Theoretical basis of the pathogenesis, epidemiology, and diagnosis of fungal, parasitic, and viral infections.

Practical experience in medical mycology and parasitology diagnostic techniques. Isolation and identification of mycological and parasitological specimens. Principles and practices of proper specimen collections, analysis, and interpretation of results.

An examination of the importance of scientific integrity in the biomedical sciences. Students are introduced to the ethical issues that scientists must be familiar with when conducting research. Issues include scientific record keeping, authorship and peer review, conflicts of interest, use of animals and humans in research, and recombinant DNA technology. Class is discussion-based, encouraging both an appreciation of established guidelines and an opportunity to critically examine them.

Parasites continue to present a major challenge to public health. Despite their significant impact on human health, many aspects of the molecular and cellular biology of these diverse organisms remain unknown. This course explores the latest research on these fascinating organisms through analysis and discussion of original research papers focusing on three of the major human parasites.