PROGRAMS

The microbiology and immunology section is composed of faculty members with research interests in bacteriology, immunology, immunopathology, parasitology, and virology.  Because of the section's diverse interests, there is no static core curriculum.  However, a major focus of course work and research is on mechanisms of disease and their prevention.
 

MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY SECTION FACULTY

J.W. Camp, PhD, Professor of Veterinary Parasitology and Secretary of Faculties

S.A. Crist, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor.

J.K. Davis, DVM, PhD, Professor of Laboratory Animal Medicine5

B.D. Elzey, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor.

H. HogenEsch, DVM, PhD, Head, Department of Comparative Pathobiology; Professor of Immunopathology

K.R. Kazacos, DVM, PhD, Professor of Veterinary Parasitology; Director, Clinical Parasitology Laboratory

C.H. Kim, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Immunology

T.L. Lin, DVM, PhD, Professor of Pathology; Senior Veterinary Diagnostic Pathologist, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

S.K. Mittal, DVM, PhD, Professor of Virology, University Faculty Scholar, Director of Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Microbiology and Immunology Section Head, Member of Purdue Cancer Center

R. Pogranichniy, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor of Comparative Pathobiology

T. Ratliff, Ph.D., Director of Purdue Cancer Center.

P.W. Snyder, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor of Immunopathology, Diplomate, ACVP

R. Vemulapalli, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, Associate Professor of Veterinary Immunology/Microbiology

C.C. Wu, DVM, PhD, Professor of Microbiology; Head of Bacteriology and Mycology Section, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
 

FORMAL COURSE WORK

Specific course work is selected individually by the student in consultation with his/her advisory committee. Some courses that are frequently taken are:

BCHM 561 General Biochemistry I, 3 cr.

BCHM 562 General Biochemistry II, 3 cr.

BIOL 517 Molecular Biology: Proteins, 2 cr.

BIOL 519 Molecular Biology: Nucleic Acids, 2 cr.

BIOL 533 Medical Microbiology, 3 cr.

BIOL 542 Laboratory in Molecular Biology, 1 or 2 cr.

BIOL 537 Immunobiology, 3 cr.

STAT 503 Statistical Methods for Biology (or other appropriate course), 3 cr.

BMS 620 Electron Microscopy: Theory and Techniques, 3 cr.

CPB 540 Use and Care of Experimental Animals, 1 cr.

CPB 614 Advanced General Pathology, 1 cr.

CPB 618 Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research, 2 cr.

CPB 620 Advanced Immunology, 2 cr.

CPB 622 Microbial Pathogenesis, 2 cr.

CPB 680 Special Topics in designated areas as listed below, especially for non-DVM degree graduate students, 1-4 cr.

CPB 553 Principles of Veterinary Immunology, 2 cr.

CPB 556 Veterinary Bacterinology and Mycology, 2 cr.

CPB 560 Veterinary Virology, 3 cr.

CPB 551 General Pathology, 3 cr.

CPB 552 Veterinary Parasitology, 5 cr.

Other topics as appropriate:

CPB 681 Special Problems in Immunology, Microbiology, Parasitology, Public Health, or Virology, 1-4 cr.

CPB 697 CPB Research Seminar (required), 0 or 1 cr.

CPB 698 MS Thesis Research (required), 1-18 cr.

CPB 699 PhD Thesis Research (required), 1-18 cr.

Other courses may be selected according to the student's area of interest.  Thirty registration credits are required for the MS degree and 90 registration credits for the PhD degree.  These totals may include research credits.  Rate of accumulation depends on nature of appointment is determined by a formula established by the Graduate School.
 

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Students are expected to maintain a minimal GPA of 3.0, with no grade lower than C. A qualifying examination may be required early in the graduate program by some advisory committees. General procedures for completion of the MS degree, the written and oral preliminary and final PhD examinations, and other requirements are those prescribed by the Graduate School, as summarized in the CPB graduate manual.

Special intensive training in various aspects of microbiology and immunology can be arranged for those wishing to prepare for the qualifying examination of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists.
 

TEACHING COMMITMENT

Microbiology and immunology section members maintain that the opportunity to obtain experience in teaching should be a necessary and obligatory component of all PhD training programs, regardless of the source of the student's support stipend. A total experience of two semesters of assistance, not necessarily contiguous, will constitute the usual teaching commitment. Scheduling will be made flexible to accommodate concurrent research and course work commitments. The performance level for each teaching assistant will be considered in the semi-annual CPB graduate student progress review.

Selection and scheduling of teaching assignments will be handled by a subcommittee of the microbiology and immunology section. This group, chaired by the section head, will be composed of the two (or three) faculty teaching major CPB courses, including Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology (CPB 556 and 556L), Clinical Microbiology (CPB 585), Veterinary Parasitology (CPB 552), Microbiology for Veterinary Technicians (CPB 234), Advanced Immunology (CPB 620), and Veterinary Virology (CPB 560).