Department of Pathogen Biology is formed by a merger between Department of Human Parasitology and Department of Microbiology about ten years ago.
Department of Human Parasitology was established in 1947 by Yongzheng YAO, a first-class professor and well-known parasitologist in China. It was authorized to confer master's degree in 1956 and doctor's degree in1986, and was approved as a postdoctoral mobile station in 1991. The past decades have witnessed a massive influx of teaching talents into the department. Therefore, an increase in the strength of scientific research and teaching quality ensued. Its course was recognized as "first-class course" in Hubei province in 1994, as "provincial excellent course" in 1997 and as National Excellent Course by Ministry of Education in 2004. It was confirmed as a constructive key discipline of "211 project" in 1996 and as a provincial key discipline in 1998. Department of Human Parasitology has passed with excellent results the "Seven-Year Teaching Evaluation" organized by the Ministry of Education in 2002. It was accepted as a member of "TropED network" in 2005 and undertook the teaching task on Human Parasitology. TropED represents the word largest network for a Master in International Health, including almost all institutions in Western Europe offering a MIH and a range of institutions outside Europe offering modules. In 2007, Human Parasitology, together with Physiopathology and Immunology, smoothly passed key disciplines assessment launched by the Ministry of Education.
Faculty members of Department of Human Parasitology hold a position in academic organizations. For example, some of them are members of Disciplinary Review Group of Academic Committee of the State Council and Expert Advisory Committee on Schistosomiasis of Ministry of Health, vice chairman of Chinese Society of Tropical Disease and Parasitology, and editors of Acta Parasitologica Et Medica Entomologica Sinica, Chinese Journal of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Journal of Pathogen Biology, and Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control. They also edit national planning textbooks Pathogeny Biology and Human Parasitology.
Department of Human Parasitology has 17 teaching staff, one of whom is professor, two associated professors, two lectures and three technicians. All teachers used to undertake national projects, including 10 projects from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, one "863 key project" and one "863 special subject". Their research interest focuses on immunity of parasitic infection, molecular parasitology, parasite ecology and control of parasitic diseases.
Department of Human Parasitology actively participates in teaching reform and carries out research on teaching methods. Its special teaching model, "teaching-research-community service", was awarded national and provincial Excellent Teaching Awards. As the department attaches importance to hands-on experience, it requires undergraduate students to conduct social investigations and organizes them to survey the parasitic infection of fishes, meats and vegetables in markets. In order to ensure a smooth transition from basic medicine to clinical study, students are required to discuss parasitic cases. The department also has a special field study base for schistosomiasis. Since 1998, the department has guided students to conduct 40 scientific research projects and to compose 82 papers. Students were awarded three first prizes and four third prizes of College Students Excellent Scientific Research Achievement Award of Hubei province, and 1 second prize of Challenge Cup.
