Molecular plant microbe interactions

Course goals

Entry requirements
For Biology students level 2 course “Moleculair Genetische Onderzoeks Technieken (MGOT)” is compulsory. Students may also enter the course if they participate in MGOT in the AD timeslot in the same period. It is recommended to have completed the courses “Microbiele interacties (former course)”, “Microbiologie” or “Host-microbe interactions” or “Plantenfysiologie en -ontwikkeling” or “Planten in context”.  For M(B)LS students Molecular Biology and Biochemical Techniques (MBBT) or an equivalent is compulsory.

Study path
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions is a core course of the Plant Biology and Microbiology study paths of the Bachelor Biology. Moreover, the course is an optional part of the Bachelor Molecular Life Sciences. The course provides a good 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
The aim of this course is to understand how the immune system of plants functions, how plants and beneficial or pathogenic microbes interact with each other, and what the determinants are for their success in these different interactions. In the course several integration levels of plant-microbe (and -insect) interactions are discussed: from genes, signal molecules, defense products, whole organisms, to (microbial) population effects.
In the first half of the course, recorded lectures and tutorials convey the theoretical underpinning of plant-microbe/insect interactions. Next to that, students carry out extensive experiments in the laboratory. In the laboratory practicals the students perform plant disease tests with microbes and insects and measure molecular reactions to understand the complexity of the plant-microbe interactions.
In the second half of the course, students follow computer practicals in which they learn how to analyze genomic and transcriptomic data using R. The course is concluded by a key stone assignment in which students formulate a research question and experimental approach, based on their personal interest, in an in-depth MSc research project proposal.

Educational forms
Recorded lectures (knowledge clips), tutorials, wet lab and computer practicals (groups of 2 or 4), and a research proposal (groups of 2). Oral presentation of the wet lab-practicals at a mini-symposium. The research proposal is pitched in a final presentation.

Grading
To pass this course, a minimum of 5,5 is mandatory. Your grade is calculated by the following components:

• Exam:                    45%
• Practicals:               30%
• Writing assignment:  25%

Active participation during practicals and presentation assignments is mandatory. For each of the three components listed above you must get a grade of at least 5.50. We provide the option to repair a course component if this is graded below 5.50, provided the course average is at least 4.0.

Study material
Mandatory:

• Lab/anatomy set, laptop, syllabus (provided at the start of the course)
• Study material available on Brightspace.

Content

Entry requirements
For Biology students level 2 course “Moleculair Genetische Onderzoeks Technieken (MGOT)” is compulsory. Students may also enter the course if they participate in MGOT in the AD timeslot in the same period. It is recommended to have completed the courses “Microbiele interacties (former course)”, “Microbiologie” or “Host-microbe interactions” or “Plantenfysiologie en -ontwikkeling” or “Planten in context”.  For M(B)LS students Molecular Biology and Biochemical Techniques (MBBT) or an equivalent is compulsory.

Study path
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions is a core course of the Plant Biology and Microbiology study paths of the Bachelor Biology. Moreover, the course is an optional part of the Bachelor Molecular Life Sciences. The course provides a good 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
The aim of this course is to understand how the immune system of plants functions, how plants and beneficial or pathogenic microbes interact with each other, and what the determinants are for their success in these different interactions. In the course several integration levels of plant-microbe (and -insect) interactions are discussed: from genes, signal molecules, defense products, whole organisms, to (microbial) population effects.
In the first half of the course, recorded lectures and tutorials convey the theoretical underpinning of plant-microbe/insect interactions. Next to that, students carry out extensive experiments in the laboratory. In the laboratory practicals the students perform plant disease tests with microbes and insects and measure molecular reactions to understand the complexity of the plant-microbe interactions.
In the second half of the course, students follow computer practicals in which they learn how to analyze genomic and transcriptomic data using R. The course is concluded by a key stone assignment in which students formulate a research question and experimental approach, based on their personal interest, in an in-depth MSc research project proposal.

Educational forms
Recorded lectures (knowledge clips), tutorials, wet lab and computer practicals (groups of 2 or 4), and a research proposal (groups of 2). Oral presentation of the wet lab-practicals at a mini-symposium. The research proposal is pitched in a final presentation.

Grading
To pass this course, a minimum of 5,5 is mandatory. Your grade is calculated by the following components:

• Exam:                    45%
• Practicals:               30%
• Writing assignment:  25%

Active participation during practicals and presentation assignments is mandatory. For each of the three components listed above you must get a grade of at least 5.50. We provide the option to repair a course component if this is graded below 5.50, provided the course average is at least 4.0.

Study material
Mandatory:

• Lab/anatomy set, laptop, syllabus (provided at the start of the course)
• Study material available on Brightspace.