Fundamentals of Immunotherapy

Course Instructors : Sudha Kumari, Kesav Sannula

Course Code : MC 217

Principles and techniques underlying immunotherapy of cancer and chronic diseases.

Advances in Molecular Biology

Course Instructors : Shovamayee Maharana, Umesh Varshney, VN Nagaraja

Course Code : MC207

In current times molecular biology has made great advances in techniques and concepts which is increasing our understanding in the spatio-temporal regulation of biochemical reactions in cellular and organismal context. This course spans from the basics of molecular biology to the most recent advances in the field. This course is designed to equip the students with concepts which will help them read, comprehend, question and design experiments in molecular biology.

Molecular Oncology

Course Instructors : Kumar Somasundaram, Annapoorni Rangarajan, Sudha Kumari

Course Code : MC 210

Caner through the lens of immunology

Lysosomes and autophagy

Course Instructors : Subba Rao Gangi Setty and Ravi Manjithaya (JNCASR)

Course Code : MC215

Lysosomes and Autophagy: MC 215

Lysosomes: Organelle contents and environment, functions, discovery of lysosomes and classical papers and experiments, cargo trafficking into-out of lysosomes, position, contact and fusion with other organelles and lysoIP. Transcriptional regulation of lysosome biogenesis, spatiotemporal distribution of lysosomes within a cell, lysosome reformation, lysosomal turnover and exocytosis, lysosome as signaling hubs and nutrient sensor, lysosome cell death, dysfunction and associated diseases. Model systems to study lysosome biology and state of the art methods in monitoring lysosomal biology.

Autophagy: Discovery of autophagy and classical papers and experiments. Principles and biogenesis mechanisms, types of autophagy, organelles specific autophagy, cross talk between lysosomes and autophagy, and autophagy modulation in diseases. Model systems to study autophagy, signaling transduction pathways that affect autophagy. State of the art methods in monitoring autophagy flux.

Advances in cell biology

Course Instructors : Subba Rao Gangi Setty and Sachin Kotak

Course Code : MC 212

MC 212 (AUG) 2:0 

Advances in Cell Biology

Concepts: Prokaryotic and eukaryotic membrane structure, composition, organization, and transport; Organelle structure, function, and their biogenesis includes the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, endosomes, lysosomes and lysosome-related organelles, autophagosomes, peroxisomes, mitochondria, and chloroplasts; protein trafficking in-and-out of the organelles; Cytoskeletal elements and organization; Cell adhesion and junctions; Intra and extracellular signaling; Cell cycle, cell division (asymmetric and symmetric) and stem cells; Cell death and protein homeostasis pathways and Cellular diseases. Plant cell wall and membrane, plant cell division; Plant cell-specific organelles: biogenesis, structure, transport, and function; Division mechanisms of endosymbiotic organelles; Interorganellar communication; Cell morphology and differentiation; Cellular adaptation to intra and extracellular cues.

Methods: Introduction and evolution of light microscopy; Electron microscopy; Cytohistochemistry; Flowcytometry; Pulse-chase and subcellular fractionation; Single cell techniques, Proteomics and Protein-protein interaction approaches and genome-wide RNAi or small molecular screens to study the various cellular pathways; Forward genetic screens to study the organelle biogenesis.

RNA biology

Course Instructors : Saumitra Das, Shovamayee Maharana

Course Code : MC206

In this course we teach about RNA binding proteins, RNA-Protein interactions, non-coding RNA's and in detailed about the Translational control under physiological and virus infection. 

Pathogen - host interaction and immune evasion mechanisms

Course Instructors : Balaji K. N, Dipshikha Chakravortty, Shashank Tripathi

Course Code : MC 205

The vertebrate host has evolved numerous mechanisms to shield itself against the onslaught of the myriad pathogens around it. The host uses toll like receptors to recognize pathogens and deploys effective weapons from its impressive arsenal to eliminate pathogens. This course will utilize multiple host-pathogen pairs as models to demonstrate the innumerable mechanisms utilized by pathogens of viral, bacterial and parasitic origin to subvert the host and enhance their own survival. Secretion systems of bacteria: Type I, II, III, IV, V overview of ABC exporters and importers, Plant Pathogen interactions (Xanthomonas, Citrobactor, Erwinia); Virulence gene expression, intracellular pathogenesis; Signaling by the bacterial components; Innate and adaptive immunity to bacterial pathogens; Quorum sensing, biofilm formation and its role in pathogenesis.

Functional mimicry of host complement proteins, secretion of chemokine and cytokine –like molecules, inhibition of NF-κB and apoptosis, inhibition of serine proteases of the host antigen presenting cells to suppress antigen presentation, inhibition of inflammatory responses of the host seen in poxviruses, inhibition of MHC class I presentation of viral antigens by adenoviruses, inhibition of host secretory pathway by herpes viruses,  prevention of phagosome acidification and other macrophage functions by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, antigenic variation and suppression of TH1 responses by protozoan pathogens will all be covered.

Viral infectious cycle; Induction, regulation and mechanisms of Antiviral innate Immunity; Strategies of Viral evasion and antagonism of antiviral immunity; Mechanisms of Viral Pathogenesis. Interferon (IFN) is the cornerstone of antiviral innate immunity in mammalian cells. We will discuss detection of viral pathogens as foreign entity by mammalian cells, subsequent Interferon (IFN) induction and signaling, antiviral mechanisms of IFN Stimulated Genes (ISGs), Viral evasion and antagonism of IFN mediated immune response.

Introductory physiology

Course Instructors : N Ravi Sundaresan

Course Code : UB 204

The course gives the fundamental knowledge about mammalian Physiology. 
 

Molecular basis of ageing and regeneration

Course Instructors : Varsha Singh, Ravi Sundaresan, Rajyaguru Purusharth

Course Code : RD 209 / BC 210 / MC 211

Molecular Basis of Ageing and Regeneration course deals with the mechanisms of ageing and regeneration in humans and model organisms. This course covers all the model systems for studying ageing and regeneration; role of cellular processes such as transcription, translation, posttranslational modifications; signalling mechanisms; cellular senescnece; genetic basis of Ageing and longevity; ageing and diseases; organ senescence; obesity/ diabetes/ cardiovascular diseases/  muscle degenration;  Interventions to delay ageing and/or enhance life span.
 

Developmental genetics

Course Instructors : Samay Pande, Upendra Nongthomba, Utpal Nath

Course Code : MC202

Logic and techniques of molecular genetic analysis. Understanding interaction networks using genetics and genomics. Illustrating the application of genetic analysis to specific developmental pathways in model eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Some examples are genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of cell fate determination and signaling pathways in development, embryo and organ patterning, regulation of organ size and shape, stem cell homeostasis and developmental plasticity using Drosophila and Arabidopsis as model organisms. Development in unicellular prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Genetics of the evolution of life cycle in the lab.
 

Essential in microbiology

Course Instructors : Amit Singh, Dipshikha Chakravortty, Samay Pande

Course Code : MC203

Fascinating world of microbes; Principles of microscopy; Microbial taxonomy,  Microbial diversity, evolution and genomics; Mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer including genome transplantation, Microbes as model systems of development, Microbes as bioreactors and sensors; bioremediation; bacterial cell structure and function; Bacterial physiology and nutrition; Bacteriophages, Plasmids and Transposons; Understanding and combating bacterial pathogenesis; Antibiotics- mechanisms of drug resistance and mode of action; Quorum sensing and biofilms; Host-pathogen interactions and mechanisms of immune surveillance; PRR and their role in pathogenesis; TH subsets and modulation by pathogens; Diagnostics and vaccine development; Origin of cellular life; Biogeography of microbial diversity (is everything everywhere?); Host associated and free-living microbes; Mechanisms of microbial interactions; Causes, consequences, and evolution of physiological heterogeneity in bacterial populations; Bacterial predation, and survival strategies.
 

Laboratory course in genetics and ecology

Course Instructors : Kavita Babu, Utpal Nath, Sumanta Bagchi, Maria Thaker

Course Code : LS 210

Laboratory course in

Genetics and Ecology

Developmental biology

Course Instructors : Usha Vijayraghavan, Ramray Bhat, Utpal Nath

Course Code : UB302

(CORE COURSE FOR BIO MAJOR)
 

Introduction, history and concepts of developmental biology; the current understanding on the mechanisms of development using model organisms including invertebrates, vertebrates and plants;

general principles for the making of a complex, multicellular organismfrom a single cell; the creation of multi-cellularity (cellularization, cleavage), reorganization into germ layers (gastrulation), cell type determination; creation of specific organs, (organogenesis); molecular mechanisms underlying morphogenetic movements, differentiation, and interactions during development; fundamental differences between animal and plant development; embryogenesis in plant – classical and modern views; axis specification and pattern formation in angiosperm embryos; organization and homeostasis in the shoot and root meristems; patterning in vegetative and flower meristems; growth and tissue differentiation in plants; stem cells and regeneration; evolution of developmental mechanisms INSTRUCTORS: Usha Vijayraghavan, Ramray Bhat and Utpal Nath 

SUGGESTED BOOKS:

1. Wolpert, L. and Tickle, C., Principles of Development, Oxford University Press, 4th Edition, 2010.

2. Gilbert, S. F., Developmental Biology, 9th edition, Sinauer Associates, 2010.

3. Slack, J. M. W., Essential Developmental Biology, John Wiley & Sons, 3rd Edition, 2012.

4. Leyser, O. and Day, S., Mechanisms in Plant Development, Willey-Blackwell, 2003.

5. Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E., Plant Physiology, 5th edition, Sinauer Associates, 2010.

6. Alberts, B., Molecular Biology of the Cell, Garland Science, 5th Edition, 2008.

Principles of genetic engineering

Course Instructors : Shashank Tripathi, G. Subba Rao

Course Code : MC208

Basic and Advanced genetic engineering
 

Basic and applied virology

Course Instructors : Shashank Tripathi, Saumitra Das, Kesavardana Sannula

Course Code : MC214

Fundamental and Translational Virology