Chair: William R. Green
B. L. Berwin (Microbiology and Immunology), D. J. Bzik (Microbiology and Immunology), A. Cheung (Microbiology and Immunology), J. R. Conejo-Garcia (Norris Cotton Cancer Center, and Microbiology and Immunology), M. W. Fanger (Microbiology and Immunology), S. N. Fiering (Microbiology and Immunology, and Genetics), J. D. Gorham (Pathology, and Microbiology and Immunology), W. R. Green (Microbiology and Immunology), W. F. Hickey (Pathology, and Microbiology and Immunology), D. A. Hogan (Microbiology and Immunology), L. H. Kasper (Medicine, and Microbiology and Immunology), R. J. Noelle (Microbiology and Immunology), G. A. O'Toole (Microbiology and Immunology), W. R. Rigby (Medicine, and Microbiology and Immunology), C. L. Sentman, (Microbiology and Immunology), P. R. Sundstrom (Microbiology and Immunology), R. K. Taylor (Microbiology and Immunology), M. J. Turk (Norris Cotton Cancer Center, and Microbiology and Immunology), E. J. Usherwood (Microbiology and Immunology), W. F. Wade (Microbiology and Immunology).
The Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology is administered by the Microbiology and Immunology Department of Dartmouth Medical School. To qualify for award of the Ph.D. degree in Microbiology and Immunology (M/I), a student must fulfill the following requirements:
1. Satisfactory completion of an intensive three-term course in cell and molecular biology and biochemistry - Biochemistry 101, Genetics 102, Biochemistry 103, a one-term teaching assignment, and a three-term course in laboratory experience in Microbiology and Immunology, including cell and molecular biology. The last will consist of three small research projects, conducted in rotation with different faculty members for periods of approximately three months.
2. Satisfactory completion of three other graduate level courses from the approved list of course offerings.
3. Attendance at, and participation in, the weekly seminar series and journal club of the Program.
4. Participation in the weekly Research in Progress (RIP) series.
5. Satisfactory completion of an oral qualifying examination.
6. Satisfactory completion of a significant research project, and preparation of a thesis describing this research.
7. Successful defense of the thesis in an oral examination, and presentation of the work in a Seminar.
The courses listed below are primarily designed for graduate students. The student should decide, in consultation with his/her committee and course instructors, whether his/her background is appropriate for the content of the course.
142. Advanced Cellular and Molecular Immunology
06F: Arrange Offered in alternate years
Advanced immunology including contemporary topics of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Development and differentiation, lymphoid sub-populations, cell cooperation, cytokines, immunogenetics and major histocompatibility restriction, antigen receptor systems, antigen processing pathways, clinical aspects, including the interactions of retroviruses, particularly the AIDS (HIV) virus, with the immune system, and the use of immunologic systems to study gene regulation, receptor-ligand interactions, and other fundamental molecular processes.
Lectures and discussion. Prerequisite: Biochemistry 102 or an equivalent, or permission of the instructor. Noelle and associates.
145. Human Genetics (Identical to Genetics 145)
07S: Arrange Offered in alternate years
This course will consider the structure, organization and function of the human genome, with an emphasis on how human genetics will develop now that the genome of humans and many other organisms have been sequenced. The mouse and other model organisms will also be discussed in regard to how they may genetically differ or be similar to humans. The course will have two sessions a week (110 minute sessions). Each session will cover a specific topic and for most sessions the topic will be presented by one of the students enrolled in the course.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Fiering.
146. Immunotherapy
08S: Arrange Offered in alternate years
This course will consider both basic scientific and therapeutic aspects of three important areas of immunology: vaccination, tumor immunology, and autoimmunity. The vaccination module will consider current vaccination strategies and new advances in vaccinology. The tumor immunology module will consider the challenges of tumor antigen identification and mechanism of delivery to the immune system to combat malignancies. Autoimmunity will be discussed to describe basic mechanisms behind the disease and what can be done to modulate the immune response to prevent or treat such diseases. Sessions will consist of a faculty-lead discussion of the primary literature relating to each topic, interspersed with student lead presentations on selected areas.
Prerequisite: A previous immunology course and/or permission of an instructor. Usherwood and associates.
148. Advanced Molecular Pathogenesis
07F: Arrange Offered in alternate years
An advanced course in molecular pathogenesis with emphasis on genetic aspects of host-microbe interactions and modern model genetic systems for the study of important human pathogens. Each session will begin with a 50- to 80-minute lecture pertaining to the topic area and will be followed by a 1.5- to 2-hour discussion of current papers (assigned reading) pertaining to the topic area. Discussion of the assigned reading for a particular session centers around a set of questions developed by the student presenter in collaboration with the instructor and based upon a short written report that the student has prepared on the topic.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Bzik, Cheung, and associates.
149. Emerging Model Systems in Microbiology: Using Molecular and Genetic Approaches to Study Complex Systems
07S: Arrange Offered in alternate years
This course uses the discussion of emerging model systems to illustrate important concepts in microbiology. The format will combine lectures and the discussion of primary literature/review articles-similar to the format of the Molecular Pathogenesis course (M/I 148). An important goal of the course is to introduce graduate students to potential topics for post-doctoral research and to some of the faculty that work in these areas. Each course period will focus on an individual topic in some depth. Students will present a one-hour lecture followed by leading a one-hour discussion of papers related to the topic of the day. Students will be expected to present papers in one class (which have been selected and compiled), and discuss these papers in the context of material covered in the lecture portion of the class. Guests will include 2-3 people from the Microbiology and Immunology Seminar Series who work on model systems discussed in the class. The schedule of the course will be arranged such that the papers are discussed the week before the visiting speaker's seminar. The students will meet with the speaker immediately after the seminar for an informal discussion and reception. Attending this discussion/reception will be required for the students in the class, but open to any students that want to attend.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. O'Toole.
167. Molecular Pathogenesis of Fungi and Parasites (Identical to Biology 67)
07W, 08W: 2A
Lectures and discussion about the biology, ecology, genetics, biochemistry and pathology of eukaryotic pathogens which are important causes of infectious diseases. Biochemical similarities between mammalian host cells and eukaryotic pathogens limit options for therapeutic strategies, challenge drug discovery efforts and heighten the impact of drug resistant organisms. The course emphasizes fungi which are major pathogens in AIDS and other immunosuppressed patients and will touch on parasites such as malaria which devastate human populations world-wide.
Prerequisite: Biology 45 (Molecular Biology) and Biology 46 (Microbiology) or equivalent Biology 40 (Biochemistry I) and Biology 42 (Immunology) are recommended. Sundstrom.
169. Supervised Teaching in Microbiology and Immunology
All terms: Arrange
This course is required for all graduate students, based on the assertion that an essential element of graduate education is the experience gained in teaching other students. Such teaching experience is of particular relevance to students interested in academic careers. Students will conduct laboratory or discussion sessions in undergraduate courses under the supervision of the course faculty. The faculty and student teaching assistant work very closely to develop lab and discussion assignments. In some cases, the students are encouraged to present lectures for which they receive detailed feedback on their teaching style. In all cases students will receive instruction on effective teaching techniques through weekly preparation sessions. Topics for discussion include how to teach the material, how to run a discussion, how to evaluate student responses, and grading. Performance will be monitored throughout the term and appropriate evaluation, coupled with detailed suggestions for improvement, will be provided. This course is not open to undergraduates. Prerequisite: At least one year of graduate study. Staff of the Program.
197. Graduate Research I: Level I
All terms: Arrange
An original individual experimental or theoretical investigation beyond the undergraduate level in Microbiology and Immunology. This course is open only to graduate students, prior to passing their qualifying exam; it may be elected for credit more than once. This course carries one course credit and should be elected by students conducting research and also electing two or more other graduate or undergraduate courses. Staff of the Program.
198. Graduate Research I: Level II
All terms: Arrange
An original individual experimental or theoretical investigation beyond the undergraduate level in Microbiology and Immunology. This course is open only to graduate students, prior to passing their qualifying exam; it may be elected for credit more than once. This course carries two course credits and should be elected by students electing only departmental colloquia in addition to research. Staff of the Program.
199. Graduate Research I: Level III
All terms: Arrange
An original individual experimental or theoretical investigation beyond the undergraduate level in Microbiology and immunology. This course is open only to graduate students, prior to passing their qualifying exam; it may be elected for credit more than once. This course carries three course credits and should be elected by students conducting research exclusively in any one term. Staff of the Program.
264, 265, 271. Graduate Research Colloquium in Microbiology and Immunology
F, W, S: Arrange
All students must take a journal club/RIP course during each term of residence, except summer. An essential element of scientific training is in the critical analysis and communication of experimental research in an oral format. Evaluation will be based on quality of the work described, quality of critical analysis, and on presentation style, including effective use of audio-visual materials. All students will be required to participate in at least one Journal Club/Research in Progress series. Although minor variations in format exist among the several series, all students will make oral presentations that describe work from the current literature. Normally these series meet every other week for two hours. This course is not open to undergraduates.
M/I 264. Immunology
M/I 265. Molecular Pathogenesis
M/I 271. Chromatin Structure
297. Graduate Research II: Level I
All terms: Arrange
An original individual experimental or theoretical investigation beyond the undergraduate level in Microbiology and immunology. This course is open only to graduate students, subsequent to passing their qualifying exam; it may be elected for credit more than once. This course carries one course credit and should be elected by students conducting research and also electing two or more other graduate or undergraduate courses. Mentor from the Program.
298. Graduate Research II: Level II
All terms: Arrange
An original individual experimental or theoretical investigation beyond the undergraduate level in Microbiology and Immunology. This course is open only to graduate students, subsequent to passing their qualifying exam; it may be elected for credit more than once. This course carries two course credits and should be elected by students electing only departmental colloquia in addition to research. Mentor from the Program.
299. Graduate Research II: Level III
All terms: Arrange
An original individual experimental or theoretical investigation beyond the undergraduate level in Microbiology and Immunology. This course is open only to graduate students, subsequent to passing their qualifying exam; it may be elected for credit more than once. This course carries three course credits and should be elected by students conducting research exclusively in any one term. Mentor from the Program.