microbiology, biochemistry, and cell biology is expected.
MICR 6143: Advanced Microbial Physiology
Discussion of selected topics in microbial physiology. Critical analysis of research papers.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 3223
Permission from Instructor required
MICR 6153: Molecular Microbial Genetics
Structure, function and regulation of nucleic acids. Gene transfer mechanisms, genetic recombination and plasmid biology. Recent developments in recombinant DNA technology.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 4133
MICR 6213: Molecular Microbial Ecology
Current questions and recent advances in molecular microbial ecology methodologies and approaches, examination of the phylogenetic and metabolic diversity of Bacteria, Archaea, and microeukaryotics in various ecosystems, microbial community composition and ecophysiology in selected habitats, identification of rare members of the microbial community.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 3223 or permission from Instructor
MICR 6253: Microbial Evolution
The mechanisms and results of microbial evolution in nature and in the laboratory, with emphasis on microbes as model evolutionary systems, molecular evolution, classification and phylogeny, and discussion of protobiology and the probable fate of engineered microbes.
Prerequisite(s): MICR 2132, 2123, BIOC 3653, BIOL 3023
MICR 6304: Genetics of Simple Eukaryotes
In-depth discussion of lessons learned from simple eukaryotes such as S. cerevisiae (yeast), A. nidulans (fungus), D. melanogaster (fly) and C. elegans (worm).
*Solid grasp of basic cellular maintenance and propagation processes and consent of instructor.