Fall 2008
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANT-PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS
Instructors
|
Adam Bogdanove |
4-3421 |
423 Bessey |
|
|
Steve Whitham |
4-4952 |
419 Bessey |
Class list
Time M,
W, F 9:00
a.m. - 9:50 a.m.
Place 347
Bessey Hall
Fomat
This is a 3-credit course comprising lectures and student-led discussions of research articles concerning molecular aspects of plant interactions with microbes, particularly pathogenic microbes. The course is intended to familiarize students with seminal work in the field and enable them to understand and critically evaluate current (and future!) work. Different topics will be dealt with weekly. Typically, lectures will be given on Monday and half of Wednesday class, and paper discussions will take place on Wednesday (1 paper) and Friday (2 papers). The course also includes a research proposal writing and peer review exercise to be carried out over the semester.
Expectations
Students are expected to attend lectures, complete reading assignments on time, and participate in class discussion. Additionally, students will be expected to lead discussions of several papers throughout the semester. Students should also choose one exciting new paper published during the semester and lead a discussion of that paper during the last week of class. Finally, students will be expected to write an original research proposal (unrelated to their thesis or dissertation research), and to participate in a peer review exercise involving students enrolled in similar courses at the University of Delaware (UD) and Penn State University (PSU). Our class will exchange proposals with the classes at UD and PSU. Each student at ISU will be expected to write (anonymous) critical reviews of two to three proposals from UD and PSU and to participate in a panel discussion to rank all the UD and PSU proposals for an imaginary funding program. Likewise ISU proposals will be evaluated and ranked by the UD and PSU students. Proposals will be graded by the instructors independent of the student reviews.
Grading
Students will be evaluated and grades determined according to the following appropriation:
25% Attendance and participation
25% Discussion leadership
35% Proposal
15% Peer review exercise
Course materials
Handouts will be distributed during class and will be available online at
www.public.iastate.edu/~ajbog/plp692
Research articles for discussion will be available approximately one week prior either online at the above URL or we will provide the citation for you to retrieve.
Content, projected schedule, and deadlines
|
Week |
Topic/Activity |
Instructor |
|
Aug. 25 |
Class introduction; Systemic acquired resistance |
Steve |
|
Sep. 1* |
Induced systemic resistance |
Adam |
|
Sep. 8 |
Bacterial pathogenesis |
Adam |
|
Sep. 15 |
Fungal pathogenesis |
Steve |
|
Sep. 22 |
Viral pathogenesis |
Steve |
|
Sep. 29** |
Proposal preparation/literature management; Nematode pathogenesis |
Tarek Hewezi |
|
Oct. 6 |
Agrobacterium & Rhizobium |
Adam |
|
Oct. 13*** |
Unifying themes of pathogenesis |
Steve & Adam |
|
Oct. 20 |
R genes (pathogen recognition, downstream signaling) |
Adam |
|
Oct. 27 |
R genes (evolution, structure & function) |
Steve |
|
Nov. 3 |
ëomics of plant-pathogen interactions (Plants) ëomics of plant-pathogen interactions (Pathogens) ëomics of plant-pathogen interactions (Guest lectures) |
Steve Adam Guest lecturers |
|
Nov. 10**** |
||
|
Nov. 17***** |
||
|
Nov. 24 |
Thanksgiving break |
|
|
Dec. 1 |
Proposal review and panel |
Adam & Steve |
|
Dec. 8 |
Student choice (e.g. Plant-insect interactions/ Hot topics) |
Steve & Adam |
* No class on Mon. Sep. 1
** Clear proposal topic with Adam & Steve
*** Preproposals due before noon Monday, Oct. 13
**** Proposals due before noon Monday, Nov. 10
***** Reviews due Nov. 21
Instructor availability
Students are welcome to drop by Steveís or Adamís office anytime. To guarantee a meeting, please schedule in advance.
Students with disabilities
If a student has a disability that qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Disability Resources (DR) office for information on appropriate policies and procedures. DR is located on the main floor of the Student Services Building, Room 1076-- phone 515-294-7220.