Teaching
I currently teach two courses in Plant Pathology and Plant Biology:
1) Plant Pathology 601: Concepts of Plant Pathology
2) Plant Biology 482: Molecular Plant-Pathogen Interactions
PlPa 601 Concepts of Plant Pathology
Spring semester 3 credits
The course is intended to be a core course for graduate students with a major or minor in the Field of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology. The course concerns concepts in host-pathogen relationships with an emphasis on the roles of molecules and cell structures in determining the outcome of an interaction. Evidence for the role of putative disease determinants is explored in the context of universal stages of pathogenesis and representative pathosystems. Discussion periods provide time for analysis of special topics, critiquing of research papers, comparisons of pathosystems, evaluation of grant proposals, and review sessions. Students develop a personal computer-based reference collection for use in several aspects of the course. Students also write a grant proposal and review each others proposals in mock panels. The final discussion session of the semester is used for the Big Picture Game, in which student teams compete in the development of a comprehensive picture of plant-pathogen interactions. The final exam includes both written and oral components.
BioPl 482 Molecular Plant-Pathogen Interactions
Spring semester 1 credit
(taught with Gillian Turgeon and offered alternate years)
This course examines the molecular and cellular factors that control pathogen-plant interactions from the perspectives of pathogen biology and plant responses to pathogen infection. The focus is on fungal and bacterial virulence proteins, toxins, and their deployment systems and the potential uses of pathogen factors in plant biology research. A class project involving teams of students is aimed at identifying and evaluating pathogen-derived tools for plant biologists.
