November 22, 2009



 

 Microbiology & Immunology

Faculty Contact:
Microbiology:   Victor Nizet (vnizet@ucsd.edu)
Immunology:   Maurizio Zanetti (mzanetti@ucsd.edu)

The Microbiology and Immunology Track in the Biomedical Sciences Program is an interdepartmental program that draws on faculty from a number of different institutions in the La Jolla area. All interested Biomedical Sciences students take the BMS core course sequence in their first year and should consider doing laboratory rotations in laboratories associated with each program.

The Microbiology Focus Area draws on faculty from the UCSD School of Medicine, UCSD Division of Biological Sciences, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and the Center for Microbial Sciences at San Diego State University. Microbiology is the study of bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and fungi. Much of our knowledge of classical metabolism, biochemistry and molecular genetics emerged from studies in microbial model systems. In the Biomedical Sciences Program, particular interest is focused on microbial pathogens that are the agents of human infectious diseases. Microbiology has once again entered center-stage in medical research as bacterial antibiotic resistance is on the rise, new viruses continue to emerge, bioterrorism has become an immediate concern, and novel approaches for combating infection are urgently needed. The Immunology Focus Area of is an interdisciplinary composed of faculty from the Department of Medicine, Division of Biological Sciences, and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI). The study of the immune system uses molecular, genetic, biochemical and developmental approaches to understand the biomedically important issues of autoimmunity, tolerance, allergy, immunodeficiency, transplantation, and cancer. Conversely, studies focusing on human disease pathogenesis often lead to insight into the fundamental mechanisms by which the immune response is regulated. Many faculty research programs now bridge the disciplines of Microbiology and Immunology to probe the specific interactions between microbial virulence factors and host innate and adaptive immune defenses. In this fashion, we gain a better understanding of the fundamental pathogenesis of infectious diseases and further development of vaccines and other immunotherapies.

In the second year of study, those students wishing to obtain more specialized training in Microbiology or Immunology take advanced courses, journal clubs, and seminar series and participate in specific teaching opportunities. Students choosing the Microbiology track enroll in the two-quarter series of Integrative Microbiology, which will satisfy part of the elective requirement for the BMS program. Similarly, students interested in Immunology select advanced course work in immunology. These programs are designed to provide an outstanding training experience for the study of the immune system, immunological diseases, microbiology and infectious disease. The goal is to provide a training environment that will encourage ambitious students to realize successful world-class research in microbiology and immunology.

Participating BMS Faculty

Timothy D. Bigby

Jack Bui

Shane Crotty

Antonio De Maio

Theodore Friedmann

Pascal Gagneux

Richard Gallo

Christopher K. Glass

John C. Guatelli

Stephen Hedrick

Alexander Hoffmann

Martin F. Kagnoff

Thomas J. Kipps

Victor Nizet

Eyal Raz

Douglas D. Richman

Aleem Siddiqui

Christina J. Sigurdson

Gregg Silverman

Deborah H. Spector

Stephen A. Spector

David Traver

Ajit P. Varki

Joseph Vinetz

Leor Weinberger

Joseph L. Witztum

Maurizio Zanetti


Required coursework for BMS students

BMS students take a core curriculum that provides the foundation to allow them to specialize in any of the offered tracks, focus areas, or customized study. In the Fall quarter, "Molecules to Organisms" provides a systematic approach to current Biomedical Research, using analysis of selected topics to focus on the process of research discovery and its critical evaluation. "Seminar in Biomedical Research" includes attendance at one of the UCSD seminar series and is designed to provoke critical discussion of the presented findings and scientific approaches in a small group setting. BMS students also take short courses in statistical analysis of data and ethics in research in the third quarter of their first year.

Microbiology Immunology
Specialized Coursework
Integrative Microbiology A and B (BGGN 212) Advanced Immunology (BGGN 225)
Recommended Electives    
BIOM282 Microbial Pathogenesis BIOM 260 Immune Regulation
BGGN 226 Graduate Animal Virology BGGN 233 Cellular Immunology
SIO 287A Microbial Ecology BGGN 226 Graduate Animal Virology
BGGN225 Immunology BGGN 228 Graduate
BGGN212 Special Topics in Microbiology BGGN 230 Graduate Signal Transduction
BGGN232 Human Retrovirology BGGN 229 Graduate Oncogenes
SOM 208 Medical Microbiology BGGN 253 Specialized Areas of Immunology
       
Seminar Series    
San Diego Microbiology Group (monthly evening seminars at SIO)
UCSD/LIAI Immunology Seminar Series BGSE 202  
Integrative Microbiology Seminar Series    
Seminar Series on Clinical Immunology and Inflammation      
     
Journal Clubs    
Infectious Diseases Journal Club (faculty homes) BGJC 204. Journal Club in Molecular and Cellular Immunology
Microbial Pathogenesis Journal Club (on campus)