*Syllabus may change from year to year; this is only an example.

Instructor

JIM ALFANO

CONTACT INFORMATION
Office: Rm. N315 Beadle Center
Phone: 472-0395
E-mail: jalfano2@unl.edu
Office Hours: By appointment

Blackboard (My.UNL) will be used to deliver Powerpoint slides of lectures and pdfs of reading materials

OVERVIEW

The course is intended to be a core course for graduate students interested in molecular plant
pathology. The course concerns concepts in host-pathogen relationships with an emphasis on
the roles of molecules and cell structures in determining the outcome of an interaction.
Evidence for the role of putative disease determinants will be explored in the context of
universal stages of pathogenesis and representative pathosystems.

Discussion periods will provide time for discussion of special topics, critiquing of research
papers, evaluation of grant proposals, and review sessions.

The class will have a midterm exam and a final exam. Students will also be required to write a
proposal and participate in the evaluation of other student proposals. Participating in class
discussions will account for 25% of the students final grade so reading the course material and
speaking up will be important.

Lectures will be presented by Jim Alfano. Guest lecturers may be recruited for specific topics.

THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF BIOS 963 ARE TO ENABLE STUDENTS TO:

• gain a deeper knowledge of host-pathogen interactions at the molecular to organismal level, with emphasis on several model pathosystems
• become aware of the phenomena in plant-microbe interactions whose elucidation will have the most power in explaining and controlling disease development
• understand available research tools and their limitations
• use knowledge of interaction to identify current and new potential targets for disease control
• learn to plan and evaluate quality research
• learn to critically evaluate research papers
• improve skills for oral and written communication of scientific ideas
• develop a better appreciation for professional challenges in plant pathology
  

SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

• Lectures will be intended as essays to provide insight and perspective.
• A general introduction to some of the course topics can be found in: Hammond-Kosack, K., and J. Jones. 2000. Respons to plant pathogens, p. 1102-1156. In B. Buchanan, W. Gruissem, and R. Jones (ed.), Biochemistry and Molecular Biology o Plants. American Society of Plant Physiologists, Rockville, MD.
• Selected research and review articles will provide more complete coverage of key topics.
  

ASSIGNMENTS (with due dates)

• Write a proposal for a project exploring one of the model pathosystems at the molecular or cellular level and participate in the evaluation of other students' proposals:
• 3/8 Proposal outline is due. If you think you need guidance in choosing a topic please see me by the end of February.
• 4/10 Complete proposal is due (to be submitted under code name).
• 4/19 Complete the reviews of two proposals from other students (one as primary reviewer and one as secondary reviewer) and participate in panel discussion and ranking of proposals. (Note that the proposal grade is determined entirely by evaluation of the instructor, not by rank in this exercise.)
• Participate in "editorial board" evaluations of research papers and other discussion sessions.
• Prepare for midterm and final exams, which will cover all aspects of the course, including:
• lecture material
• assigned readings
• all material covered and discussed in discussions

GRADING

• Discussions 25%
• Proposal 25%
• Midterm 25%
• Final 25%
  

PROPOSED LECTURES