Course Descriptions
VET 601 - Journal Club - 0.5 credits
Students, along with faculty members, participate in a weekly journal
club in which they discuss a paper from the current literature. The emphasis
is on critical analysis, identifying the reasons that the research is
significant, and understanding how the findings extend current knowledge.
Students take this course every semester of the PhD program. Journal Club Schedule Course
offered every semester.
VET 602 - Seminar Series - 0.5 credits
Students are required to attend the department seminar series. These seminars
take place throughout the year and are part of the training experience,
providing an opportunity to develop communication skills and present ideas.
Course offered every semester.
VET 652 - Parasite Biology - 1 credit
Parasites are extraordinarily pervasive. This graduate course explores
globally important parasites including hookworms, tapeworms, blood flukes
and those that cause malaria, sleeping sickness and Chagas' disease. Students
examine the morphology, development, and distribution of these pathogens
and consider the mechanisms they use to infect their hosts and survive
within. Topics include the mechanisms of infection and immunity, intracellular
survival strategies, vector biology, drug resistance, vaccines and the
economics and public health impact of parasitic disease. Each class center
on interactive discussions and an examination of the primary scientific
literature. Course offered every other year (Spring 2006).
VET 610 - Research - credit will vary
Guided research on a topic suitable for a doctoral dissertation. Offered
every semester.
VET 653 - Fundamentals of Animal Research I: Biostatistics
- 0.5 credits
This is an elementary course in statistics, designed to give an overview
of the basics of statistical analyses, including probability theory, distributions,
and hypothesis testing. It is a core course in the graduate curriculum,
and as such the prerequisites are those for entry into the graduate program.
Topics to be covered include probability and sampling theory, frequency
distributions, and hypothesis testing. Some hands-on exercises using statistical
software are also offered, but it is anticipated that more advanced applications
will require additional instruction. It is the instructor's objective
to familiarize students with central concepts and to save in depth discussion
of methodologies for advanced courses, however when it is practical, students
are encouraged to suggest topics for discussion and review. Same as
MS-CBS course 570. Course offered every Fall.
VET 654 - Fundamentals of Animal Research II: Ethics
- 0.5 credits
The aim of the course is to discuss acceptable, unacceptable and controversial
aspects of research ethics and responsibilities of a researcher. Students
enrolled in the course are required to participate in the discussion following
each presentation by one or more researchers. The course is comprised
of eight topics: (1) Experimental techniques and the treatment of data,
(2) Conflict of interest, (3) Publication and openness, (4) Allocation
of credits and authorship practices, (5) Error and negligence in science,
(6) Misconduct in science, (7) Use of animals in research, and (8) Responding
to violations of ethical standards. Same as MS-CBS course 571. Course
offered every Fall.
VET 655 - Epidemiology of Zoonotic Infections - 1 credit
This course seeks to provide health professionals with the basis for evaluating
risks and formulating prevention and intervention strategies for outbreaks
or endemic transmission of zoonotic infections. Each session is structured
with a vertical component comprising general principles, and a horizontal
component comprising a case study of a specific agent that illustrates
the general principles. Course offered every other year (Spring 2005).
VET 656 - Advanced Molecular Biology - 2 credits
This course introduces students to molecular biology of both prokaryotes
and eukaryotes including (1) DNA replication, repair, and recombination,
(2) Bacterial Genetics, (3) Chromosome structure and function, (4) Protein
biosynthesis and transportation, and (5) Phages and Viruses. Course
offered every other year (Spring 2005).
VET 657 - Animal Use in Biomedical Research - 1 credit
This selective is an introduction to the use of animals in biomedical
research and the role of the laboratory animal veterinarian. In the first
half of the course, presentations from experts in the field cover regulatory
control of research animal use, the role of the Institutional Animal Care
and Use Committee (IACUC), animal models in biomedical research, and ethical
use of animals. A laboratory animal anatomy module includes three dissection
labs devoted to anatomy of rodents, lagomorphs, hamsters, ferrets, and
gerbils. The second half of the course is focused on care of research
animals and design of research animal facilities. The class will tour
a barrier rodent housing facility, a rodent facility using robotic technology,
and a primate facility.
Students are expected to attend all classes, labs, and tours. They will be required to write one analysis paper on research animal ethical cases and to work in groups to create a design for a multi-species research animal facility. The class holds a mock Animal Care and Use Committee meeting. Same basic course as MS-LAM course 551; Course offered every Spring.
VET 658 - Advanced Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Response
- 1 credit
Using well-described examples (bacterial, fungal, viral, parasitic) of
host-pathogen interaction, this team-taught course examines the various
stages involved in disease establishment. This course covers the following
topics: (1) Pathogen entry, attachment, and invasion of host cells and
tissues, (2) Pathogen dissemination, latency, persistence, and clearance
within host, (3) Mechanisms by which pathogens evade host defense mechanisms,
(4) Virulence factors which facilitate pathogen invasion, disease pathogenesis,
and/or persistence, (5) Mechanisms of host cell and tissue damage and
repair, (6) Role of innate and acquired immune mechanisms, (7) Development
of beneficial, ineffective, and deleterious host immune responses, (8)
Principles of vaccine design and mechanisms of efficacy. Prerequisites:
Microbial Pathogenesis and Molecular Biology, Immunology, Advanced Molecular
Biology, Parasitology and/or equivalent; Course offered every other year
(Spring 2006).
VET 659 - Principles of Biodefense - 1 credit
The recent increase in terrorist attacks in many parts of the world has
focused attention on the possibility that pathogens and toxins may be
used as weapons targeting humans or economically important animals and
plants. The issues surrounding bioterrorism and its critical complement,
biodefense, are complex and require an understanding of sociopolitical
factors as well as those of biology. This course seeks to provide the
basis for (1) evaluating the risks associated with bioterrorism and (2)
developing strategies for defending against as well as responding to the
illegitimate use of biological agents.
Each of the sessions are structured into a didactic introductory, "horizontal" hour designed to explore general concepts, with the second hour dedicated to a "vertical" participatory discussion: specific case studies or literature review of the biology and other issues related to specific agents that illustrate important aspects of the horizontal topics. The grade for the course is determined by class participation and a term paper. Course offered every other year (Spring 2006).
VET 660 - Understanding HIV/SIV/AIDS - 1 credit
The course covers many aspects that relate to the pathogens and the host
response which constitute the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS.
Emphasis is placed on acquiring knowledge on the natural history, pathogenesis
and current trends that relate to understanding the underlying infectious
process associated with the HIV virus, and how this leads to complications
that are associated with the manifestation of AIDS. The current research
effort that relates to understanding the disease process, the rationale
for therapy and approaches to vaccine production are also discussed. Prerequisite
courses include: Immunology, Microbial Pathogenesis, and Animal Use in
Biomedical Research; Course offered every other year (Fall 2006).
