Eukaryotic Pathogens

Biol 46

Instructor: Steven Goldsmith, MS 314, ext 2204, box 61611; Office hours: TTh 1:30pm - 3:00pm

Course Content: This course is an introduction to the structure, physiology, life cycles, and pathogenicity of the pathogenic eukaryotic organisms. These include the protists (e.g. malaria, African sleeping sickness, espundia), fungi (e.g. thrush, histoplasmosis, rusts), and animals (e.g. schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, scabies). Emphasis will be on important pathogens of humans and domestic animals, but the course will include information on diseases of economically important plants.

Sources of Information: There are several sources of information in this course. The textbook is Roberts and Janovy, Foundations of Parasitology, 6th ed. This book provides a large volume of current information, primarily on protist and animal parasites of humans. Because there is a large volume of information in the textbook, I will try to focus your attention on certain organisms and processes through the material presented in the lectures. I will also discuss processes that are not covered thoroughly in the textbook; therefore your attendance at each class meeting will be imperative for satisfactory performance. The other required "textbook" is a field guide to words, the Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms by Borror. This book will be very useful as you hoe through the many new terms that it will be necessary to learn. It is easier to remember terms and their spelling when you understand their derivation and meaning. The laboratory (see below) is another primary source of information. This is where you will learn much of the practical information about the structure, function, taxonomy, and life cycles of the organisms that we study. There will be considerable integration of lecture and lab material. You may be asked to provide specific examples of organisms or structures on lecture exams; this information will often be part of your lab experiences.

Grading: Grades in this course will be based on four written examinations, two laboratory practical examinations (described below), and laboratory quizzes (described below). The written exams are scheduled for Friday, 1 March, Monday, 1 April, Wednesday, 17 April, and Friday, 17 May. The last exam is not comprehensive, but is at the time scheduled for our final. Each written exam is worth 80 points. The exams will be partly objective and partly essay, and will cover structure, function, taxonomy, pathogenic effects and symptoms, treatment and epidemiology, ecology, vectors and mode of transmission, and life cycle. If you have a conflict with a scheduled exam, please see me before the exam is given; I am usually willing to be flexible within reasonable limits. If you must miss an exam for reasons that are beyond your control (illness, injury, family emergency), please contact me before the exam is administered to discuss options. Missed exams, including the practical exams, without a valid reason may not be made up.
 

Grading summary:	Lecture exams	320 points
	Lab practical exams	140 points
	Lab quizzes	60 points
	Total	520 points

At the end of the course, each student will have accumulated a total number of points which will be a proportion of the total possible. These proportions are converted to letter grades as follows:
 

100% - 92.5% = A	87.4% - 82.5% = B	77.4% - 72.5% = C	67.4% - 62.5% = D
92.5% - 90.0% = A-	82.4% - 80.0% = B-	72.4% - 70.0% = C-	62.4% - 60.0% = D-
89.9% - 87.5% = B+	79.9% - 77.5% = C+	69.9% - 67.5% = D+	59.9% - 0% = F

 

Academic Integrity: I assume that you have read, understand, and abide by the Statement on Academic Integrity as published in the student handbook Environment. An important activity of scientists and students of science is the exchange and constructive criticism of information and ideas. I encourage you to share information and ideas with one another, and to work together in learning the material presented in this course. I expect, however, to see only your own work on exams and laboratory exercises.
 
 

Laboratory: The laboratory for this course consists of a series of exercises that are designed to acquaint you with the structure, function, taxonomy, life cycle, and in some cases the physiological capabilities of a variety of pathogenic organisms. During each laboratory session, a number of preparations will be available in the lab. The most prevalent will be prepared slides of various stages in the life cycle (including eggs, larvae or juveniles, adults, etc.), and preserved specimens for some of the larger organisms. Details of life cycles, and the importance of the life cycle in transmission of the pathogen, will be emphasized in the lab. During one laboratory, we will take a field trip to observe the effect of eukaryotic decomposers (mostly insects) on mammalian corpses.

Information on procedures to be followed in the lab, and on techniques for making sketches, is provided on a separate handout. The handout on "Use and care of microscopes" for the first lab session also includes information on lab procedures.

In general, our activities in the lab will include the following:

Laboratory Outline

Mon 4 Feb	Lab 1: Microscope structure and use; slide preparation practice
Mon 11 Feb	Lab 2: Protista: Sarcodina, Retortamonada: Entamoeba, Giardia, Naegleria, etc. Preparation of slides from living protist cultures
Mon 18 Feb	Lab 3: Protista: Euglenozoa: Trypanosoma, Leishmania, etc. Preparation of slides from living protist cultures
Mon 25 Feb	Lab 4: Protista: Apicomplexa: Plasmodium, Gregarina, etc. Ciliophora: Balantidium, etc. Preparation of slides from living protist cultures
Mon 4 March	Lab 5: Fungi: Rusts, molds, etc.; examine pathogenic fungus cultures Preparation of slides from non-pathogenic fungus cultures
Mon 18 March	Lab 6: Catch-up day for lectures
Mon 25 March	Lab 7: Practical Exam (covers material from labs 2 through 5) Practical begins at 3:00
Mon 1 April	Lab 8: Cnidaria: Jellyfish, etc.; Hydra nematocysts Platyhelminthes: Trematodes: Clonorchis, Paragonimus, Schistosoma, etc., including life cycle stages
Mon 8 April	Lab 9: Platyhelminthes: Cestodes: Diphyllobothrium, Dipylidium, Taenia, etc.including life cycle stages
Mon 15 April	Lab 10: Nematoda: Ascaris, Trichinella, Ancylostoma, etc. Annelida: Hirudo, other leeches
Mon 22 Apr	Lab 11: Forensic entomology field trip
Mon 29 April	Lab 12: Chelicerata: mites, ticks, scabies Mandibulata: ectoparasites (fleas, lice), parasitoids (bot flies, etc.) examine specimens and analyze data from field trip
Mon 6 May	Lab 13: Practical Exam (covers material from labs 8 through 12) Practical begins at 3:00