INSECT PATHOGENS: BIOCONTROL AGENTS AND BIOLOGICAL MODELS
Course Syllabus (Rev. 2/16/10)
Spring 2010
Lectures: Mondays and Wednesdays: 1.00-2.00 PM—Forbes 412
Laboratory/discussions: Tuesdays 2.30-4.30PM —Marley 212
Topic
Date
Day
Lecture/Lab/Discuss
ion
1/13
W
Lecture 1
Introduction. Discussion of course
syllabus and course dynamics.
1/18
1/19
M
T
Martin Luther King
Lab 1
No classes
Examination and diagnosis of
diseased insects-recognition of
symptoms, and signs of infection.
Insect symbionts
1/20
W
Lecture2
History of insect pathology.
Characteristics of insect pathogens.
General concepts on diagnosis of
insect diseases.
Association between insects
and non-pathogenic organisms
(pdf)
1/25
M
Lecture 3
Associations between insects and
non- pathogenic microorganisms
Association between
insects
and non-pathogenic
organisms (pdf)
1/26
T
Lab. 2
Isolation of entomopathogens from
soil samples. Handling of diseased
insects.
1/27
W
Lecture 4
Bacteria I. Classification. General
characteristics. Historical aspects.
Spore-forming bacteria. Symptoms
and pathology. Host range.
2/1
M
Lecture 5
Bacteria II. Non-spore forming
bacteria. Symptoms and pathology.
Host range.
2/2
T
Lab. 3-Disc. 1
Soil lab follow up
2/3
W
Lecture 6
Bacteria III. Toxins. Crystal
proteins. Biotechnology and Bt.
Insect Resistance. Vertebrate
Pathogenicity.
2/8
M
Lecture 7
Protozoa I: Classification General
characteristics. Historical aspects.
Non-spore formers: Flagellates,
Ciliates and Rhizopoda. Symptoms
and pathology. Host range.
2/9
T
Lab 4/Disc 2
Entomopathogenic bacteria
2/10
W
Lecture 8
Protozoa II. Spore formers:
Shapiro et al. 2005
Heckle et al. 2007
Blanco et al. 2007
Damgaard 2000
1
Gregarines, Coccidia,
Microsporidia. Symptoms and
pathology. Host range.
2/15
M
Lecture 9
Protozoa III. Spore formers:
Gregarines, Coccidia,
Microsporidia. Molecular biology
and Protozoa classification.
Phylogenetics. Major protozoa
considered in biological control and
IPM.
2/16
T
Review of lectures 1-9
Lab 3 follow-up
2/17
W
Midterm-1
2/22
M
Lecture 10
2/23
T
Lab 5
Protozoa and Fungi I
2/24
W
Lecture 11
Fungi II. Zygomycetes,
Ascomycetes, Symptoms and
pathology. Host range.
3/1
M
Lecture 12
Fungi III. Basidiomycetes,
Deuteromyces. Symptoms and
pathology. Host range. Fungi
considered in biological control and
IPM.
3/2
T
Lab.6/Disc 3
Fungi II
3/3
W
Lecture 13
Nematodes I. Classification. General
characteristics. Historical aspects.
Nematode-insect associations. Nonpathogenic groups (phoretic,
facultative and obligate parasites).
Symptoms and pathology. Host
range.
3/8
M
Lecture 14
Nematodes II. Insects as vectors of
nematode parasites of vertebrates.
Symptoms and pathology. Host
range.
3/9
3/10
T
W
No Class
Lecture 15
3/15
M
SPRING BREAK
No classes
3/16
T
SPRING BREAK
No classes
3/17
W
SPRING BREAK
No classes
To include all topics of lectures 19 and labs 1-4
Fungi I. Classification. General
characteristics. Historical aspects.
Molecular biology and Fungi
classification. Phylogenetics.
Mastigomycetes. Symptoms and
pathology. Host range.
Holder and Keyhani,
2005
Nematodes III. Entomopathogenic
nematodes: Steinernematidae,
Heterorhabditidae. Symptoms and
pathology. Host range.
2
3/22
M
Lecture 16
Viruses I. Historical aspects.
Classification. Phylogenetics.
Characteristics of NPV and GV.
Symptoms and pathology. Host
range.
3/23
T
Lab. 7
Nematodes
3/24
W
Lecture 17
Viruses II. Other DNA viruses.
RNA viruses. Molecular Biology of
Baculoviruses. Recombinant
Baculovirus Insecticides.
3/29
M
Midterm-2
3/30
T
Disc.4
To include all topics of lectures
10-16 and labs 5-6
Selection of reprint(s) of current
research topic related to lecture/lab
3/31
W
Lecture 18
Viruses III. Virus considered in
biological control and IPM.
Examples of success in forestry and
agricultural settings
4/5
M
Lecture 19
Insect defense mechanisms against
pathogens. Host resistance.
4/6
T
Disc. 5
Selection of reprint(s) of current
research topic related to lecture/lab
4/7
W
Lecture 20
Epizootiology. Key factors in
epizootiology. The environment.
Modeling. Examples
4/12
M
Lecture 21
Microbial Control I. Economic
threshold. Factors affecting
efficacy. Safety.
4/13
T
Disc.6
Selection of reprint(s) of current
research topic related to lecture/lab
4/14
W
Lecture 22
Microbial Control II. Advantages
and disadvantages of microbial
control. Long and Short-term
control. Insect Pathogens and
Integrated Pest Management
4/19
M
Lecture 23
Entomopathogens and the genomics
era.
4/20
T
Disc.7
Selection of reprint(s) of current
research topic related to lecture/lab
4/21
W
Lecture 24
Insect pathogens and GMOs. Strain
improvement. Current examples
and applications. Entomopathogens
as biological models
4/26
M
Student presentations (I)
4/27
4/28
T
W
No Class
Student presentations (II)
5/3
M
Course review
TBA
TBA
TBA
Review of topics learned - course
evaluation
3
5/5
W
Midterm 3
To include all topics of lectures
17-25
5/12
W
FINAL EXAM
To include all topics from lectures
1-25, and laboratories 1-6.
4