SCHOOL OF 2012-2013 - St. George's University

MICR 817
Tropical Medical Parasitology II
This course is designed to provide participants with
laboratory, field, and clinical experience dealing with
Wuchereria Bancrofti, Plasmodium Falciparum, Plasmodium
Vivax, Leishmania, and Echinococcus Granulosus, all of
which are common parasitic diseases that are the cause
of considerable mortality and morbidity throughout the
tropics. Complementing Tropical Medical Parasitology
I (MICR 816), this course looks in greater detail at the
epidemiology and public health importance of two or
three major tropical medical parasites. This course is
accompanied by a visit to a region where these parasitic
diseases are endemic.
MICR 818
History of Microbiology
History of Microbiology studies the origins and
development of the science of microbiology using a
historical approach from the Renaissance to the postantibiotic
era. The course will involve lectures, discussions,
guided readings, and the preparation of a term paper.
Prerequisite: General Microbiology (BIOL 401) or Biology (BIOL 301)
MICR 819
Medicinal Plants
This course examines the influence of medicinal plants
(herbal remedies) in 20th century medicine. The advantages
and disadvantages of medicinal plant usage are examined,
as is the evaluation of the use of certain medicinal plants.
MICR 820
Marine Microbiology
Marine Microbiology studies microorganisms found in
oceanic littoral, pelagic, and benthic environments. This
course covers microbial ecology, including microbial loops,
evolutionary trees, sediment, deep seas, and the sunindependent
ecosystem.
MICR 822
Medical Biofilms
This course will discuss the relevance of the biofilm mode
of growth with regard to infectious diseases and disease
processes (enhanced microbial survival, evasion of immune
response components, and so forth), focus on infections of
indwelling medical devices (heart valves, catheters, artificial
joints), and examine the relevance of biofilm formation with
regard to treatment strategies and failures.
MICR 823
Microbial Effects on Climate and Geosphere
This course covers geomicrobiology, the role of
microorganisms in geochemical reactions, oil and gas
origins, the production of methane and carbon dioxide,
and how life in deep subsurface is similar to life on Mars.
MICR 824
Advanced Biochemical Methods in Microbiology
This course examines strict anaerobe maintenance,
DNA extraction, DNA-DNA reassociation, sequencing,
electrophoresis of proteins, indirect immunofluorescence,
chemical analysis of cell walls, G+C content in DNA, gas
chromatography, radioisotope techniques, microbial
physiology, light-scanning electron microscopy, PCR
primer design, detection of specific microorganisms, gene
cloning, plotting and reference programs, and 16S rRNA
database interaction.
MICR 825
Scientific Text: Organization and Presentation (STOP)
The effective organization and presentation of scientific
information is a necessary skill for students in the master’s
and PhD degree programs to acquire. Scientific texts tend
to follow very specific rules in terms of style, grammar,
and format, regardless of whether a graduate thesis or
journal article is being produced. This course aims to
provide students with an introduction to some of the
stylistic rules and technical aspects of presenting scientific
data. Specifically, this course will target graduate-level
theses, scientific articles, poster presentations, and oral
presentations. As this is a course aiming to teach practical
writing skills, a large component of the class is the
production of a formal research proposal by students.
MICR 828
General Immunology
This two-credit course has been designed to provide
students with an understanding of the major principles
and mechanisms underlying the various aspects of the
immune system, including tissues, cells, and soluble
molecules. There is an emphasis on the interaction
between innate and acquired immunity in response
to inflammation and infection by different groups of
pathogens. Clinically relevant topics are also emphasized.
In addition to classroom instruction, students must
do extensive literature research on a particular topic
and submit a 20-page essay on this topic. Classroom
School of Medicine
Course Descriptions
School of Medicine Catalog 2013–2014 | 81