Bacterial Pathogenesis
Monday 12 March 2012
BMB - 404506
Period: week 39 + 40
EC’s: 3
Course aims and content:
By covering the following topics students will get the opportunity to expand their knowlegde in the field of bacterial pathogenesis:
Bacterial Cell Biology
genome plasticity, mobile genetic elements, intracellular signaling, membrane biogenesis
Prokaryotic Cell Signalling
chemotaxis / mortility, cell-cell signaling (quorum sensing, biofilms)
Bacterial Virulence Strategies
LPS synthesis, carbohydrate receptors
Bacterial exploitation of host cell biology
Mucosal cell entry, transcytosis, intracellular trafficking and survival
Bacterial Community
Intestinal flora and health
Host Cell Defense
Innate receptors, innate effectors (collectins, defensins, sIgA, mucus)
Therapy & Resistance: mechanisms of action antibiotics, resistance mechanisms: integrons, plasmids, efflux pumps
- Bacterial related disease: chronic inflammation, atheroscleroris, auto-immuno diseases and tumor formation
During tutorials students will present and discuss the following topics: protein secretion systems, pathogenicity islands, bacterial adhesion, immune evasion strategies, novel antibiotics/phage therapy
Next to the written exam students are challenged to prepare an outline for their own PhD thesis. Handing in a sound plan will lead to an upgrading of the exam result.
After completing the course the student…
1. is able to explain the principles of bacterial cell biology, including genome plasticity, mobile genetic elements, intracellular signaling, membrane biogenesis
2. is able to expain the concepts of prokaryotic cell signaling including chemotaxis / mortility, cell-cell signaling (quorum sensing, biofilms)
3. is able to describe bacterial virulence strategies, such as LPS synthesis and expression of carbohydrate receptors
4. is able to describe bacterial exploitation of host cell biology: mucosal cell entry, transcytosis, intracellular trafficking and survival
5. is able to explain the role of bacterial community with respect to intestinal flora and health
6. knows the key players of host cell defense: innate receptors, innate effectors (collectins, defensins, sIgA, mucus)
7. knows mechanisms of action antibiotics and can explain how resistance against antibiotic treatment evolves by applying the knowledge about integrons, plasmids and efflux pumps
8. is able to discuss cutting edge information about protein secretion systems, pathogenicity islands, bacterial adhesion, immune evasion strategies and novel antibiotics/phage therapy
Literature / study material used
Review articles
Useful other books
Schaechter’s Mechanisms of Microbial Disease
Prescott Microbiology
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