260.626.01
Molecular and Cellular Biology for Infectious Diseases II
Location
East Baltimore
Term
4th Term
Department
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Credit(s)
3
Academic Year
2025 - 2026
Instruction Method
In-person
W, F, 10:30 - 11:50am
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Resources
Prerequisite
No prerequisites for this course.
Enrollment Restriction
This course is not restricted.
Curious how the cell’s organelles and cytoskeleton act as battlegrounds during infection? This course reveals how pathogens rewire host stress responses, metabolism, and intracellular trafficking to survive and spread. You’ll gain a systems-level view of cell biology in action (from mitochondria and ER to autophagy, cytoskeletal remodeling, and cell death) and see how these processes shape immune defense and therapeutic opportunities.
Examines how eukaryotic cells detect, respond to, and adapt under stress during infection and immune activation. Builds on fundamental principles of cell biology by exploring the architecture and functions of major organelles and cytoskeletal systems, emphasizing their dynamic roles as hubs for signaling, quality control, and host–pathogen interactions. Includes topics such as mitochondrial dynamics and metabolism, cytoskeleton organization and trafficking, endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response, vesicle transport, autophagy and selective organelle degradation, and diverse programmed cell death pathways. Gives special attention to how pathogens hijack these networks to promote survival or immune evasion. Integrates mechanistic knowledge with current research to understand cellular stress responses as therapeutic targets in infectious disease.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the architecture and functions of major organelles and the cytoskeleton in healthy and stressed cells.
- Explain how mitochondria, ER, and endolysosomal systems coordinate quality control, signaling, and metabolism.
- Compare apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death pathways and their impact on host defense and inflammation.
- Evaluate the roles of autophagy, mitophagy, and selective organelle turnover in cellular homeostasis and pathogen control.
- Discuss how pathogens hijack host stress responses and intracellular pathways to promote survival or immune evasion.
- Integrate knowledge of signaling networks linking organelles, cytoskeleton, and immune pathways.
- Critically assess current literature on therapeutic strategies targeting stress-responsive organelles and cytoskeletal systems.
- Synthesize mechanistic cell biology concepts with translational perspectives in infectious disease research.
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
- 32% In-class Exercises
- 8% Final Presentation
- 60% Exam(s)