Course Description
Parasites are responsible for classical tropical diseases and emerging opportunistic infections in the United States. We will discuss the biology of parasites, their vectors and hosts, and the diseases they cause, emphasizing modern molecular concepts. The class will also cover epidemiology, control, prevention, and treatment of important parasitic diseases.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Lecture examinations require more background reading. A written report on some pre-approved aspect of medical parasitology is required.
Athena Title
Medical Parasitology
Prerequisite
BIOL 1108 or BIOL 2108H
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
At the end of the course the students are expected to be familiar with the biology of parasites, vectors and hosts (in response to parasite infection). The will have studied molecular concepts of pathogenesis, immune evasion and drug action and resistance using medically important models. The students will be familiar with a representative selection of human infectious diseases caused by parasites (as well as a few of veterinary significance).
Topical Outline
The first part of this class will briefly introduce basic concepts, as well as the respective terminology to discuss parasites, vectors, and the (human) host and their relationship to each other. We will then work our way through a number of important and mostly human diseases caused by helminths and protozoa. We will highlight critical aspects of parasitism and parasitic disease as we go along, using well studied organisms as examples. The lectures aim to span the entire field ranging from the molecular biology of the parasite to the implementation of control programs. Introduction to Parasitology. Overview of arthropod parasites and disease vectors. A brief overview of the immune system. Disease & Public Health introduction. Trematodes or flukes. Schistosomiasis Cestodes I Cestodes II Nematodes, their basic biology & Geohelminths I Geohelminths II Anti-Helminth drugs & drug emerging drug resistance. Exam 1 Filariasis I, parasite biology Filariasis II & Dracunculus, ongoing eradication programs Introduction into Protozoa & Entamoeba histolytica Entamoeba, Giardia & Trichmonas Leishmania, molecular pathogenesis Spring Break African Trypansomes, biology and disease African Trypansomes, molecular basis of antigenic variation American Trypanosomes Ich a model parasite in fish Toxoplasma and apicomplexan host cell invasion I Toxoplasma and apicomplexan host cell invasion II Exam 2 Cryptosporidium & other AIDS related opportunistic infections Malaria I, biology of the parasite and disease Malaria II, molecular basis of pathogenesis and drug resistance Mosquitoes our biggest foe. Pirosplasm, manipulation of the host cell Review Final Exam
Syllabus