Courses

• Microbiology & Immunology (MC 203/ DB 203 (AUG) 3:0)

Fascinating world of microbes; Principles of microscopy; Microbial diversity, evolution and genomics; Mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer, Microbes as model systems of development, Microbes as bioreactors and sensors; bioremediation; bacterial cell structure and function; Bacterial physiology and nutrition; Bacteriophages- virulent and temperate; phage life cycles; Plasmids, Transposons; Understanding and combating bacterial pathogenesis; Antibiotics- mechanisms of drug resistance and mode of action; Quorum sensing and biofilms; Pathogens and beneficial microorganisms; Adaptive and Innate immune system, Major histocompatibility molecules and T cell receptors, Antigen Processing and presentation, Cytokines and chemokines, Molecular basis of cell-mediated cytotoxicity, Immunity to pathogens, Cancer Immunology, Recent trends in Immunology, Vaccines.

 • Host-Pathogen interactions and immune evasion mechanisms (MC 205 (AUG) 2:0)

This course will utilize multiple host-pathogen pairs as models to demonstrate the innumerable mechanisms utilized by pathogens of viral, bacterial and parasitic origin to subvert the host and enhance their own survival. Secretion systems of bacteria: Type I, II, III, IV V, overview of ABC exporters and importers, plant pathogen interactions, virulence gene expression, intracellular pathogenesis; signaling by the bacterial components; innate and adaptive immunity to bacterial pathogens; quorum sensing, biofilm formation and its role in pathogenesis. Viral immune evasion mechanisms such as functional mimicry of host complement proteins, secretion of chemokine and cytokine-like molecules, inhibition of NF-қB and apoptosis, inhibition of serine proteases of the host antigen presenting cells to suppress antigen presentation, inhibition of MHC class I presentation of viral antigens, inhibition of host secretory pathway, prevention of phagosome acidification, antigenic variation and suppression of TH1 responses by protozoan pathogens, role of host TRIM5 family proteins in controlling HIV by mutation of viral RNA, ds-RNA and non-capped 5’ end mediated recognition of pathogens by the host, will be some of the topics that will be covered.

• Introductory Biology II (Microbiology, Cell Biology and Genetics), UG, 2nd Semester