Host-Microbe Interactions

Course goals

Learning goals
After this course the student:

• knows how different layers of immunity function in different types of hosts
• can describe differences and similarities between the immune systems of different types of hosts
• can describe common infection strategies of microbial pathogens
• can describe the significance of host-associated microbial communities and how these can be studied
• can explain beneficial functions of host-associated microbes based on well-studied and -documented examples
• can describe how hosts can differentiate between harmful and beneficial microbes
• can describe important factors in host-microbiome assembly
• can analyze and evaluate experimental results within the scope of the course
• can formulate follow-up questions based on published studies and can devise and communicate an experimental approach suitable to address such questions
• can use basic bioinformatic analyses to explore and communicate concepts/information regarding host-microbe interactions
• is aware of and can reflect on your functioning within a team
• can effectively communicate information based on literature research, both verbally and in writing (knowledge and poster)

Skills

• Functioning in a team
• Systematically analyzing complex biological systems based on scientific literature and processing it in a knowledge clip and a poster.
• Using bioinformatic methodologies to analyze and visualize (meta-)genomic data of host-microbe interactions (using R and phylogeny tools).
• Verbal and written reporting, discussing of results and syntheses

 

Skills	Part of the course?	Explicitely examined?
Writing	x	x
Presenting	x	x
Data handling	x	x
Practical research skills	x
General research skills	x
Co-operation	x
Critical thinking	x	x
Career orientation
Interdisciplinarity	x	x

Content

Entry requirements
The first year Biology courses Evolution and biodiversity, Molecular biology, Animal biology, and Plants & microorganisms or similar courses or equivalent pre-knowledge. For MBLS students the course Functional Biology (MBLS-107) or equivalent pre-knowledge.
This course cannot be followed by students that have a passing grade for the discontinued course ‘Microbiële interacties’ (B-B2MINT10).

Study path
Host-microbe interactions is a core course of the Plant Biology and Microbiology study paths of the Bachelor program Biology. Moreover, the course is an optional part of the Bachelor program Molecular & Biophysical Life Sciences. The course contributes to preparation for the Master's programs Environmental Biology, Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences, Science and Business Management, and Bio-Inspired Innovation.

Language
All components of this course are in English.

Content description
We are never alone, nor are the crops we grow to feed the world. Microbes, both good and bad, are everywhere and have a profound impact on the organisms that can function as their hosts. In this course, you learn about important concepts regarding the interactions between different types of hosts and the microbes in their environment.
In the first part of the course (block 1), we work towards the courses single exam. First, we will focus on interactions of pathogenic microbes with both animals (e.g., humans) and plants. You will learn about the immune systems of these seemingly disparate hosts. Although there are strong differences in the tools with which mammals and plants perceive and react to pathogen invasion, you will see that there are also similarities. This will give you a broader perspective on immune system functioning, covering a wider range of immunology-related topics within the life sciences. Also in block 1, we will discuss mutualistic host-microbe interactions and elaborate on beneficial functions that microbes can perform for their hosts, as well as the molecular mechanisms that underly these interactions. To tie the topics of harmful and beneficial interactions together, we then discuss how hosts differentiate between friends and foes, and we discuss these host-microbe interactions in the wider context of host-associated microbial communities. After all, such interactions never occur in isolation in nature!
In the last part of the course (block 2), you will work towards a poster presentation in the context of one of the topics that has been discussed during block 1 of the course. This final assignment will consist of the effective communication of the main findings of a scientific study, and your own design of an experiment that addresses a follow-up question based on that scientific study.

Educational forms
Lectures, tutorials, computer practicals, (limited) wet lab, assignments (presentation; question-based assignment; poster; teamwork reflection assignment throughout blocks 1 and 2), plenary discussion sessions of scientific articles in support of the course materials and the poster assignment.

Grading
Your grade is based on the following components:

• Exam:          60%
• Assignments: 40% (block 1 assignment 20%; block 2 poster assignment 20%)

Active participation in lab and computer practicals and assignments is mandatory. Ungraded assignments must be submitted and of sufficient quality (evaluated as pass/fail). For each of the two overarching components (exam and assignments) you must get a grade of at least 5.5. We provide the option to repair a course component if this is graded below 5.5, provided the course average is at least 4.0.

Study material

• Lab coat, lab/anatomy set, laptop
• Study material available on blackboard.