Institute of Parasitology is involved in teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Courses for which Institute staff are responsible are listed below although we also participate in many other courses offered by McGill.
Undergraduate courses
LSCI 211
Life Sciences: Biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids; enzymes and coenzymes. Introduction to intermediary metabolism.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Igor Cestari, Thavy Long
- Thavy Long, Igor Cestari
LSCI 202
Life Sciences: Organization and function of intracellular organelles in eukaryotic cells. Mechanisms of membrane transport. Protein sorting and vesicular transport. Cytoskeleton. DNA and chromosome structure. DNA replication. Mechanisms of RNA and protein synthesis. Control of gene expression. Cell cycle and the control of cell division. Mechanisms of cell communication and signal transduction. Apoptosis. Neuronal signaling.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Qian Liu
PARA 410
Parasitology: Infectious pathogens of humans and animals and their impact on the global environment are considered. The central tenet is that infectious pathogens are environmental risk factors. The course considers their impact on the human condition and juxtaposes the impact of control and treatment measures and environmental change.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Petra Rohrbach
PARA 424
Parasitology: Systematics, morphology, biology and ecology of parasitic protozoa, flatworms, roundworms and arthropods with emphasis on economically and medically important species.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Prerequisite(s): AEBI 211 or LSCI 230 or permission of instructor
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken WILD 424.
- Terms
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Petra Rohrbach
PARA 438
Parasitology: An in-depth analysis of the principles of cellular and molecular immunology. The emphasis of the course is on host defence against infection and on diseases caused by abnormal immune responses.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Karine Sonzogni-Desautels
Graduate courses
BTEC 501
Biotechnology: This course introduces the application of computer software for analysis of biological sequence information. An emphasis is placed on the biological theory behind analytical techniques, the algorithms used and methods of developing a statistical framework for various types of analysis.
Offered by: Parasitology
- 3 lectures per week
- Prerequisites: LSCI 202 or LSCI 204 and ANSC 326. Permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken BINF 301.
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Jianguo Xia
BTEC 535
Biotechnology: An overview of strategies used to understand the function of genes, especially those identified through genome sequencing and bioinformatics. Use of model organisms that have proved particularly valuable for this purpose.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Prerequisite: 300-level course in genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry or permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Limited to 30 students.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
BTEC 555
Biotechnology: Fundamentals of protein structure and the application of tools for structure determination, how protein structure allows us to understand the complex biological functions, and how knowledge of protein structure can contribute to drug discovery.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Winter
- 1-hr lecture, followed by 2 hrs of computer lab.
- Prerequisite: Molecular biology or biochemistry, and basic bioinformatics, or permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Reza Salavati, Traian Sulea
BTEC 619
Biotechnology: A laboratory-based course in a variety of topics including: proteomics, protein expression and purification, conventional and HPLC chromatography, protein-protein interactions, ELISA, and Western blot analysis and hybridoma techniques.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Prerequisite: BTEC 620 or permission of the instructor.
- The fee of $580.96 is used to support the cost of chemical reagents, kits, disposables and minor equipment necessary to run this hands-on laboratory course
- Terms
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Thavy Long
BTEC 620
Biotechnology: Practical training in contemporary methods of molecular and cellular biology. Intended for students with background in molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related area, who are already familiar with theoretical principles of recombinant DNA technologies. Topics include: polymerase chain reaction (PCR), methods for gene cloning and mutagenesis, eukaryotic and prokaryotic gene expression systems, protein purification and methods of eukaryotic cell culture.
Offered by: Parasitology
- one 8-hour lab per week
- The fee of $1161.92 is used to support the cost of chemical reagents, kits, disposables and minor equipment necessary to run this hands-on laboratory course.
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Igor Cestari
BTEC 621
Biotechnology: Topics relevant to the management of research in industry are presented by experts working in industry. This course highlights the differences existing between research done in an academic environment and research done within industry.
Offered by: Parasitology
- one 3-hour lecture per week
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Reza Salavati
BTEC 622
Biotechnology: Research project proposal and literature review.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Prerequisite: BTEC 620.
- Restriction: M.Sc.(Applied) in Biotechnology students and is a prerequisite to BTEC 623, BTEC 624 and BTEC 625.
- Terms
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Reza Salavati
BTEC 623
Biotechnology: Intensive research project, lasting a minimum of 16 weeks in conjunction with course Biotechnology Research Project 3, conducted in a university hospital or industry laboratory involved in biotechnology research or development.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Corequisite: BTEC 622
- Restriction: M.Sc.(Applied) Biotechnology students
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Reza Salavati
BTEC 624
Biotechnology: Intensive research project, lasting a minimum of 16 weeks in conjunction with Biotechnology Research Project 2, conducted in a university hospital or industry laboratory involved in biotechnology research or development.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Reza Salavati
BTEC 625
Biotechnology: Student will prepare a report on the research experience and give a presentation.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Prerequisite: BTEC 622.
- Corequisites: BTEC 623, BTEC 624.
- Restriction: M.Sc.(Applied) Biotechnology students.
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Reza Salavati
BTEC 650
Biotechnology: Principles and methodologies of structure-based molecular design, optimization, and development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Role in therapy and diagnosis; structural features of various types of antibodies; dissection of antibody-antigen interactions; in silico affinity maturation; manipulation of antigen specificity by point mutagenesis; using antibody Fc domain to modulate pharmacokinetics and effector functions; design of antibody conjugates carrying toxic payloads; engineering T-cells with chimeric antigen receptors; evaluation and improving antibody immunogenicity and aggregation; antibody humanization.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Prerequisite: 400-level or higher level course in biochemistry and bioinformatics, or permission of instructor
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Reza Salavati, Christopher R Corbeil, Traian Sulea
PARA 606
Parasitology: A seminar series in which students present seminars covering topics in parasitology, in areas relevant to their research interests. Students register for the course in their second term of residency. Attendance and participation are compulsory for M.Sc. students.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Qian Liu
- Igor Cestari
PARA 607
Parasitology: This is a required course for M.Sc. students. A seminar course in which students registered at the Institute of Parasitology present seminars on the results of their thesis research. Students register for the course in the final term prior to thesis submission.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Qian Liu
- Igor Cestari
PARA 635
Parasitology: Research articles will be the primary source of information. This course will cover new principles in cell biology. In particular, the mechanisms by which gene expression is regulated through signal transduction pathways initiated at the cell surface will be presented.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Prerequisite: students with some background in molecular biology
- Terms
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Petra Rohrbach
PARA 655
Parasitology: Lectures, tutorials and laboratory demonstrations of the principal factors which affect levels of parasite infection and treatment of infections in humans and animals. The integration and management of the host-parasite relationship in terms of transmission, population dynamics, environmental management, behaviour, immune responses, pathology, and pharmacology to decrease parasitic disease.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Instructors
- Roger K Prichard, Momar Ndao
PARA 665
Parasitology: This course designation will be used for special courses that staff, or visiting professors, may wish to provide when student interest warrants. Examples might include a laboratory techniques course, a mathematical modelling course or a special pharmacology seminar series.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Qian Liu
- Roger K Prichard
PARA 687
Parasitology: Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Robin N Beech
- Robin N Beech
PARA 688
Parasitology: Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Robin N Beech
- Robin N Beech
PARA 689
Parasitology: Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Robin N Beech
- Robin N Beech
PARA 701
Parasitology: Consists of a written proposal outlining the research planned and an oral examination.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Robin N Beech
- Robin N Beech
For further details, please click here to visit the PhD Comprehensive Exam page.
PARA 710
Parasitology: This first seminar is a review of the scientific literature in the topic area of the thesis research.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Qian Liu
- Igor Cestari
Students transferring from MSc to PhD must register and complete PARA 710.
PARA 711
Parasitology: A seminar series in which students present seminars covering topics in parasitology in areas relevant to their research interests. Attendance and participation are compulsory.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Instructors
- Qian Liu
- Igor Cestari
