Parasitology

3 units

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of parasitism. Throughout the semester, students not only learn about parasite biology (examples: parasite life cycles, host immune responses, parasite evasion mechanisms), but also how parasites make a broader impact (examples: co-evolution of hosts and parasites, parasites as indicators of environmental health, the challenge of parasite control). Topics include, but are not limited to, parasite diversity and classification, life cycles, host evasion mechanisms, pathology, disease, control, types of hosts and their immune responses, and the impact that parasites have on ecology and conservation biology. (Biology Major Area A)