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Note: This is the 2010鈥2011 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click聽here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Note: This is the 2010鈥2011 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click聽here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, unicellular eukaryotes, and parasites. Microorganisms play an important role in human and animal disease, food production (bread, cheese, wine), decay and spoilage, contamination and purification of water and soil. Microbiologists study these tiny, self-replicating machines to understand the basic principles of life: growth, metabolism, cell division, control of gene expression, response to environmental stimuli. Microbiologists are also concerned with controlling or harnessing microorganisms for the benefit of people, by isolating antibiotics or producing vaccines to protect against disease, and by developing and perfecting microorganisms for industrial uses.
Immunology is the study of the molecular and cellular basis of host resistance and immunity to external agents such as pathogenic microorganisms. Immunologists study the mechanisms by which the body recognizes foreign antigens, generates appropriate antibodies to an enormously diverse spectrum of antigens, and sequesters and kills invading microorganisms. Their discoveries lead to vaccination against disease, transfusions and organ transplants, allergies, cancer, autoimmune diseases and immune-deficiency diseases such as AIDS. Antibodies may soon be used in conjunction with antibiotics or chemical agents as specific 鈥渕agic bullets鈥 to diagnose disease and attack microbes and cancers.
The disciplines of microbiology and immunology are natural partners in research, and both fields use the modern methods of cell biology, molecular biology and genetics to study basic life processes. The members of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology perform research on microbial physiology and genetics, microbial pathogenesis, molecular virology, cellular and molecular immunology, and parasitology. Students registered in the Department therefore are exposed to these related areas and receive an excellent background in basic biology and chemistry as well as in the more applied areas of biotechnology and medicine.
Many opportunities exist for careers in basic or applied microbiology and immunology, medical microbiology, environmental microbiology, and biotechnology. They include positions in industry (pharmaceutical and biotechnology), hospitals, universities, and government (environment, public health, and energy). A degree in microbiology also provides an excellent basis for entering professional and postgraduate programs in medicine, dentistry, the veterinary sciences, research, and education.
Please note that enrolment in Microbiology and Immunology programs is limited to a total of 120 students per year. Students seeking admission to the Liberal, Majors and Honours programs must have completed BIOL 112, CHEM 110, CHEM 120, MATH 139 or MATH 140, MATH 141, PHYS 101 and PHYS 102 or their equivalent with an overall average of at least B+ (75%).
Students transferring from other programs may be admitted with a B+ average up to the maximum program capacity of 120 students. Applicants not admitted will be placed on a waiting list and will be considered should vacancies occur. Application deadline for U0 or transfer students from other departments and faculties is the third Monday in April. Students who want to transfer to Microbiology and Immunology should consider taking MIMM 211, or equivalent, as a complementary course.
An Undergraduate handbook, containing detailed course descriptions, a listing of faculty research interests, and information on careers in microbiology and immunology, is available from the Student Affairs Office in Room 511 of the Lyman Duff Building and on the web at www.mcgill.ca/microimm.
All students (U1, U2, U3) must attend an advising session. Please check www.mcgill.ca/microimm for dates.
Chair |
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Malcolm Baines (Acting Chair) |
Professors |
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Zafer Ali-Khan; B.Sc.(Bilar), M.Sc.(Karachi), Ph.D.(Tulane) |
Malcolm G. Baines; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Qu.) |
James W. Coulton; B.Sc.(Tor.), M.Sc.(Calg.), Ph.D.(W. Ont.) |
John Hiscott; B.Sc., M.Sc.(W. Ont.), Ph.D.(NYU) |
Greg Matlashewski; B.Sc.(C'dia), Ph.D.(Ott.) |
Robert A. Murgita; B.Sc.(Me.), M.S.(Vt.), Ph.D.(McG.) |
Mark A. Wainberg; B.Sc.(McG.), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Col.) |
Associate Professors |
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Albert Berghuis; M.Sc.(The Netherlands), Ph.D.(Br. Col.) |
Dalius J. Briedis; B.A., M.D.(Johns H.) |
Benoit Cousineau; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Montr.) |
Sylvie Fournier; Ph.D.(Montr.) |
Matthias. Gotte; Ph.D.(Max Planck) |
Herv茅 Le Moual; Ph.D.(Montr.) |
Gregory T. Marczynski; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Ill.) |
Martin Olivier; B.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(McG.) |
Ciriaco Piccrillo; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) |
Assistant Professors |
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Jorge Friz; Ph.D.(Vienna) |
Samantha Gruenheid; B.Sc.(Br. Col.), Ph.D.(McG.) |
Shan-Lu Liu; Ph.D.(Wash.) |
Donald Sheppard; M.D.(Tor.) |
Associate Members |
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Agricultural & Environmental Sciences: Byong Lee |
Human Genetics: Silvia Vidal |
Institute of Parasitology: F. Dziersinski, Armando Jardim, Jay Nadao, Paula Ribeiro |
Microbiology & Immunology: Lawrence Kleiman |
Medicine: Marcel Behr, Andre Dascal, Sabah Hussain, Arnold Kristof, Chen Liang, Vivian Loo, Amee Manges, Mark A. Miller, Jay Nadeau, Marianna Newkirk, Roger G.E. Palfree, Kostas Pantopoulos, Joyce E. Rauch, Michael Reed, Maya Saleh, Christos Tsoukas, Bernard Turcotte, Brian J. Ward |
Neuroimmunology: Amit Bar-Or |
Neurology & Neurosurgery: Jack Antel |
Oncology: Anne Gatignol, Antonis E. Koromilas, Andrew Mouland, Arnim Pause, Stephane Richard |
Opthalmology: Miguel Burnier |
Surgery: Nicholas V. Christou |
Virology: Shan Cen |
Adjunct Professors |
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J. Archambault; B.Sc.(Montr), Ph.D.(Tor.) |
Vibhuti Dave; M.Sc., Ph.D.(Bombay) |
Albert Descoteaux; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(McG.) |
Elias Haddad; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Beirut), Ph.D.(McG.) |
Taff Jones; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Univ. Coll., Lond.) |
George Kukolj; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) |
Peter Lau; Ph.D.(Ott.) |
Andrew Makrigiannis; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Dal.) |
Allan M. Matte; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Guelph), Ph.D.(Sask.) |
Clement Rioux; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Laval), Ph.D.(Guelph) |
Rafick-P. Sekaly; B.A.(Stanislas), B.Sc., M.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(Lausanne) |
Woong-Kyung Suh; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Seoul), Ph.D.(Tor.) |
Dan Ziberstein; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Hebrew) |
Affiliated Centre |
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MIMM 314 | (3) | Immunology |
MIMM 323 | (3) | Microbial Physiology |
MIMM 324 | (3) | Fundamental Virology |
MIMM 386D1 | (3) | Laboratory in Microbiology and Immunology |
MIMM 386D2 | (3) | Laboratory in Microbiology and Immunology |
6 credits selected from:
Students may take either ANAT 458 or BIOC 458 but not both.
Students may take either CHEM 203 or CHEM 204 but not both.
** Students who have taken CHEM 212 or CHEM 222 in CEGEP must replace it with another complementary course.
ANAT 261 | (4) | Introduction to Dynamic Histology |
ANAT 262 | (3) | Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology |
ANAT 365 | (3) | Cellular Trafficking |
ANAT 458 | (3) | Membranes and Cellular Signaling |
BIOC 311 | (3) | Metabolic Biochemistry |
BIOC 312 | (3) | Biochemistry of Macromolecules |
BIOC 450 | (3) | Protein Structure and Function |
BIOC 454 | (3) | Nucleic Acids |
BIOC 458 | (3) | Membranes and Cellular Signaling |
BIOL 300 | (3) | Molecular Biology of the Gene |
BIOL 314 | (3) | Molecular Biology of Oncogenes |
BIOT 505 | (3) | Selected Topics in Biotechnology |
CHEM 203 | (3) | Survey of Physical Chemistry |
CHEM 204 | (3) | Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 1 |
CHEM 222** | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 2 |
CHEM 302 | (3) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 3 |
EXMD 504 | (3) | Biology of Cancer |
MIMM 387 | (3) | Applied Microbiology and Immunology |
MIMM 413 | (3) | Parasitology |
MIMM 414 | (3) | Advanced Immunology |
MIMM 465 | (3) | Bacterial Pathogenesis |
MIMM 466 | (3) | Viral Pathogenesis |
MIMM 509 | (3) | Inflammatory Processes |
PATH 300 | (3) | Human Disease |
PHAR 300 | (3) | Drug Action |
PHAR 301 | (3) | Drugs and Disease |
PHGY 209 | (3) | Mammalian Physiology 1 |
PHGY 210 | (3) | Mammalian Physiology 2 |
The Major Program is designed for students who want to acquire a substantial background in microbiology and immunology and related disciplines (chemistry, biology, biochemistry) which will prepare them for professional schools, graduate education, or entry into jobs in industry or research institutes.
* Students who have taken CHEM 212 in CEGEP are exempt and must replace these credits with an elective course(s).
** Students who have taken CHEM 222 in CEGEP are exempt and must replace these credits with an elective course(s).
BIOL 200 | (3) | Molecular Biology |
BIOL 202 | (3) | Basic Genetics |
CHEM 212* | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 |
CHEM 222** | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 2 |
MIMM 211 | (3) | Introductory Microbiology |
MIMM 212 | (2) | Laboratory in Microbiology |
BIOC 311 | (3) | Metabolic Biochemistry |
BIOC 312 | (3) | Biochemistry of Macromolecules |
MIMM 314 | (3) | Immunology |
MIMM 323 | (3) | Microbial Physiology |
MIMM 324 | (3) | Fundamental Virology |
MIMM 386D1 | (3) | Laboratory in Microbiology and Immunology |
MIMM 386D2 | (3) | Laboratory in Microbiology and Immunology |
9 credits selected from:
* Students may select either ANAT 458 or BIOC 458 but not both.
ANAT 261 | (4) | Introduction to Dynamic Histology |
ANAT 262 | (3) | Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology |
ANAT 365 | (3) | Cellular Trafficking |
ANAT 458* | (3) | Membranes and Cellular Signaling |
BIOC 450 | (3) | Protein Structure and Function |
BIOC 454 | (3) | Nucleic Acids |
BIOC 458* | (3) | Membranes and Cellular Signaling |
BIOL 300 | (3) | Molecular Biology of the Gene |
BIOL 314 | (3) | Molecular Biology of Oncogenes |
BIOT 505 | (3) | Selected Topics in Biotechnology |
CHEM 302 | (3) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 3 |
EXMD 504 | (3) | Biology of Cancer |
MIMM 387 | (3) | Applied Microbiology and Immunology |
MIMM 414 | (3) | Advanced Immunology |
MIMM 509 | (3) | Inflammatory Processes |
PATH 300 | (3) | Human Disease |
PHAR 300 | (3) | Drug Action |
PHAR 301 | (3) | Drugs and Disease |
PHGY 209 | (3) | Mammalian Physiology 1 |
PHGY 210 | (3) | Mammalian Physiology 2 |
The Honours Program is designed to offer, in addition to the substantial background given by the Major Program, a significant research experience in a laboratory within the Department during the U3 year. Students are prepared for this independent research project by following an advanced laboratory course in U2. This Program is intended to prepare students for graduate study in microbiology and immunology or related fields, but could also be chosen by students intending to enter medical research after medical school, or intending to enter the job market in a laboratory research environment.
Students intending to apply to Honours must follow the Major program in U1 and U2 and must obtain a CGPA of at least 3.50 at the end of their U2 year. For graduation in Honours, students must pass all required courses with a C or better, and achieve a sessional GPA of at least 3.30 in the U3 year.
* Students who have taken CHEM 212 in CEGEP are exempt and must replace these credits with an elective course(s).
** Students who have taken CHEM 222 in CEGEP are exempt and must replace these credits with an elective course(s).
BIOL 200 | (3) | Molecular Biology |
BIOL 202 | (3) | Basic Genetics |
CHEM 212* | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 |
CHEM 222** | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 2 |
MIMM 211 | (3) | Introductory Microbiology |
MIMM 212 | (2) | Laboratory in Microbiology |
BIOC 311 | (3) | Metabolic Biochemistry |
BIOC 312 | (3) | Biochemistry of Macromolecules |
MIMM 314 | (3) | Immunology |
MIMM 323 | (3) | Microbial Physiology |
MIMM 324 | (3) | Fundamental Virology |
MIMM 386D1 | (3) | Laboratory in Microbiology and Immunology |
MIMM 386D2 | (3) | Laboratory in Microbiology and Immunology |
MIMM 413 | (3) | Parasitology |
MIMM 465 | (3) | Bacterial Pathogenesis |
MIMM 466 | (3) | Viral Pathogenesis |
MIMM 502D1 | (6) | Honours Research Project in Microbiology |
MIMM 502D2 | (6) | Honours Research Project in Microbiology |
3 credits selected from:
ANAT 458 | (3) | Membranes and Cellular Signaling |
BIOC 404 | (3) | Biophysical Chemistry |
BIOC 450 | (3) | Protein Structure and Function |
BIOC 454 | (3) | Nucleic Acids |
BIOC 455 | (3) | Neurochemistry |
BIOC 458 | (3) | Membranes and Cellular Signaling |
BIOL 520 | (3) | Gene Activity in Development |
BIOT 505 | (3) | Selected Topics in Biotechnology |
MIMM 414 | (3) | Advanced Immunology |
MIMM 509 | (3) | Inflammatory Processes |
PHAR 562 | (3) | General Pharmacology 1 |
PHAR 563 | (3) | General Pharmacology 2 |
For more information, see Immunology Interdepartmental Honours.
This program is offered by the Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, and Physiology.
Students interested in immunology may choose between this Honours program and the Honours program of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
Details of this program may also be obtained from Professor Piccirillo in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Room L11.132, Montreal General Hospital; telephone: 514-934-1934 ext. 45135; email: ciro.piccirillo [at] mcgill.ca.