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 (Joint): Cancer epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, statistical genetics, molecular genetics and medical informatics
Ruslan D. Aphasizhev: Molecular biology of trypanosomes; mitochondrial RNA editing
Alan G. Barbour: Molecular pathogenesis and immunology of vector-borne infections
Emiliana Borrelli: Dopaminergic system and glial cells in CNS development
K. George Chandy (Joint): Role of potassium channels in lymphocyte function and disease
Dennis D. Cunningham: Proteases and protease nexins: regulation of neural cells
Michael Demetriou (Joint): The molecular biology and glycobiology of T cell dysfunction in organ-specific autoimmunity
Alan L. Goldin: Molecular analysis of ion channel function and its roles in human diseases
Sidney H. Golub: Regulation of cytotoxic cell functions
George A. Gutman: Potassium channel and immunoglobulin super-family genes
G. Wesley Hatfield: Effects of DNA topology and chromosome structure on gene expression
Klemens J. Hertel: Regulation of gene expression by alternative splicing
Anthony A. James: Methods for controlling the transmission of vector-borne diseases, specifically malaria and dengue fever
Janos K. Lanyi (Joint): Bacteriorhodopsin; halorhodopsin; light-driven ion pumps
Masayasu Nomura (Joint): RNA Polymerase I; nucleolus; nuclear transport and function
Andre J. Ouellette (Joint): Regulation of Paneth cell defensin biosynthesis and function
Manuela Raffatellu: Mechanisms of Salmonella interaction with the intestinal mucosa; mucosal barrier function during Salmonella infection
W. Edward Robinson, Jr. (Joint): Molecular pathogenesis of lentivirus infection and drug discovery against HIV
Suzanne B. Sandmeyer (Joint): Molecular genetics of a position-specific yeast retrovirus-like element
Rozanne M. Sandri-Goldin: Structural and functional analysis of a multifunctional herpes virus regulatory protein
Paolo Sassone-Corsi (Joint): Signal transduction, gene expression, oncogenesis, circadian clock
Michael Selsted (Joint): Role and mechanisms of antimicrobial peptides in mammalian innate immunity
Bert L. Semler: Replication and translation of picornaviruses; RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions
Yongsheng Shi: Post-transcriptional gene regulation and its role in human diseases
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 Cellular and Molecular Biosciences (CMB), which is described in a previous section. Students admitted into the CMB 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.
200R Research in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics for First-Year Students (2 to 12) F, W, S. Independent research within the laboratories of graduate training faculty in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics for first-year Ph.D. students. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. May be taken for credit three times.
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.
206 Regulation of Gene Expression (4) W. Lecture, three hours. Aspects of gene expression including the organization of the eukaryotic nucleus in terms of protein-nucleic acid interaction (i.e., chromatin and chromosome structure); comparisons between prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene expression, the enzymology and regulation of RNA transcription in E. Coli and other prokaryotes. Enzymology of transcription in eukaryotes. Same as Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 206. (Coordinator, R. Sandri-Goldin)
210A Medical Microbiology (4 to 6). Lecture, five hours; laboratory, three hours. The biology of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, to provide the foundation in microbiology for the subsequent study of infectious diseases. Lectures, small group sessions with clinicians, and laboratory sessions are used to teach the molecular bases of microbial pathogenesis, diagnostic testing, antimicrobial therapy, and prevention strategies. Prerequisites: first-year curriculum. Graduate students must have approval of the course director and enroll through the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. (Medicine 507A-B).
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 Integrative Immunology (4). Lecture and discussion, four hours. Lectures and student presentations of primary literature. The main goal is to achieve a basic understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of innate and adaptive immunity, and how immune function is coordinated at a systems level. Same as Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 215.
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: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 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.
235 Viruses and Cells (4) W. Covers the molecular mechanisms by which animal and human viruses infect cells and details the host response to infection. Also covers prevention and treatment.
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.
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.