Objectives

The Molecular Microbiology Graduate Program emphasizes an integrated approach to the study of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. A universal major focus of the research of many faculty members of the Molecular Microbiology Graduate Program is the study of medically relevant bacteria and viruses and the ways these pathogens interact with respective hosts to cause disease. For many research programs, interdisciplinary approaches are employed to analyze various interesting aspects of the biology of these important pathogens. Overall, this Program is dedicated to providing a superior level of training in biomedical research strategies and technologies related to the major principles of molecular microbiology.

The major emphases of studies in the Molecular Microbiology Graduate Program include:

• Bacterial Pathogenesis: Addresses concepts essential for understanding bacterial and viral genetics, including transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional regulation, replication, and use of genetics to study microbes. Emphasis will be placed on original experimentation and literature.
• Viral Pathogenesis: Examines virulence mechanisms of bacterial and viral pathogens necessary for infection and disease. Emphasis will be placed on original experimentation and literature.

• Microbes and the Immune System: Basic information of major concepts, activities and players of the immune system as they relate to interactions with microbes.

• Principles of Molecular Microbiology: Students will define molecular biology techniques commonly used in basic science research of bacteria and viruses, compare and contrast structure of bacterial organisms, and recognize basic concepts in viral infection. Students will differentiate between a variety of experimental approaches to conduct basic science research in the field of molecular microbiology, identify basic concepts of viral infection, and define differences between bacterial organisms.