Course List

Microbiology & Immunology Undergraduate Courses

MICB 302 (3) - Immunology - Tissues, cells and molecules of immune system, innate immunity and complement, adaptive immunity, cellular and humoral immune responses, cytokines, T-cell activation, the major histocompatibility complex, antibody structure and genetics, immune system and cancer, AIDS, autoimmunity, hypersensitivity. Prerequisite:  MICB 202. [3-0-1]

MICB 306 (3) – Molecular Virology - Introduction to virus structure and replication.  Detailed examination of selected viruses including polio, HIV and cancer-causing retroviruses.  Development of vaccines and anti-viral drugs, the use of virus vectors to cure genetic diseases. Prerequisite:  MICB 202.  Equivalent to MICB 408 [3-0-1]

MICB 324 (3) - The Molecular Basis of Bacterial Growth Regulation - Response of bacterial cell to changing environments. Role of the cell envelope in energetics, transport and peptidoglycan synthesis. Regulation of gene expression. Biochemistry and physiology of bacterial growth. Prerequisite: One of BIOL 112, MICB 201. Corequisite: BIOC 302 (BIOC 300 or BIOC 303). [3-0-1]

MICB 401 (3) - Microbial Ecology Laboratory - Methods of assessment of diversity and abundance of microbes in several habitats.  Enrichment, enumeration, biomass determination nd gene characterization. Prerequisites: All of BIOL 201, MICB 300, MICB 322. [2-4-0]

MICB 402 (3) - Advanced Immunology - Molecular basis of lymphocyte development, activation and adhesion;  immunogenetics and the major histocompatibility complex.  Same as MEDG 410. Prerequisite: BIOL 334 or BIOL 335 & MICB 302 where a standing of B or better is recommended. [3-0-1]

MICB 403 (3) - Molecular Bacterial Pathogenesis - Molecular studies of bacterial pathogens. Topics include bacterial virulence factors, host defences against pathogens and vaccines, and diagnostics and antibiotics as control measures. Prerequisite: MICB 202. [3-0-0]

MICB 404 (3) – Topics in Molecular Bacterial Pathogenesis - A lecture/discussion/library research course.  Topics such as antibiotic resistance, pathogen genomics; host-pathogen interactions, evolution of pathogens; host responses to infection, invasive mechanisms, resistance mechanisms.  Prerequisite: All of MICB 302, MICB 403. [1-0-4]

MICB 405 (3) - Bioinformatics - Computational methods to analyze genome and protein sequences to derive structural and functional information.  Related topics in functional genomics and recombinant protein expression. Prerequisite: BIOL 335 and either BIOC 302 or BIOC 303. [3-0-1]

MICB 406 (3) – Topics in Molecular Virology - Presentations, library research, paper reviews, class discussions about current research in virology.  Topics such as molecular targets in viral therapy; chronic viral infection; virus-host cell interaction.  Prerequisite: All of MICB 202, MICB 306. [1-0-4]

MICB 409 (3) - Microbial Genetics - Plasmids, phage and cloning vectors, gene transfer, genetic maps, genetic analysis of microbial gene expression. Prerequisite: BIOL 335. [3-0-0]

MICB 412 (3) – Topics in Immunological Research - Presentations, library research, paper reviews and class discussion on selected areas of advanced molecular and cellular immunological research. Prerequisite: MICB 302 and one of MICB 402, MEDG 410.  [1-0-4]

MICB 418 (3) – Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology - Exploitation of microbial and animal cells for the industrial production of chemicals ranging from alcohol to therapeutic proteins.  Genetic manipulation of cellular characteristics, fermentation methods, patenting and governmental approval processes . Corequisite: BIOL 335. [3-0-0]

MICB 421 (3) – Experimental Microbiology - Research in microbial physiology and molecular genetics.  Guided and independent laboratory projects are developed.  Prerequisite: MICB 323. [2-4-0]

MICB 430 (3/6) – Seminar in Microbiological Literature - Student seminars on selected papers from the microbiological literature.  Compulsory for Honours students.  Major students may enroll with permission of the Department Head.

Microbiology & Immunology Graduate Courses

MICB 502 (3) - Advanced Immunogenetics - Same as MEDG 510.  Cell-cell interaction, intracellular control mechanisms, analysis of complex physiological systems using transgenic animals and molecular approaches.  [3-0]

MICB 505 (3) - Molecular Microbiology - Molecular Approaches to Microbial Diversity, Evolution and Ecology Analysis of sequence data. The 16S rRNA phylogenetic paradigm and its alternatives. The role of horizontal gene transfer in evolution. A critical examination of molecular analyses of the structure and function of microbial communities.

MICB 506 (3-6) - Microbiological Research Procedures To be taken by all incoming Graduate Students.

MICB 507 (3) - Topics in Molecular Pathogenesis and Immunology

MICB 508 (3) - Molecular Genetics of Plant-Microbe Interactions - Same as PLNT 508.  Molecular genetics of microbial pathogenesis and symbiosis on plants.  Analysis of plant pathogen recognition and host response to interaction with viruses, bacteria and fungi.  Offered in alternate years.

MICB 530 (3) - Currently unavailable

MICB 548 (6) - Directed Studies on an Approved Problem

MICB 549 (12) - Master's Thesis

MICB 649 (0) - PhD Thesis

Courses available for graduate students in Microbiology & Immunology are drawn from a wide range of departments on campus.  The following list includes courses most often taken by members of the Microbiology & Immunology Graduate Program

BIOC 402 (3) - Proteins Structure and Function - Structural components of proteins, classification by primary, secondary and tertiary structure, protein chemistry and purification, peptide and protein synthesis by chemical means and three-dimensional structure determination using X-ray diffraction and NMR. Prerequisite: BIOC 300, 302 or 303 in which at least a 65% standing is recommended. [3-0; 0-0]

BIOC 509 (3) – Membrane Structure and Function - The physical properties and functional roles of lipids in membranes, liposomes, membrane permeability;  membrane function;  structure, biosynthesis and cell sorting of membrane proteins;  and the structure-function relationships of channels, transporters and receptors. [3-0, 0-0]

BIOC 510 (3) - Nucleic Acids: Structure and Function - Structure and function of nucleic acids and their role in replication, transcription, translation and expression of genetic information. Credit will not be given for both BIOC 410 and 510. Prerequisite: BIOC 303 or permission of Instructor. [3-0; 0-0]

BIOC 511 (3) - Biochemical Aspects of Cellular Regulation  - A lecture and discussion course on the molecular basis of cellular regulation with special emphasis on mammalian cells. Mechanisms involved in the responses of cells to adrenergic, steroid and peptide hormones and growth factors. Regulation of the concentration and specific activity of key enzymes, transport systems and structural proteins. Given in alternate years. [3-0; 0-0]

BIOC 521 (3) – Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology - Discussions based on topics in the current literature.  Prerequisite: 1 of BIOC 410, BIOC 510 [0-0; 3-0]

BIOL 463 (3) - Gene Regulation in Development - Control of gene expression in development;  the genetic and physiological basis of epigenetic determination;  inductive interactions.  Prerequisite: BIOL 335 and one of BIOC 300, BIOC 302 or BIOC 303; BIOL 331 is recommended.  [3-0-0]

BIOL 464 (3) - Animal Development Genetics - Detailed analysis of the role of genes in establishment of embryonic polarity and axes, pattern formation, segmentation and establishment of tissue types.  A detailed research proposal is developed.  Prerequisite:  BIOL 463.  [3-0-0]

BIOL 508 (6) - Genetics Seminar

BIOL 530 (3) – The Biology of the Cell

BIOL 548A (2-6) – Advanced Topics in Biology

EOSC 475 (3) – Marine Microbiology - Advanced biology, ecology and diversity of marine microbes.  Emphasis on the roles of bacteria and viruses in marine foodwebs and geochemical cycles.  Prerequisite:  A minimum of six credits of third-year level life science courses [3-0-0]

GENE 501 (3) - Genetics  - A lecture series intended to acquaint graduate genetics students and those in related areas with advances in genetics and an overview of genetics in a variety of systems. The emphasis is on molecular genetics. Required of students in the graduate genetics program. Prerequisites: BIOL 334 and 335 or equivalent and a third year course in Biochemistry.

GENE 502 (3) - Genetics - A lecture series intended to acquaint graduate genetics students and those in related areas with advances in genetics and an overview of genetics in a variety of systems.  The emphasis is on eukaryotic genetics.  Prerequisites: All of BIOC 334, BIOC 335 or equivalent, and a third-year course in Biochemistry.

MEDG 505 (3) – Genome Analysis - Investigation of genetic information as it is organized within genomes, genetic and physical map construction, sequencing technologies, gene identification, database accessing and integration, functional organization of genomes from contemporary, historic and evolutionary perspectives.  Prerequisite:  All of BIOL 334, BIOL 300.

MEDG 520 (3) – Advanced Human Molecular Genetic - Genetic variation, genome analysis, cloning of genes for diseases and normal functions, mutation detection, animal models of human genetic disease.  Prerequisite: BIOL 334 [3-0; 0-0]

PATH 437 (3) – Viral Infections in Humans - Interactions between viruses and humans;  pathogenesis;  prompt virological diagnosis;  rationale for antiviral chemotherapy and prophylaxis.  Corequisite: MICB 408 [0-0; 2-4]

ZOOL 505 (6) - Cell Biology Seminar

BIOL 530 (3) – The Biology of the Cell

This is by no means a complete list of available courses.  For more information about courses, please refer to the UBC Calendar.