Course Description
Animals are explorers in a microbial ecosystem that can profoundly affect their growth efficiency and health and are protected from microbial threats by their immune systems. This course will compare the interactions between the microbial world and the immune systems of companion and food animals. Further attention will be focused on how the microbial ecosystem of the animal interacts to prime and educate the host immune system to serve as a mixed defensive system preventing pathogen colonization.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will prepare a lecture on a topic assigned by the instructor focused on microbiology or immunology (or both) and deliver the lecture to the class, complete with visuals for a complete class period. Graduate students will also prepare three video bulletins over the course of the semester to translate scientific literature from the course into information that animal producers can utilize. Each test will include a graduate student-specific section to utilize primary literature and synthesize findings, accounting for 33% of the grade for each test.
Athena Title
Micro and Immun in Dom Ani Hea
Undergraduate Prerequisite
BIOL 1108 or BIOL 2108H
Graduate Prerequisite
BIOL 1108 or BIOL 2108H
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
After completing this course, a student will differentiate the basic relationship between the organs of the immune system and how it functions to prevent microbial colonization of the animal, which can dramatically impact animal health. Students will explain how the immune system recognizes threats, responds to them via innate and acquired immune systems, and deconstructs the primary microbial threats faced by animals and human consumers.
Topical Outline
1 - Introduction; Basic terminology of immunology 2, 3 - Innate immune system 4, 5 - Antigen recognition by Innate immune cells 6, 7 - Inflammation 8, 9,10 - Adaptive immunity 11,12 - Antigen recognition by adaptive immune cells 12, 13 - Self vs. Non-self (autoimmunity) 14 - Immune failures/challenges (immunodeficiency) 15, 16 - Manipulation of the immune system 17 - Herd immunity and herd health 18 - Microbiology introduction 19 - What is a pathogen versus a commensal 20 - “Self” versus non-self: microbes and the “Hygiene Hypothesis” 21, 22 - Viral pathogens encountered respiratory gut 23, 24 - Bacterial pathogens respiratory gut 25 - Novel pathogen entry 26, 27 - Foodborne pathogens 28, 29 - Manipulation of the native microbial population
Syllabus
Public CV