NBIA04055U Advanced Bacteriology

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Biology
Content
Contents:
Week 1: Bacterial interactions
- Bacterial interactions
- Quorum sensing
- Socio-microbiology

Week 2: Microbial biofilm and evolution
- Biofilms
- Evolution of bacteria
- Bioinformatic analysis

Week 3: Bacterial mobile genetic elements
- Mobile genetic elements: Plasmids, transposons, and bacteriophages
- Integrons and transposons
- Horizontal transfer of plasmids in natural environments

Week 4: Bacterial physiology and identification
- Identification and detection of bacteria
- Structure and function of the prokaryotic cell
- Metabolic diversity

Week 5: Symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria
- Bacterial symbionts in animals
- Bacterial inhabitants of humans

Week 6: Bacterial disease mechanisms
- Bacterial disease mechanisms
- Infectious biology in humans of selected bacteria
- From free-living to pathogen: Adaptation to pathogenicity

Week 7: Human bacterial pathogens
- Disease and bacteria in the human intestine
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Bacterial pathogens with different life styles
Learning Outcome
Knowledge:
  • Understanding of structural and functional attributes of bacteria that relate to their ability to live as single-cell organisms or in intimate associations with eukaryotes
  • Understanding of the metabolic diversity of bacteria and the diversity in an ecological context
  • Detailed knowledge on the different mechanisms behind horizontal gene transfer among bacteria
  • Understanding of the prokaryotic species concept and evaluate different species definitions
  • Understanding of the molecular basis of bacterial mutualistic symbiosis with a selection of animals
  • Knowledge on selected bacterial inhabitants of humans and their physiology in relation to their habitat
  • Detailed knowledge on the mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis in humans
  • describe in detail the molecular basis of pathogenesis of selected pathogenic bacteria on humans

Skills:
The student will be able to;
  • evaluate the importance of biofilm formation to bacterial survival
  • evaluate quorum sensing in relation to biofilm formation, bacterial physiology, and bacterial pathogenesis
  • evaluate the concept of sociomicrobiology and analyse the importance of bacterial interactions
  • analyse the evolution and phylogeny of bacteria
  • analyse horizontal transfer of plasmids in natural environments
  • evaluate methods for detection, identification and subtyping of bacteria
  • evaluate and analyse bacterial adaptations to pathogenicity
  • evaluate the potential of bacteria to produce infectious disease in humans

Competencies:
The student will be able to;
  • use and evaluate molecular methods to investigate bacterial biofilm formation and horizontal gene transfer among bacteria, and analyse subsequent data
  • discuss plasmid replication, plasmid maintenance and plasmid copy number regulation in bacteria
  • put into a plasmid perspective the evolution of antibiotic resistance, both in human infections and in various environments
  • analyse, put into perspective, and criticize the primary scientific literature
  • perform effective written and oral presentation of acquired knowledge and ideas

Literature
See Absalon.
Introductory courses in molecular biology and microbiology are recommended.
Weeks 1-7 generally include two double lectures (Mondays and Wednesdays 10.15-12.00), two 3-hour discussion classes (Tuesdays and Fridays 9.15-12.00), and a lecture in "New trends in microbiology" (Friday afternoon). Some weeks depart from this general schedule. Practicals take place afternoons (13.00-16.00) of Wednesday to Thursday in week 2, Monday to Thursday in week 3, and Monday and Tuesday in week 4.
The course is part of the qualification profile Microbiology. For all courses of the qualification profiles, see Course Portal for Department of Biology.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 42
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Lectures
  • 35
  • Practical exercises
  • 28
  • Preparation
  • 266
  • Project work
  • 40
  • Total
  • 412
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Practical written examination
Practical oral examination
Grading by the 7-step scale is based on essay on the practicals (25% of final grade) and final oral exam (75% of final grade) based on curriculum and practicals with external censorship.
Reexam will be held as the ordinary exam.
Exam registration requirements
In order to be allowed to the final exam, the student should have participated actively in the course by being present at the exercises (minimum 80% presence at the exercises), and by performing a satisfactory oral presentation based on a scientific paper.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
To achieve the grade 12 the student must be able to:

  • describe the structural and functional attributes of bacteria that relate to their ability to live as single-cell organisms or in intimate associations with eukaryotes
  • describe the metabolic diversity of bacteria and explain the diversity in an ecological context
  • describe in detail the different mechanisms behind horizontal gene transfer among bacteria and evaluate their importance to bacterial survival and evolution
  • describe the prokaryotic species concept and evaluate different species definitions
  • describe the molecular basis of bacterial mutualistic symbiosis with a selection of animals
  • describe a selection of bacterial inhabitants of humans and evaluate their physiology in relation to their habitat
  • evaluate the importance of biofilm formation to bacterial survival
  • evaluate quorum sensing in relation to biofilm formation, bacterial physiology, and bacterial pathogenesis
  • evaluate the concept of sociomicrobiology and analyse the importance of bacterial interactions
  • analyse the evolution and phylogeny of bacteria
  • analyse horizontal transfer of plasmids in natural environments
  • evaluate methods for detection, identification and subtyping of bacteria
  • evaluate and analyse bacterial adaptations to pathogenicity
  • use and evaluate molecular methods to investigate bacterial biofilm formation and horizontal gene transfer among bacteria, and analyse subsequent data
  • discuss plasmid replication, plasmid maintenance and plasmid copy number regulation in bacteria
  • put into a plasmid perspective the evolution of antibiotic resistance, both in human infections and in various environments
  • analyse, put into perspective, and criticize the primary scientific literature
  • perform effective written and oral presentation of acquired knowledge and ideas