DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR GENETICS

Building B, Room 240, Medical Sciences I; (949) 824-5261
Rozanne M. Sandri-Goldin, Department Chair
Marian L. Waterman, Department Vice Chair

Faculty

Hoda Anton-Culver: Epidemiology studies

Ruslan D. Aphasizhev: Molecular parasitology and biochemistry of RNA editing

Alan G. Barbour: Microbial pathogenesis and ecology of infectious diseases

K. George Chandy: Potassium channels; structure, function and therapeutics

Dennis D. Cunningham: Proteases and protease nexins: regulation of neural cells

Michael Demetriou: The molecular biology and glycobiology of T cell dysfunction in organ-specific autoimmunity

Alan L. Goldin: Molecular analysis of ion channels and their roles in human diseases

Sidney H. Golub: Immunology of human cancer; science policy and ethics

George A. Gutman: Potassium channel and immunoglobulin super-family genes

G. Wesley Hatfield: Computational biology, effects of DNA topology on gene expression

Klemens J. Hertel: Regulation of gene expression by alternative splicing

Anthony A. James: Genetic manipulation of insect vectors; control of transmission of dengue and malaria

Janos K. Lanyi: Structure and function in bacterial rhodopsins

Masayasu Nomura: RNA polymerase I; nucleous and ribosome synthesis; nuclear structure and function

Andre J. Ouellette: Mechanisms of innate immunity in the mammalian intestinal epithelium

W. Edward Robinson: Molecular pathogenesis of lentivirus infection and drug discovery against HIV

Suzanne Sandmeyer: Retrovirus-like elements in yeast

Rozanne M. Sandri-Goldin: Regulatory functions of a post-transcriptionally acting herpes virus protein

Michael E. Selsted: Innate immunity mediated by phagocytic leukocytes and mucosal epithelium

Bert L. Semler: Replication and translation of picornavirus RNAs; RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions

Eric J. Stanbridge: Tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes in human cancer

Ming Tan: Bacterial pathogenesis; gene regulation in Chlamydia

Marian L. Waterman: WNT signaling in cancer and lymphocytes

The Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics provides advanced training to individuals interested in the regulation of gene expression and the structural and functional properties of proteins encoded by these genes. The research in the Department covers a wide range of topics with special emphasis on: bacterial gene expression and pathogenesis; viral gene expression and host interactions; trypanosome molecular biology; vector-borne malaria and dengue fever transmission; nuclear-cytoplasmic transport and intracellular signaling; eukaryotic gene expression; mRNA splicing, editing, and processing; cancer genetics and tumor suppressors; ion channel expression and function; genomics and bioinformatics.

The Department offers graduate study under the auspices of the School of Biological Sciences and in conjunction with the program in Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry (MBGB), which is described in a previous section. Students admitted into the MBGB program who select a research advisor in the Department begin following the departmental requirements for the Ph.D. at the beginning of their second year.

Participation in the Department's seminar series and completion of at least one advanced topics course per year for three years are expected of all students. In their third year, students take the advancement-to-candidacy examination for the Ph.D. degree by presenting and defending an original proposal for specific dissertation research. The normative time for completion of the Ph.D. is five years, and the maximum time permitted is seven years.

Courses in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics

200A-B-C Research in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (2 to 12 per quarter) F, W, S. Individual research supervised by a particular professor. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.

201A-B-C Research Topics in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (1-1-1) F, W, S. Lecture and seminar. Seminars presented by graduate students and faculty of the Department which explore research topics in specialized areas of microbiology and molecular genetics. Opportunity for students to gain experience in the organization, critical evaluation, and oral presentation of current research developments. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

203A-B-C Advanced Studies in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (1-1-1) F, W, S. Organized within each laboratory group, one to four hours. Advanced study in areas related to faculty research interests. Involves small group study based on readings, discussions, and guest speakers. May be conducted as journal clubs. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. May be repeated for credit.

205A-B-C Basic Immunology Core Lectures (1-1-1) F, W, S. Basic concepts in human immunology including development of the immune system, innate immunity, immunoglobulin structure and genetics, antigen-antibody reactions, the major histocompatibility complex and antigen presentation, T cell and B cell development, initiation of the immune response, effector mechanisms. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

210A Medical Microbiology (4) Lecture, five hours; laboratory, three hours. Advanced course for medical students in the School of Medicine. Biochemical and genetic properties of infectious agents, identification and behavior of pathogens, activities of toxins, chemotherapy, biochemical genetics of drug resistance, humoral and cell-mediated immunity, introduction to diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology of infectious diseases. Prerequisites: prior course work in microbiology and biochemistry and consent of instructor.

210B Medical Immunology (6) Lecture, five hours; laboratory, three hours. Covers the cellular and molecular basis of immune responsiveness and the roles of the immune system in both maintaining health and contributing to disease. Material is presented in lectures, clinical correlates, and printed core notes. Includes three required Patient-Oriented Problem Solving (POPS) sessions. Prerequisite: UCI medical students only. Graduate students require consent of course director and must enroll through the Department.

215 Fundamental Immunology I (4) F. Lecture/seminar, three hours. Discussion and student presentation with the aim of achieving a basic understanding of the haematopoietic system, and the cellular and molecular basis of adaptive immunity. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

216 Pathogenic Microbiology (4) F. Lecture, four hours. Biochemical and genetic properties of infectious agents; identification and behavior of pathogens; activities of toxins; the chemotherapy, biochemistry, and genetics of drug resistance; and epidemiology of infectious diseases. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

219 Medical Virology (4) F. Lecture, four hours. Animal viruses as disease causing agents, including mechanisms of infection at both the cellular and organismic levels. Topics include comparative studies of different groups of viruses, viral transformation, and mechanisms of viral gene expression. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

221 Immunopathogenic Mechanisms of Disease (3) W. Examination of the mechanisms underlying disease states mediated by immune dysregulation. Topics include innate and adaptive immunity, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, inflammatory disorders, and certain infectious diseases. Emphasis on biological basis of immunopathologies taught from reports in the original scientific literature. Prerequisite: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 215. Same as Pathology 221.

222 Molecular Pathogenesis of Viral Infections (4) S. Features lectures by faculty on the molecular aspects of viral pathogensis, highlighting both viral and cellular functions. Students give oral presentations and write a research proposal on a selected topic. Prerequisite: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 205.

225 Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease (3) S. Provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms of human diseases, including neurologic, hematologic, neoplastic, and infectious diseases. Students gain an understanding of these mechanisms, as well as models of human diseases. Same as Pathology 225.

230 Ethical and Political Issues of Embryonic Stem Cell Policy (4) S. Science policy and how it is created in the U.S.A. Focuses on human embryonic stem cell policy politics and ethics. Designed for graduate students in the sciences.

240 M.D./Ph.D. Tutorial (1) F, W, S. Explores a variety of topics that impact careers of medical scientists (M.D./Ph.D students). Topics range from scientific, such as recent advances in particular research areas, to ethical problems brought on by increased technology and intervention in the disease process. May be repeated for credit.

250 Responsible Conduct of Research (2) S. Each session includes a formal presentation by faculty/invited speaker followed by a discussion of case studies related to the topic under consideration. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

280A-B-C Tutorial in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (2-2-2) F, W, S. Tutorial, two hours. Presented by various members of the faculty; relates current laboratory research to the literature.

292A-B-C Scientific Communication (2-2-2) F, W, S. Seminar, two hours. Small group meetings for graduate students to practice scientific writing, debate, and presentation skills. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. May be repeated for credit.