Principles and Methods in Parasitology
EEB 3898: Principles and Methods in Parasitology
Intensive Summer Session, May 13th - 31st, 2013
Day, Time: Weekdays, 9 am to 12 pm
Place: Storrs campus, Torrey Life Sciences (TLS) Room 313
Credits: 3 (open to majors and non-majors)
Instructor: Dr. Maria Pickering
Email: maria.pickering@uconn.edu
Office: TLS 478
Phone: 860-486-1882
Office hours: variable & flexible (call, email, drop by)
Contents
Course Summary
The importance and wonders of parasitology will be highlighted in this intensive 3-week course. This hands-on course will use field collections, laboratories, and discussions to introduce students to the basic principles of parasitology. Topics covered will include host-parasite interactions, parasite life cycles, methods of transmission, and parasite adaptations. Focusing primarily on local parasites, students will also be familiarized with methods of fixation, preparation, and identification of parasites.
Course Procedures and Policies
Academic Integrity:
Plagiarism and cheating are violations of the student conduct code, and may be punished by failure in the course or, in severe cases, dismissal from the University. For more information, see Appendix A of the Student Conduct Code.
Disabilities:
If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an accommodation, you should contact a course instructor and the Center for Students with Disabilities (Wilbur Cross Building, Room 201) within the first two weeks of the semester.
Attendance:
is mandatory.
Evolving Syllabus
Date | Topics | Field/Lab Activity | Due Dates | Homework |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mon, May 13 |
Introduction and course logistics; classification system; definitions | Getting to know your Microscopes! | Field trip form; Microscope Tutorial; watch parasitoid video; classification assignment | |
Tues, May 14 |
Quantitative parasitological terms | Hissing Cockroach dissection | Calculate prevalence, mean intensity, abundance from class data; Scientific names of 2 hosts of your choice | |
Wed, May 15 |
Labeling; look at examples of major groups; Life cycles | Tour of UCONN Biological Collections | Quiz #1 | Learn pin worm life cycle; review phyla (etymologies and pond ecosystem handouts) |
Thurs, May 16 |
Leech Day! (Phylum Annelida) | W-Lot Pond Excursion | Continue the review of phyla (etymologies and pond ecosystem handouts) | |
Fri, May 17 |
Go over parasitic phyla; Transmission strategies | Fenton River Trip | Quiz #2 | How to read a scientific paper handout; read 2 papers to be handed out (be prepared to discuss them Monday!) |
Mon, May 20 |
Discuss Wood et al. 2007 paper; discuss host-parasites of coastal systems | Life cycle activity | Parasite-in-the-news Presentations (Ruchi) | Learn coastal invertebrates; review life cycles |
Tues, May 21 |
Biodiversity and life cycles | Coastal Field Trip! | Parasite-in-the-news Presentations (Angela, James) | Study for your midterm! |
Wed, May 22 |
Biodiversity | Examine coastal critters | Parasite-in-the-news Presentations (Madiha, Dan, Joe) | Study for your midterm! |
Thurs, May 23 |
Midterm | Choose worms to stain | Notebooks due; Parasite-in-the-news Presentations (Angela, Gloria, Asad) | |
Fri, May 24 |
Start staining | Staining/slide preparations | Notebooks due; Parasite-in-the-news Presentations (Joe, Ewelina, Ruchi) | Paper topic; Parasites-around-the-world assignment |
Mon, May 27 |
No Class | No Class | No Class | Work on paper topic! |
Tues, May 28 |
Finishing staining and mounting | Continue staining/slide preparations | Parasites-around-the-world assignment due; Parasite-in-the-news Presentations (Madiha, Gloria, Ruchi) | Work on paper topic! Draft due tomorrow! |
Wed, May 29 |
Protozoan day! | Papers due to reviewer; Parasite-in-the-news Presentations (Eldar, James, Dan) | Peer-review partner's paper | |
Thurs, May 30 |
Parasite adaptations; Prevention of Parasites | Examine the slides we made; Meet with peer-reviewer | Papers due to partners; Parasite-in-the-news Presentations (Eldar, James, Dan) | Revise paper (final draft due tomorrow!) |
Fri, May 31 |
Final | Round table discussion of paper topics and Parasites-around-the-world | Final Paper Due; Peer-review comments Due; Notebook Check 2 | Enjoy your summer! |
Grading
Midterm: 50 points
Final: 50 points
Unannounced quizzes (5 total, lowest quiz dropped): 20 points
Participation: 20 points
In-class exercises: 20 points
Homework: 20 points
Parasites-in-the-news presentations (5 points each): 10 points
Research article summary/presentation: 30 points
Host-parasite of choice presentation: 20 points
Lab notebook check 1: 15 points
Lab notebook check 2: 15 points
Slide preparations: 30 points
TOTAL COURSE GRADE: 300 points
(converted to a % for final grade)
Grading scale: A = 100-90%, B = 89-80%, C = 79-70%, D = 69-60%, F = 59-0%.
Plus/minus system will be used for the final grade.
Supplemental Books
Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms by Donald J. Borror
Resources and/or Links of Interest
Phylum Platyhelminthes
Zombie snail video!
Phylum Mollusca
Glochidia larvae being transferred to fish host video
Phylum Nematomorpha
Nematomorph website
Nematomorph emerging from cricket video
Phylum Nematoda
Guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) Eradication website
Phylum Arthropoda
Rhizocephalan life cycle video
General Information
Overview of major parasitic groups
Principles of Parasitism: online lab tutorial in parasitology from Univ. of Alberta
Human Parasitology Tutorial
Parasites Online
Illustrations of the parasite life cycles here are great!
Fun, entertaining
Parasite of the Day Blog
TWIP--This Week In Parasitism, a podcast
Parasites featured on CreatureCast