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Bacterial Pathogenesis

Tuesday 15 September 2009

BMB - 404506

Period: week 38 + 39
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.

Literature / study material used
Review articles

Useful other books
Schaechter’s Mechanisms of Microbial Disease
Prescott Microbiology

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