NBIK15016U The Human Microbiome

Volume 2015/2016
Education

MSc Programme in Biology
MSc Programme in Biochemistry
MSc Programme in Molecular Biomedicine

Content

Humans harbour ten times more bacterial cells than human cells. Different parts of the human body are inhabited by specific microbial communities forming the human microbiome. Within recent years it has become clear that the human microbiome interacts extensively with their human host and is important for human health.

Learning Outcome

This course will give students a thorough understanding of the microbial communities in and on humans. This includes the different roles of the communities in the well-being of humans and links to important human diseases like allergies, obesity, inflammatory bowel diseases, and diabetes. Students will obtain detailed knowledge on the different microorganisms shaping the microbiome of key human habitats, i.e. the colon, skin, oral cavity, vagina and lungs.

Knowledge:

By completing the course the student will be able to:

  • describe the main members of the microbiome of the human colon, skin, oral cavity, vagina, and lungs
  • describe key physiological aspects of the main members of the human microbiome
  • describe how the main members of the microbiome interact with their human host
  • describe how the human microbiome may be linked to human disease, i.e. obesity, allergies, inflammatory bowel diseases, and diabetes
  • describe how the human microbiome may affect the behaviour of humans
  • describe how human life style may influence the microbiome
  • describe the pros and cons of using specific animal models to study the links between microbiomes and human health

 

Skills:

  • present orally and in writing key aspects of the human microbiome and its effects on human health
  • propose studies for investigating the human microbiome and its interactions with the human host

 

Competences

  • evaluate the effects of the human microbiome on human health
  • evaluate methods used to investigate the human microbiome and the interactions between the human microbiome and the human host
  • evaluate the use of animal models in the study of interactions between microbiomes and human health
  • independently retrieve and critically evaluate information from the primary scientific literature on the human microbioime and relationshiops between the human microbiome and human health
  • discuss original scientific articles and reviews on the human microbiome
  • present a coherent essay on a specific topic on the human microbiome

Scientific papers. See Absalon.

In general, three hours of lectures and six hours of seminars per week for the first five weeks. The lectures will introduce the microbiome(s) forming the theme of the week. The seminars are based on discussions of scientific papers and involve student presentations of original research papers, lectures by invited guests, and, importantly, discussions between students and guests (and teachers). In weeks six and seven, students will prepare an individual essay based on a microbiome topic defined and allocated by the teachers.
The course is part of the qualification profile 'Microbiology'.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 0,5
  • Lectures
  • 15
  • Preparation
  • 120,5
  • Project work
  • 40
  • Seminar
  • 30
  • Total
  • 206,0
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 25 minutes
Written assignment
Individual oral examination without preparation. The first part of the exam is a discussion of the essay and the second part consists of questions based on the curriculum of the course. The exam lasts for 25 minutes in total.
Grading is based on the essay (25%) and the oral examination (25% on questions related to essay and 50% on questions related to curriculum).
Students can pass the exam without passing all the part-examinations, if the total grade is passed.
The essay can be reused in the reexamination.
Exam registration requirements

To participate in the exam the student must perform a satisfactory presentation of a scientific paper.
If the requirements is not fulfilled, the fulfillment must be arranged with the course responsible before the reexamination.

Aid
Without aids
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners/co-examiners
Criteria for exam assesment

The grade 12 is given for an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material, cf. the Learning Outcome of the course, with no or only a few minor weaknesses.