BIOLOGY of AIDS (PCB 4232)

Class Number:  97973

Course Identification Number:  026321

Fall 2008

 

STANDARD OF ACADEMIC CONDUCT:  "Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook."

 

In this course, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) will be overviewed from biomedical and psychosocial perspectives.

Prerequisites:  General Biology I & II

Credits:  3

Professor: Ophelia I. Weeks, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Office hours:    Thursdays 9 AM-1 PM

Office HLS 219C; Research Lab HLS 229

Email Address:

Time & Place:   5:00-6:15 PM; GL 166

Required Reference Texts:         

1.  AIDS Update (AU) 2008, 2nd Ed., Gerald Stine, McGraw-Hill/Dushkin Pub, ISBN: 9780073375281.

2.  AIDS: Science and Society (AS) 2007, 5th Ed., H. Fang, R.F. Conner, L.P. Villarreal, Jones & Bartlett,

     ISBN 9780763742638.

Grade Distribution:  Evaluated Recollection & Synthesis (ERS) #1(30%), ERS #2 (30%), ERS #3 (30%)

Awareness/Prevention Project & Class Participation:        5% each

 

ERS Format:  A combination of essays, &/or short answers, fill-in-the-blanks and true/false questions

 

The title outline for lectures in this course largely follows that of (AS).  Contents for lectures are drawn from AU, from (AS [for basic concepts], as well as from current scientific journal articles as new information become available.  Students are encouraged and expected to participate fully in class discussions, bring to the class’s attention relevant information found in scientific journals, popular press, on the Internet, as well as, anecdotes.

 

GOAL:  Students who successfully complete PCB 4232, Biology of AIDS will have received a balanced review, and will have attained a better understanding of current and on-going research and information on HIV infection, HIV disease and AIDS, from biomedical and psychosocial perspectives.

Objectives

  1. Students will have new vocabulary in virology, immunology, epidemiology, sociology and psychology that will allow a better understanding of issues of HIV/AIDS.

 

  1. Students will be able to counter common myths, distortions and misinformation about HIV/AIDS.

 

  1. Students will have the conceptual framework to be better able to address new information about HIV/AIDS as they arise.

 

These objectives are measured, and each student’s learning assessed through three exams scheduled during the semester, through classroom discussions and via assigned group-generated and completed awareness/prevention projects.

 

Fall 2008 PCB 4232 PROJECTS

Students are required to form groups of five (a total of seven groups) to design and execute a required HIV/AIDS-related awareness project that is geared towards a targeted audience. 

 

Projects can range from radio talk, to banners, pamphlets, posters & handouts, videos, newspaper articles, websites, talks to High School classes, FIU dormitory questionnaires & discussions, posters translated into foreign languages (e.g. Urdu, Vai, etc), to organized fund raisers for local HIV/AIDS-focused establishments. The sky is the limit…must be worthwhile & relevant. I know that students tend to be enthusiastic & creative in their projects.  Groups should be formed by or before Oct 7th, 2007.

 

There must be evidence that group members have put ample time and effort into designing and executing their project in order to earn the full grade assigned for this segment of the course. 




PCB 4232

Fall 2008

Biology of AIDS; 3 Credits          

Room GL 166

Class # 97973 Sec U01

Professor:  Ophelia I. Weeks, Ph.D.

DATE / DAY

TOPIC

READINGS

Aug 26, T

Introduction/Overview

“The Face of AIDS”

Foreword, Preface, Intro, Chp1 (AU)

Chp1 (AS)

Aug 28, R

Film: Pandemic (abridged version [42 minutes]). (Film by Rory Kennedy).  Open Forum

Chps1, 2(AU)

 

Sept 2, T

Concepts: Infectious Disease /Brief History of Epidemics

Chp2 (AS); Chp1, 2(AU)

Sept 4, 9, 11, R, T, R

The Immune System                                                       

I.  Blood & the Lymphatic System

II. Humoral & Cell-Mediated   Immunity

III.  Open Forum

Chp3 (AS); Chp5(AU)

 

Sept 16, 18, 23, 25, T, R, T, R

Virology & Human Immunodeficiency Virus

I.  Introduction to Viruses

II. Retroviruses-HIV

Immunology of HIV

Open Forum

Chp4 (AS); Chps3, 5(AU)

 

September 30, T

EVALUATED RECOLLECTION  & SYNTHESIS (ERAS) #1

sample questions

AS: 1, 2, 3, 4

AU: 1, 2, 3, 5

Oct 2, 7, 9, R, T, R

Clinical Manifestations

I.     Exposure, Infection, Disease

II.    HIV & the Nervous System

III.   Treatment

Chps7, 6, 4 (AU); Chp 5 (AS)

Oct 14, 16,  T, R

 

 

 

Epidemiology, HIV Transmission &  Personal Risk Factors

I.  Overview & Basic Concepts

II. Biological Basis of Transmission III.   Modes of Transmission

Chps 6,7 (AS); Chp8 (AU)

 

 

 

 

Oct 21, 23, 28, 30, T, R, T, R

Risk Assessment:

Individual HIV Risk Assessment

Prevention: 

I.  Disease Prevention/Health Promotion

II.  Models & Principles of Health Behavior Change

Chps 8, 9 (AS); Chp9 (AU)

Nov 4, T

 

EVALUATED RECOLLECTION & SYNTHESIS (ERAS) #2

Sample questions

AS:  5, 6, 7, 8, 9

AU:  4, 6, 7, 8, 9

Nov 6, R,

I.  HIV Testing

Chp13 (AU)

November 11 Veteran’s Day University Holiday  - University Closed

Nov 13, 18, 20, R, T, R

Prevalence of HIV & AIDS

II. USA/Global

III. Open Forum

Chps10,11,12 (AU)

Nov 25, Dec 1, T, T

Living with AIDS

I. Theoretical Perspectives

II. Human Dimensions

III. Societal Dimensions

IV.  Open Forum/Guest Speaker

Chp10, 11 (AS); Chp14 (AU)

November 27 & 28 Thanksgiving Day Holiday – University Closed

Dec 4, R

Future Directions in Combating AIDS:  I. Biomedical

            II. Social

     III. Epilogue/Open Forum

Chp14 (AU)

Dec 11, Thursday

EVALUATED RECOLLECTION & SYNTHESIS (ERAS) #3

AS: 10, 11

AU: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

 

Note:     Periodically, you may be assigned current research papers to read that are germane to topics being discussed.  Also, (AS) has a website, that contains review questions to accompany the text, as does (AU), [Research navigator and review questions at the end of each chapter.  Also note that the PREFACE of (AU) provides you with information about special features of the text.

 

 Websites: Some resourceful, informative & interesting!

 

1. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/daids/default.htm

6. http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/

2. http://www.medscape.com/hiv-aidshome

7. http://www.thebody.com/wa/wapage.html

3. http://www.doh.state.fl.us/DISEASE_CTRL/aids/updates/facts/facts.html

8. http://www.current.tv/watch/50321721

4. http://www.retroconference.org/2008/

9. http://www.aidsonline.com

5. http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite.jsp?page=KB

10. Other sites identified in AIDS Update 2008

 

Note: a simple search will reveal that there are numerous websites related to HIV/AIDS.  “AIDS Update 2008” identifies many additional websites.  You are expected to visit these sites.

 

GRADE DISTRIBUTION

A = 90 – 100

B- = 78 – 79.5

D+ = 65 - 67.5

A- = 88 - 89.5

C+ = 75 - 77.5

D = 60 - 64.5

B+ = 85 - 87.5

C = 70 - 74.5

D- = 58-59.5

B = 80 - 84.5

C- = 68 - 69.5

F  = 0 - 57.5

 

 

 

 

Print, fill-out and turn-in the Information Sheet (page 4) by the 2nd day of class - August 28th.
                                                INFORMATION SHEET

Name:

 

Year of College:

Major (curriculum emphasis):

Career Intentions:

 

Course load this semester:

 

 

 

Courses taken in Biology or related subjects:

 

 

 

 

What is your method for studying?

 

 

 

 

How do you best understand & learn?

 

 

 

 

What works best for you in the classroom?

 

 

 

 

What is your opinion about PowerPoint  versus other (identify) lectures

 

 

 

 

 

Why did you register for this course, Biology of AIDS?

 

 

 

 

Additional Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Print, fill-out and turn-in the Information Sheet (page 4) by the 2nd day of class - August 28th.

 

 

 

Fall 2008 PCB 4232 PROJECTS

 

Students are required to form groups of five to design and execute a required HIV/AIDS-related awareness project that is geared towards a targeted audience. 

 

Projects can range from radio talk, to banners, to pamphlets, to posters & handouts, to newspaper articles, to websites, to talks to High School classes, to FIU dormitory questionnaires & discussions, to posters translated into a foreign language (e.g. Urdu, Mandarin, Vai), to organized fund raisers for local HIV/AIDS-focused establishments.  From past experience, I know that students tend to be enthusiastic and creative in their projects. 

 

There must be evidence that group members have put ample time and effort into designing and executing their project in order to earn the full grade assigned for this segment of the course. 

 

Also, each group turns in a synopsis (a paragraph should suffice) that describes/summarizes the project.  If the summary is sufficient, I then give the group the “go ahead” for their project.  I review contents for/of projects before implementation.

 

ALL PROJECTS MUST BE COMPLETED BY OR BEFORE THE END OF THE SEMESTER (DECEMBER 8TH).