6.45	Medical Microbiology

Head: Joanne Embree
General Office: 510 Basic Medical Sciences Building, 730 William Avenue
Telephone: (204) 789 3444
Fax: (204) 789 3926
Email: nelsonak@ms.umanitoba.ca
Graduate Program Assistant: Angela Nelson

Academic Staff

Program Information
The Department of Medical Microbiology offers programs of studies leading to the MSc and PhD degrees with research and academic experience suitable for a career in Basic Microbiology or Infectious Diseases.

The department has nationally recognized strengths in several areas, particularly epidemiology. It also enjoys extensive collaborative projects with both the University of Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya, and with the new federal laboratories for disease research. The Nairobi project uses epidemiologic, biologic, and molecular biologic studies to better understand sexually-transmitted diseases in the African population. Similar studies are being instituted in India. Numerous opportunities for collaborative work with members of other departments as well as with various affiliated research organizations (including the Clinical Microbiology Laboratories of the Health Sciences Centre, the Infectious Diseases programs of the Health Sciences Centre, the Cadham Provincial Laboratory, the federal laboratories, and St. Boniface Hospital) exist.

Recent graduates of the program have been highly successful in academia, industrial, medical, and veterinary careers.

Fields of Research
Scientific interests of the faculty is broad and research projects range from the basic understanding of gene regulation and molecular basis of cellular functions to the development of vaccines and diagnostics for human health and veterinary diseases. The Department has active research programs in cell and molecular biology, immunology, virology, bacterial genetics, microbial pathogenicity, Chlamydial biology, and clinical microbiology. Many research projects are oriented to human diseases and many are carried out in collaboration with physicians who have access to patients.

Research Facilities
Medical Microbiology occupies the 5th Floor of the Basic Medical Sciences Building on the Bannatyne Campus of the university and includes modern research laboratories. Teaching and research are also conducted within the Clinical Microbiology Laboratories of the Health Sciences Centre and within the infectious diseases programs of the Health Sciences Centre, National Research Council, Cadham Provincial Laboratory, St. Boniface Hospital, and the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health. The department's equipment, much of which is shared, supports research ranging from molecular biology to clinical microbiology. It includes ample biohazard containment facilities, controlled environment equipment, ultracentrifugation, spectrophotometric, chromatographic and electrophoretic equipment, a transmission electron microscope, fluorescent microscopes, liquid scintillation counters, personal computers and computer terminals for direct access to the main frame computer. A library and a number of other ancillary facilities are available.

M.Sc. in Medical Microbiology

Admission
In addition to the admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar, graduates in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, or general Science may apply for entry into this graduate program. The department requires that an incoming student have a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0, or its equivalent, in the two years immediately preceding first registration. Students with a three-year B.Sc. degree must normally enrol in a pre-Master’s course arranged in consultation with the Graduate Studies Committee and the head of the department.

Application Deadlines
Canadian/U.S. students should submit their application and supporting documentation to the Department of Medical Microbiology as follows:

Session	Start Date	Canadian/U.S.	International
Regular	(September)	June 1	March 1
Winter	(January)	October 1	July 1
Spring	(May)	February 1	November 1
Summer	(July)	April 1	January 1

Program Requirements
Program requirements are those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar.

Second language reading requirement: none

Expected time to graduate: 2 - 3 years

Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology

Admission
Admission requirements are those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar.

Application Deadlines
As listed above in Master's Program section.

Program Requirements
Program requirements are those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies found in the Graduate Studies Regulations Section of this Calendar.

Second language requirement: none

Expected time to graduation: 5 to 6 years

Course Descriptions

The following courses may be taken for major or ancillary credit (except for MMIC 7180). Students in any category may apply for registration, with the consent of the department, but those doing research in the department concurrently must restrict their coursework to 12 credit hours, unless special permission is obtained to the contrary. Not all courses are offered in every session.

MMIC 6010 Biological Safety Cr.Hrs.3 (Formerly 097.601) Critical Analysis of biological safety in the research, diagnostic and hospital environment; assessment of the underlying causes of laboratory acquired infections and the administrative, engineering and personal protective control measures available; analysis of current and new bio-containment technologies, risk assessment tools, the need for scientific based decision making and the public perception versus real risk.

MMIC 7010 Virology Cr.Hrs.6 (Formerly 097.701) Fundamental properties of viruses of bacteria, animals and plants. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

MMIC 7020 Medical Mycology Cr.Hrs.3 (Formerly 097.702) Characteristics of pathogenic fungi of humanity. Relevant laboratory work.

MMIC 7040 Clinical Bacteriology Cr.Hrs.6 (Formerly 097.704) Scientific basis of routine laboratory methods used in the diagnosis of bacterial infection: specimen handling techniques; laboratory organization.

MMIC 7050 Microbial Pathogenicity Cr.Hrs.6 (Formerly 097.705) Comparative structure of virulent and avirulent bacteria, biochemical basis of virulence; host defenses.

MMIC 7140 Clinical Parasitology Cr.Hrs.3 (Formerly 097.714) The course will consist of a series of lectures on the epidemiology, molecular pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis (clinical and laboratory), treatment and prevention of human disease; each class is followed by a laboratory period in which the student obtains some practical experience.

MMIC 7160 The Molecular Basis of Antibiotic Action Cr.Hrs.3 (Formerly 097.716) Historical development, mechanism of action, principles of antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular and genetic basis for antibiotic resistance transfer. Prerequisite courses include Microbial Physiology or Biochemistry and at least an introductory course in Genetics and the consent of instructor.

MMIC 7170 Molecular Biology of Animal Viruses Cr.Hrs.3 (Formerly 097.717) Lecture and conference course. Recent advances in molecular aspects of virus structure, replication, genetics, and spectrum of virus-host cell interaction. Prerequisites: MMIC 7010 (or 097.701), or consent of instructor.

MMIC 7200 Host Defence Responses Cr.Hrs.3 (Formerly 097.720) Aspects of the cellular responses during inflammation and infection. Topics will include inflammatory cell function, mechanisms of cell accumulation and activation, roles of cytokines in these processes. Selected examples will be discussed in detail. The course will involve some student presentations.

MMIC 7210 Clinical Virology Cr.Hrs.3 (Formerly 097.721) Overview of the association between viruses and human diseases; biology of host and virus interaction and role of immune system to control infection; understanding the role of laboratory services and patient management; create appreciation for role of molecular-based diagnostic methods in the detection of new human pathogens. Lecture/laboratory components.

MMIC 7220 The Ecology of Infectious Diseases Cr.Hrs.6 (Formerly 097.722) Explores the study of infectious diseases in a global context from the perspective of biomedical, clinical, heath systems/services and social, cultural and environmental determinants of health and disease. The course features didactic, self-directed reading and interactive small group sessions.