Microbiology And Immunology (MIC)

The one credit UB Seminar is focused on a big idea or challenging issue to engage students with questions of significance in a field of study and, ultimately, to connect their studies with issues of consequence in the wider world. Essential to the UB Curriculum, the Seminar helps transition to UB through an early connection to UB faculty and the undergraduate experience at a comprehensive, research university. This course is equivalent to any 198 offered in any subject. This course is a controlled enrollment (impacted) course. Students who have previously attempted the course and received a grade of F or R may not be able to repeat the course during the fall or spring semester.

The three credit UB Seminar is focused on a big idea or challenging issue to engage students with questions of significance in a field of study and, ultimately, to connect their studies with issues of consequence in the wider world. Essential to the UB Curriculum, the Seminar helps students with common learning outcomes focused on fundamental expectations for critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and oral communication, and learning at a university, all within topic focused subject matter. The Seminars provide students with an early connection to UB faculty and the undergraduate experience at a comprehensive, research university. This course is equivalent to any 199 offered in any subject. This course is a controlled enrollment (impacted) course. Students who have previously attempted the course and received a grade of F or R may not be able to repeat the course during the fall or spring semester.

This course will examine important issues in human health and disease, applying microbiology and immunology to situations and events in everyday life and in society at large. Participants will delve into what are 'good' bacteria vs. 'bad' bacteria and what causes 'good' bacteria to go 'bad'. Lecture topics will cover relevant issues of today such as Ebola, Zika Virus, anthrax, bioterrorism, the microbiome in human bodies and the environment, over-usage of antibiotics, and others. These lecture topics may change and adapt to include current events.

MIC 301 is a one-semester introduction to microbiology with a focus on biomedical aspects and human health appropriate for students in fields of allied health such as nursing, pharmacy, exercise and social science as well as psychology. Lecture topics in the first half include Microbial metabolism and growth, classification and diagnostics, sterilization and antimicrobial agents, interaction between pathogens and the host`s immune system and our developing understanding of the human microbiome. In the second part of the course, important disease causing microorganisms from the three major areas, prokaryotic bacteria, eukaryotic parasites/fungi, and viruses, will be discussed. In the laboratory components, basic techniques for diagnostics, cultivation, and control of microbial growth are introduced in hands-on sessions, case studies/recitations, and online interactive modules.

Biomedical Microbiology is an upper level course that is designed specifically for students who are interested in microbiology and immunology in the context of research in the life sciences. The course is team taught by experts allowing for the presentation of cutting edge scientific research in their fields. The course provides in depth instruction in the three families of disease causing microorganisms: bacteria (prokaryotes), viruses, and parasites/fungi (eukaryotes) as well as immunology and host-pathogen interactions. Topics also include microbial physiology, current research techniques, drug development and delivery, antimicrobial agents, emerging/reemerging pathogens, and vaccine development. Offered SPRING only.

This is a course for graduate students in the biomedical and related sciences to provide an introduction to the human microbiome. The goal is for the students to understand the methodologies used to study the microbiome, as well as details of the significance of this community of organisms that share our body space and contribute to health and disease. Metagenomic sequencing methods bioinformatic analytic procedures, composition of the microbiome at various body sites will be discussed. Functions of the microbiome in health and the role of the microbiome at diseased in various body sites will be described. Modification of the microbiome and contribution of the microbiome personalized medicine will be discussed.

Explore the intriguing defense system that protects humans by destroying deadly microbes while keeping the body's healthy cells and tissues safe from harm. Rapid advances in the field of immunology have led to developments as far reaching as dramatically increased life span and overall health in HIV/AIDS patients and exciting novel therapies to combat cancer. Learn the fundamentals of immunology and become conversant in the language of the field in this interactive online course.

Available by arrangement with one or more faculty members. Involves participation in a research project that provides limited laboratory experience in some aspect of microbiology or immunology.