The key concepts and techniques related to the molecular and cellular basis of microbial pathogenesis including the exploitation of mammalian host cells by medically relevant prokaryotic and eukaryotic pathogens, molecular mechanisms of infectious diseases, immune response to infections, the role of pathogenic and host factors in disease and emerging techniques to study the basis of microbial pathogenesis and disease.

The key concepts and techniques related to the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cytoskeleton including the molecular mechanism of the core building blocks, nucleators, molecular motors and regulators of actin and microtubule cytoskeleton and intermediate filaments, roles of the cytoskeleton in the physiology of individual cells, tissues and organisms and their implications in human disease, emerging techniques to study the cytoskeletal components such as advanced microscopy.

Broad cross section of methodological approaches including cloning, genomic strategies, single molecule and single cell-based studies, in situ localization, high troughput approaches such as RNAi, gene expression analysis, genetic approaches with model systems as well as techniques for protein analysis.

Proteomics and function, fundamentals of mass spectrometry (MS), tandem MS, chemical and posttranslational modifications, protein identification, data mining, protein complexes, protein folding, MS genotyping, high throughput; recently developed proteomics methods and their applications; focus on the recent scientific literature in this field including quantitative comparison of healthy and disease proteomes, the comprehensive analysis of protein-protein interactions in different cell types, and new approaches to analyze cellular signaling pathways and the subcellular-organelle and cell surface proteomes.

Molecular details of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Subject areas will include immune recognition, immunosuppression, communication between different immune system cell types, and autoimmunity.

Stem cell biology at the intersection of developmental/cell biology and medicine; overview of stem cell biology in the context of embryonic development, tissue maintenance and cancer. Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, reprogramming and differentiation, stem cells in adult tissues and cancer, therapeutic applications of stem cells. Advanced molecular and cellular techniques to study, generate and manipulate stem cells.

Function of different neuronal cell types and the larger organization of the mammalian nervous system: The topics include the molecular details of synaptic connectivity and its relationship to learning and memory and the causes of neurodegenerative disease.

Fundamental aspects of the molecular and cellular biology of tumor formation and cancer cells. Topics include cell cycle, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, the tumor's interaction with other cells and tissues, approaches to treating cancer, and novel experimental approaches for the discovery of mutations that contribute to tumorigenesis.

This course covers the cell and molecular biology of pathogenic organisms, such as malaria, trypanosomes, toxoplasma, and parasitic yeast. Topics will include organism life cycles, host invasion strategies, methods of immune system evasion, and the evolution of parasites.

How do cells generate, store, and use the energy that they require? This course will cover in great depth the processes of oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, and photosynthesis. In addition, energy acquisition by chemotrophic organisms will be discussed.