COURSE INFORMATION
Immunology and Infectious Diseases

ID298 Inference in Infectious Disease Epidemiology
WinterSession
Department of Epidemiology and Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Dr. M. Lipsitch, Dr. C. Mills
1.25 credits
Course Offered 2008-2009; Offered Alternate Years.
Seminar. Eight 2-hour sessions.

This course will cover advanced issues in the design and interpretation of studies of infectious disease epidemiology. The course will consist of readings and student presentations on topics such as: interpretations of molecular typing data for infectious agents, assessment of incomplete and temporary immunity, immune correlates of protection, spatial effects in disease transmission, and inference about the carrier state. Each session will be led by a student whose responsibility will be to synthesize knowledge on the topic, describe open research areas, and stimulate discussion of the topic based on course readings. This course is intended for advanced students in infectious disease epidemiology.
Course note: Interested students should contact the instructor by the end of Fall 1 to choose a topic for presentation and to discuss possible readings. EPI225,EPI285, EPI501 or permission of the instructor required; Minimum enrollment of 7 required. Course dates TBA, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm.


Course evaluations are an important method for feedback on the quality of course offerings. The submission of a course evaluation is a requirement for this course. Your grade for the course will be made available only after you have submitted responses to at least the first three questions of the on-line evaluation for this course.
Course Evaluations

IMI201 Ecol, Epi, and Cntl of Impor Parasitic Diseases of Devel Areas
Fall 1
Dr. M. Marti, Dr. D. Wirth
2.5 credits
Lectures, seminars. Three 2-hour sessions each week.

Provides an introduction to ecological and epidemiological concepts basic to the control of infectious agents. Considers important parasitic diseases of particular significance in the developing areas of the world. Epidemiological principles of vector-associated diseases are elucidated through study of entities such as malaria and schistosomiasis.

Course Note: Background in biology required; knowledge of pathogenesis of infectious diseases desirable; signature of instructor required. (5.06)

Course evaluations are an important method for feedback on the quality of course offerings. The submission of a course evaluation is a requirement for this course. Your grade for the course will be made available only after you have submitted responses to at least the first three questions of the on-line evaluation for this course.

Course Evaluations

IMI202 Tuberculosis: the Host, the Organism, and the Global Threat
Spring 1
Dr. E. Nardell, Dr. E. Rubin, Dr. S. Fortune
2.5 credits
Lectures. Two 2 -hour sessions each week.

This is a comprehensive survey course on tuberculosis featuring lectures by some of the leading authorities in the field. The first half of the course focuses on population issues (TB epidemiology in the US and the world), transmission, modeling, and programmatic issues (the essentials of good TB control both here and in high burden countries). The second month deals more with the biomedical aspects of TB, immunology, genetics, diagnosis, decision analysis, and treatment, again, both here and abroad. There is a field trip to the Massachusetts State Laboratory. Because of involvement of several of the faculty, special attention is paid to the global problem of multidrug resistant TB, and the work of Partners in
Health, an NGO associated with the medical school. During the second month, medical students join the SPH students for an elective course involving patient interviews at the state TB hospital. They present these cases and related topics in class during the second month. SPH students are evaluated on the basis of class participation and one or more presentations on relevant TB topics of interest. The course ends on or near World TB Day, with optional TB-related activities in the Boston area.
Course Note: This course is intended for students interested in any aspect of tuberculosis, biological, programmatic, international health, and epidemiologic. Some knowledge of immunology and molecular biology is desirable, but not required.

Course evaluations are an important method for feedback on the quality of course offerings. The submission of a course evaluation is a requirement for this course. Your grade for the course will be made available only after you have submitted responses to at least the first three questions of the on-line evaluation for this course.
Course Evaluations

IMI204 Survey of Immunology
Spring 1
Dr. M. Grusby
1.25 credits
Seminars. One 1.5-hour session each week.

Introductory course aimed toward students who may not have a background in the biological sciences and/or immunology. Examines the anatomy and physiology of the immune system, and regulation of the immune response.
Course Note: Ordinal grading option only.

Course evaluations are an important method for feedback on the quality of course offerings. The submission of a course evaluation is a requirement for this course. Your grade for the course will be made available only after you have submitted responses to at least the first three questions of the on-line evaluation for this course.
Course Evaluations

IMI206 Principles of Public Health Entomology
Spring 2
Dr R. Pollack , Dr. M. Muskavtich
2.5 credits
Lectures, discussions, laboratories, and optional field trip. Two 2-hour sessions each week.

The manner in which arthropods burden human health, whether directly or by transmitting disease-causing agents, are discussed from ecological, physiological, genetic, historical and mathematical perspectives. Class and laboratory sessions introduce concepts and strategies currently employed against vector-borne disease worldwide. An optional weekend field trip provides an opportunity for students to better appreciate concepts presented in the classroom.

Course evaluations are an important method for feedback on the quality of course offerings. The submission of a course evaluation is a requirement for this course. Your grade for the course will be made available only after you have submitted responses to at least the first three questions of the on-line evaluation for this course.

Course Evaluations

IMI208 Immunology of Infectious Diseases
Spring
Cross-listed at FAS as BPH-216 and at HMS as BPH-724.0
Dr. S. Behar, Department Members, Guest Lecturers
5 credits
Course offered 2008-2009; offered alternate years.
Lectures, discussions. One 3-hour session each week.

Covers in detail the interactions of pathogens with the host immune system, including innate and protective responses and those immune responses that are deleterious. Lecture topics include: overview of immune responses; response of mucosal-secretory immune system to pathogens; innate immunity "the collectins", innate immunity "Th2 PAMPs"; pathogen regulatation of host immune responses; pathogen evasion of immune effector mechanisms; polarization of CD4+ T helper cell subsets and relationship to disease
outcome; resistance to HIV; HIV and co-infection with other pathogens; mechanisms of immunopathogenesis; and development of vaccines. Pathogens covered in detail include: HIV, cholera, TB, staph/strep, toxoplasma, intestinal protozoa, malaria, helminths.
Course Activities: Each lecture requires reading several relevant papers and completion of a problem set.
Course Note: Course in immunology required; enrollment limited to 35 students; signature of instructor required.



Course evaluations are an important method for feedback on the quality of course offerings. The submission of a course evaluation is a requirement for this course. Your grade for the course will be made available only after you have submitted responses to at least the first three questions of the on-line evaluation for this course.
Course Evaluations

IMI216 Cellular and Molecular Biology of Parasites
Spring
Cross-listed at FAS as BPH-212 and at GSAS as IMM 214a and IMM214b and at HMS as BPH-721.0
Dr. M. Duraisingh, Dr. Matthias Marti
5 credits
Course not offered 2008-2009; offered alternate years.
Lectures, discussions. One 3-hour session each week.

This course covers aspects of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology of protozoan parasites of humans including: malaria, toxoplasma, leishmania, trypanosomes, amoebea and giardia. Will include critical readings and in-depth discussions on comparative mechanisms of pathogenesis; unique parasite biochemistry and organelles; strategies/ molecular basis for host immune invasion; bioinformatics approaches to molecular pathogenesis.
Course Note: Suitable courses in biochemistry and genetics of microbiology required; enrollment limited to 35 students; signature of instructor required. (5.06)




Course evaluations are an important method for feedback on the quality of course offerings. The submission of a course evaluation is a requirement for this course. Your grade for the course will be made available only after you have submitted responses to at least the first three questions of the on-line evaluation for this course.
Course Evaluations

IMI225 Design & Development of a Vaccine
Fall
Dr. T.H. Lee, Dr. M. Essex
2.5 credits
Course not offered 2009-2010, offered alternate years.
Lectures, case studies. One 2-hour session each week.

Covers such topics as methodology for new vaccine development, including development of vaccines for specific purposes; manufacturing and quality control; techniques to ensure appropriate use of vaccines; liability issues; cost-effectiveness analysis; decision analysis for future research, development, and distribution of vaccines; and epidemiology of vaccine preventable illness.

Course Note: Minimum enrollment of 12 students required. (5.06)

Course evaluations are an important method for feedback on the quality of course offerings. The submission of a course evaluation is a requirement for this course. Your grade for the course will be made available only after you have submitted responses to at least the first three questions of the on-line evaluation for this course.

Course Evaluations

IMI227 Genetics & Genomics of Infectious Diseases:Tuberculosis, Malaria
Spring
Dr. I. Kramnik
2.5 Credits
Not Offered 2009-2010
Lectures, seminars, case studies. One 2-hour session each week.

Genetic heterogeneity within the host and the pathogen populations significantly affects disease progression, spread and cure. Novel technologies and methods of genetic analysis are revolutionizing biology and medicine and are anticipated to bring about spectacular changes in management of infectious diseases both at the population and the individual levels. In this course, particular attention will be paid to the studies of malaria, HIV infection and tuberculosis. During the course we will review the sources of genetic heterogeneity and how to study them in human populations, experimental animals, as well as in vectors that transmit the pathogen and in pathogens themselves. We will learn how to identify and study the genes which significantly affect host resistance to pathogens using experimental models as well as in human populations. We will discuss the genetic diversity of microorganisms, its sources and the role in mechanisms of adaptation and evolutionary success of pathogens. Theoretical aspects of co-evolution of host and pathogen, as well as practical implications of this concept for designing optimal intervention strategies will be reviewed. Students will learn about different genetic approaches to study host, vector and pathogen biology, strengths and limitations of individual strategies, and technological advances that will influence this discipline in the future.
Course Note: This course is intended for students interested in genetic applications for the studies of any aspect of infectious diseases. Some knowledge of microbiology, immunology, genetics and molecular biology is desirable, but not required. The students will be evaluated on the basis of class participation and presentation of cases or research proposals on relevant topics of interest. (5.06)

Course Evaluations

IMI228 Combating Infectious Diseases in the Developing World
Spring 1
Dr. K. Mclntosh, Dr. R. Marlink and guest faculty
Spring 1
2.5 Credits
Seminars and Case Discussions. Two 2-hour sessions each week.

This course will focus on research design and methods as well as program building and public health evaluations to help address major infectious diseases in the developing world. The major emphasis will be on AIDS-HIV, but we will also deal with other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. Students will be assigned, in pairs, to critically review one or more papers (often papers written by faculty of the course) and then, after a brief introduction by the instructor, to present and discuss these papers for and with the class. Papers will describe either clinical research designed to answer key questions in combating infectious diseases in developing countries and/or national
program building and evaluation of related public health efforts. In clinical research, presentations and papers will cover subjects such as prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, roll-out of antiretroviral treatment programs, design of vaccine trials, and prevention or treatment of tuberculosis and malaria.

In national program building, presentations and papers will address issues such as design of education curricula and programs for medical personnel, development of clinical support or research laboratories, and systems analysis and evaluations for achieving goals in national and local programs. Discussion will focus on study design, data analysis, ethical issues, setting and achievement of goals, practical issues of clinical research in the developing world, program building, quality assurance and improvement and integration of clinical research into local public health policy. Each class will end with distribution of a 1-2 question quiz that will require brief (400-word) written answers from all course participants, emailed to the instructor before the next session.

Course note: Enrollment limited to 15 students plus auditors. Some background in HIVIAIDS or other infectious diseases is required, and a background in clinical research will be useful. Grading will depend on the presentations and discussions, and responses to the brief quizzes. Ordinal grading option only.

Course Evaluations

IMI230 Clinical Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases
WinterSession
Dr. E. Ryan
Winter
2.5 Credits
Course Not Offered 2008-2009
Lectures, case studies, laboratory. Eight 4 hour sessions each week.

This course is designed to convey essential clinical information to individuals wishing to care for individuals with diseases of specific importance in resource poor areas of the world, especially infectious diseases. The course will review essential clinical information in the fields of clinical tropical medicine, international health and infectious diseases. Areas will include epidemiology, clinical manifestations, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The course will be divided into two 16 day blocks. The first block would occur in July of each year, and the second in January. Each section would have a specific focus (for example epidemiology, medical entomology, immunizations, parasitic infections, virology, etc.) and would complement (but not overlap) with other sections. Students may take both 16 day blocks. The course will be intensive with a full schedule each day consisting of lectures, laboratory practica, case discussions, and clinical pathological conferences. Clinical experience is a prerequisite, including having an MD or comparable degree, or having completed at least 3 years of such clinical training. The course will meet Monday through Friday for 35-40 hours/week. At the end of each two-week block, students will be evaluated by a written examination and a laboratory practical examination (if appropriate for that section). Lectures will focus on specific topic areas (example: trematode infections, malaria, nutritional deficiencies). Clinicopathological conferences and case presentations will focus on management of individuals with diseases and syndromes. Laboratory practica will emphasize basic skills required for appropriate diagnosis of individuals in resource poor areas of the world (example: examination of stools and blood smears for parasites), and pathology and clinical specimens will be use to illustrate disease entities.

Areas of focus:
July Block 1: Helminthic infections and malaria
July Block 2: Protozoal infections, medical entomology, tropical mycology,
nutritional deficiencies
January Block 3: Tropical virology
January Block 4: Tropical bacteriology and global medicine

Course note: Ordinal grading; enrollment limited, course instructor signature required.
Course Evaluations

IMI230 Clinical Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases
Summer 1
Dr. E. Ryan
Summer
2.5 Credits
Not Offered Summer 2009
Lectures, case studies, laboratory. Eight 4 hour sessions each week.

This course is designed to convey essential clinical information to individuals wishing to care for individuals with diseases of specific importance in resource poor areas of the world, especially infectious diseases. The course will review essential clinical information in the fields of clinical tropical medicine, international health and infectious diseases. Areas will include epidemiology, clinical manifestations, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The course would be divided into 2 one-month blocks, each consisting of two sections. The first block would occur in July of each year, and the second in January. Each of the 4 two-week sections would have a specific focus (for example epidemiology, medical entomology, immunizations, parasitic infections, virology, etc.) and would complement (but not overlap) with other sections. Students may take both one-month blocks, or any two-week or four-week component. The course will be intensive with a full schedule each day consisting of lectures, laboratory practica, case discussions, and clinical pathological conferences. Clinical experience is a prerequisite, including having an MD or comparable degree, or having completed at least 3 years of such clinical training. The course will meet Monday through Friday for 35-40 hours/week. At the end of each two-week block, students will be evaluated by a written examination and a laboratory practical examination (if appropriate for that section). Lectures will focus on specific topic areas (example: trematode infections, malaria, nutritional deficiencies). Clinicopathological conferences and case presentations will focus on management of individuals with diseases and syndromes. Laboratory practica will emphasize basic skills required for appropriate diagnosis of individuals in resource poor areas of the world (example: examination of stools and blood smears for parasites), and pathology and clinical specimens will be use to illustrate disease entities.

Areas of focus:
July Block 1: Helminthic infections and malaria
July Block 2: Protozoal infections, medical entomology, tropical mycology,
nutritional deficiencies
January Block 3: Tropical virology
January Block 4: Tropical bacteriology and global medicine

Course note: Ordinal grading; enrollment limited, course instructor signature required.
Course Evaluations

IMI231 Introduction to Computational Genomics for Infectious Disease
Fall
Dr. J. Galagan, Dr. D. Wirth
5.0 Credits
Lectures and Required Lab. Two 1.5-hour lecture each week.
2-hour labs. Labs TBA

This course meets on MIT's Campus in Bldg 2 Room 105.

The study of infectious diseases is being revolutionized by the availability of genomic data for many pathogenic organisms. These data include genome sequences and annotation, comparative sequence data and population data, expression data, and metabolic data. For these data to be maximally useful to infectious disease researchers, familiarity with the appropriate analysis methods and concepts must be acquired. This course will be an introduction to computational genomics methods with selected applications to infectious disease.

Course Notes: Pass/Fail grading option only.
Course Evaluations

IMI300 Independent Study/ Tutorial
Fall 1
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

An opportunity for independent study is offered for interested and qualified students or small groups of students. Arrangements must be made with individual faculty members and are limited by the amount of faculty time available. These programs are open to all students who wish to go beyond the content of the regular courses.
Course Note: Completed independent study contract is required at the time of registration; maximum of 5 credits per independent study topic; pass/fail only; signature of instructor required. (5.06)

Course Evaluations

IMI300 Independent Study/ Tutorial
Fall
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

An opportunity for independent study is offered for interested and qualified students or small groups of students. Arrangements must be made with individual faculty members and are limited by the amount of faculty time available. These programs are open to all students who wish to go beyond the content of regular courses.
Course Note: Completed independent study contract is required at the time of registration; maximum of 5 credits per independent study topic; pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI300 Independent Study/ Tutorial
Fall 2
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

An opportunity for independent study is offered for interested and qualified students or small groups of students. Arrangements must be made with individual faculty members and are limited by the amount of faculty time available. These programs are open to all students who wish to go beyond the content of regular courses.
Course Note: Completed independent study contract is required at the time of registration; maximum of 5 credits per independent study topic; pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI300 Independent Study/ Tutorial
Spring 1
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

An opportunity for independent study is offered for interested and qualified students or small groups of students. Arrangements must be made with individual faculty members and are limited by the amount of faculty time available. These programs are open to all students who wish to go beyond the content of regular courses.
Course Note: Completed independent study contract is required at the time of registration; maximum of 5 credits per independent study topic; pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI300 Independent Study/ Tutorial
Spring
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

An opportunity for independent study is offered for interested and qualified students or small groups of students. Arrangements must be made with individual faculty members and are limited by the amount of faculty time available. These programs are open to all students who wish to go beyond the content of regular courses.
Course Note: Completed independent study contract is required at the time of registration; maximum of 5 credits per independent study topic; pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI300 Independent Study/ Tutorial
Spring 2
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

An opportunity for independent study is offered for interested and qualified students or small groups of students. Arrangements must be made with individual faculty members and are limited by the amount of faculty time available. These programs are open to all students who wish to go beyond the content of regular courses.
Course Note: Completed independent study contract is required at the time of registration; maximum of 5 credits per independent study topic; pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI300 Independent Study/ Tutorial
WinterSession
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

An opportunity for independent study is offered for interested and qualified students or small groups of students. Arrangements must be made with individual faculty members and are limited by the amount of faculty time available. These programs are open to all students who wish to go beyond the content of regular courses.
Course Note: Completed independent study contract is required at the time of registration; maximum of 5 credits per independent study topic; pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI350 Research
Fall 1
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral candidates who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied research in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/Fail only; maximum of 20 credits; signature of instructor required. (5.06)

Course Evaluations

IMI350 Research
Fall
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied research in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI350 Research
Fall 2
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied research in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI350 Research
Spring 1
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied research in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI350 Research
Spring
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied research in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI350 Research
Spring 2
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied research in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI350 Research
WinterSession
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied research in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI400 Non-Resident Research
Fall 1
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral candidates who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied research in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/Fail only; maximum of 20 credits; signature of instructor required. (5.06)

Course Evaluations

IMI400 Non-Resident Research
Fall
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied reserach in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI400 Non-Resident Research
Fall 2
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied reserach in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI400 Non-Resident Research
Spring 1
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied reserach in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI400 Non-Resident Research
Spring
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied reserach in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI400 Non-Resident Research
Spring 2
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied reserach in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

IMI400 Non-Resident Research
WinterSession
Department Members
Time and credit to be arranged.

For doctoral students who have passed their school-wide Oral Qualifying Examination and who are undertaking advanced work along the lines of fundamental or applied reserach in the department. Inquiries about specific research opportunities should be addressed to the chair of the department.
Course Note: Pass/ fail only; signature of instructor required.

Course Evaluations

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