WE TEACH ALL ABOUT PHYTOBACTERIA
PEPS 606 Biology of Plant Pathogens: Bacteria and Viruses
(4 Cr; Every year in spring)
Instructors: Dr. John Hu (Virology) and Dr. Mohammad Arif (Bacteriology)
This course will cover principles and concepts in pathogen biology, epidemiology and management of plant diseases caused by bacteria and viruses. This class will be taught in two modules: the first 8 weeks will cover biology and management of bacterial pathogens; the second eight weeks will cover biology and management of plant viruses. The class is worth 4 credits of lecture/lab. Each four-hour session will consist of one hour of lecture and three hours of lab.
Objective: Identify major tropical and temperate zone plant diseases caused by bacteria; understand and discuss the major differences and similarities of select economically important plant diseases caused by bacteria in tropical and temperate zone agriculture; describe species of plant pathogens associated with these diseases; understand and describe the distinct types of bacteria that affect plants; identify the key characteristics of plant pathogenic species associated with these diseases; describe key epidemiological factors associated with distinct pathogen groups; describe and analyze disease management strategies associated with distinct pathogen groups (genera and species).
This course will cover principles and concepts in pathogen biology, epidemiology and management of plant diseases caused by bacteria and viruses. This class will be taught in two modules: the first 8 weeks will cover biology and management of bacterial pathogens; the second eight weeks will cover biology and management of plant viruses. The class is worth 4 credits of lecture/lab. Each four-hour session will consist of one hour of lecture and three hours of lab.
Objective: Identify major tropical and temperate zone plant diseases caused by bacteria; understand and discuss the major differences and similarities of select economically important plant diseases caused by bacteria in tropical and temperate zone agriculture; describe species of plant pathogens associated with these diseases; understand and describe the distinct types of bacteria that affect plants; identify the key characteristics of plant pathogenic species associated with these diseases; describe key epidemiological factors associated with distinct pathogen groups; describe and analyze disease management strategies associated with distinct pathogen groups (genera and species).
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I learned a lot and Dr. Arif did a great job as the professor. He really cares about his students and wants them to get the most out of the course.
Student / Spring 2017
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It was an excellent course which was really well prepared and all the questions were answered properly. The format was very good and organized; I believe all the students were engaged during the course
Student / SPRING 2017
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I have never seen an instructor like Dr. Arif who make so much efforts for this course.
Thank you for this bacteriology course.
Thank you for this bacteriology course.
Student / Spring 2017
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I learned a lot. I have no bacteriology experience, the relative lectures right before the lab helped a lot. I liked the hands on, quick procedures.
Thank you for having a good & fun class
Thank you for having a good & fun class
Student / Spring 2017
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The bacteriology course is excellent. In my opinion, all students in the department should take it.
Student / Spring 2017
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The phylogenetic labs were extremely helpful. I think more labs like that would be beneficial for the students. Hands on labs (inoculating plants, plating bacteria, biochemical tests) were all really fun! Learning how to use different software was all helpful, and can be applied to the research I'll be doing.
Student / Spring 2017
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PEPS 646/MICR 646 Plant-Bacterial Interactions
(3 Cr; Alternate year in fall - now in 2018)
Instructor: Dr. Mohammad Arif
The course will cover molecular genetics of bacteria, molecular host-bacterial interactions and evolution. The goal of this class is to present students with a solid background in bacterial plant pathogens and symbionts, enabling them to read the current literature on plant-bacterial interactions with understanding and interest. This is a graduate course, so active participation will be expected along the way, not just during examination periods. There will be ample opportunity to discuss concepts presented in the literature as well as concepts you develop on your own as the class progresses. There are situations in which plant pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria interact with plants using some of the same mechanisms as bacteria that interact in human and animal diseases. Parallels will be sought throughout the semester, giving a broader perspective to diseases caused by bacteria as well as interactions with beneficial bacteria, interactions with insects, fungi and nematodes.
The course will cover molecular genetics of bacteria, molecular host-bacterial interactions and evolution. The goal of this class is to present students with a solid background in bacterial plant pathogens and symbionts, enabling them to read the current literature on plant-bacterial interactions with understanding and interest. This is a graduate course, so active participation will be expected along the way, not just during examination periods. There will be ample opportunity to discuss concepts presented in the literature as well as concepts you develop on your own as the class progresses. There are situations in which plant pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria interact with plants using some of the same mechanisms as bacteria that interact in human and animal diseases. Parallels will be sought throughout the semester, giving a broader perspective to diseases caused by bacteria as well as interactions with beneficial bacteria, interactions with insects, fungi and nematodes.
PEPS 615L Diagnosis and Management of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests (2 Cr, Lab Course; Every year in summer)
Instructor: Dr. Mohammad Arif
PEPS 615L serves to integrate knowledge on pathogen and pest biology. Students will draw conclusions based on information about the individual pathogen, insect, nutritional and environmental conditions and determine the most likely cause(s) of disease(s), and disorder(s). The course will be iterative and interactive; each laboratory and field exercise will be based on the previous sessions. Students will be encouraged to diagnose the cause(s) and draw reasonable conclusion(s) based on their own group observations. Knowledge will be transmitted verbally, in small group discussions, in formal presentations, and via internet communications.
PEPS 615L serves to integrate knowledge on pathogen and pest biology. Students will draw conclusions based on information about the individual pathogen, insect, nutritional and environmental conditions and determine the most likely cause(s) of disease(s), and disorder(s). The course will be iterative and interactive; each laboratory and field exercise will be based on the previous sessions. Students will be encouraged to diagnose the cause(s) and draw reasonable conclusion(s) based on their own group observations. Knowledge will be transmitted verbally, in small group discussions, in formal presentations, and via internet communications.
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This was a very nice course and instructor helped us to learn more
Student
Summer / 2017
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This course is very useful because you learn the real sense of diagnosis process starting from sampling until the final step of writing a sample diagnostic report to the farmers.
Student
Summer / 2017
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The instructor demonstrated professional attitude and behavior; he is the best teacher I ever seen during my academic life. He is really kind and willing to help anybody and answer all the questions.
Student
Summer / 2017
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PEPS 691 Special Topic "Molecular Diagnostics: Theory and Practices" (3 Cr; Fall - 2017)
Instructor: Dr. Mohammad Arif
The goal of this course is to give the students a complete understanding about molecular diagnostics from experiment design, validation to peer-review publication. This is a graduate level course (lecture cum discussion and a lab) required active participation is expected along the way. In the lab, students will be working on molecular diagnostic project(s) to develop the diagnostic protocol(s); they will also be exposed to molecular techniques and bioinformatics. During the class, latest technologies and principles will be discussed. The course will provide a new set of career skills; job opportunity and career in molecular diagnostics and microbial forensics will also be discussed. I am also working to bring guest speaker(s) expert in diagnostics/microbial forensics, associated with federal agencies and/or diagnostic network. The ultimate aim is to publish the data generated during the lab classes; however, this depends on student’s enthusiasm and interest for the course. The course is not only designed for plant pathology students but also for the students from other disciplines including entomology, microbiology, plant biology, molecular biology and food & animal sciences. Most probably, this course would be offered again in Fall 2019 as “Microbial Forensics and Molecular Diagnostics” (3 Cr) with same concept. But more lectures on microbial forensics will be added.
I encourage you to contact me, if you have any question(s) about the course.
The goal of this course is to give the students a complete understanding about molecular diagnostics from experiment design, validation to peer-review publication. This is a graduate level course (lecture cum discussion and a lab) required active participation is expected along the way. In the lab, students will be working on molecular diagnostic project(s) to develop the diagnostic protocol(s); they will also be exposed to molecular techniques and bioinformatics. During the class, latest technologies and principles will be discussed. The course will provide a new set of career skills; job opportunity and career in molecular diagnostics and microbial forensics will also be discussed. I am also working to bring guest speaker(s) expert in diagnostics/microbial forensics, associated with federal agencies and/or diagnostic network. The ultimate aim is to publish the data generated during the lab classes; however, this depends on student’s enthusiasm and interest for the course. The course is not only designed for plant pathology students but also for the students from other disciplines including entomology, microbiology, plant biology, molecular biology and food & animal sciences. Most probably, this course would be offered again in Fall 2019 as “Microbial Forensics and Molecular Diagnostics” (3 Cr) with same concept. But more lectures on microbial forensics will be added.
I encourage you to contact me, if you have any question(s) about the course.
PEPS 660 Seminar “Theme: Phytobiomes”
(1 Cr; In-charge for fall 2017)
Instructor: Dr. Mohammad Arif
The goal of this seminar series is to understand the role of phytobiomes as a new paradigm to provide disease resistance to the plants. Interactions within phytobiomes which includes plants, plant environment and their associated micro-organism communities, have enormous effect on plant and soil health; phytobiome knowledge can be used as a new tool for disease management.
The graduate students are expected to deliver the seminars on different aspects of phytobiomes.
The goal of this seminar series is to understand the role of phytobiomes as a new paradigm to provide disease resistance to the plants. Interactions within phytobiomes which includes plants, plant environment and their associated micro-organism communities, have enormous effect on plant and soil health; phytobiome knowledge can be used as a new tool for disease management.
The graduate students are expected to deliver the seminars on different aspects of phytobiomes.