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Cursus: B-B3MPMI18
B-B3MPMI18
Moleculaire plant-microbe interacties
Cursus informatie
CursuscodeB-B3MPMI18
Studiepunten (EC)7,5
Cursusdoelen
Learning goals
After this course you can:
─ describe the characteristics of various interactions of the plant with beneficial and harmful microbes and insects,
─ describe the most important cellular and molecular mechanisms of attraction or defense between the different interactors (plant-microbe/insect and vice versa),
─ explain how defense and virulence mechanisms have developed during evolution, and understand the basic principles of the plant immune system,
─ describe the main regulation mechanisms by plant defense hormones and how these are influenced by multiple stress stimuli,
─ understand the functional relationship of the plant with its microbiome,
─ define opportunities to translate fundamental scientific findings into the design of (disease) resistant crops
─ explain how the above learning objectives can be studied experimentally,
─ understand how bioinformatic analyses of high-throughput genomics data (at transcriptome and metagenome levels) can elucidate plant-microbe relationships
─ conduct a literature review, formulate a research question, devise scientific experiments, perform experiments, and present (oral and written)


Skills
─ formulating a research question,
─ carrying out the research cycle (experimenting, interpreting results and critically discussing),
─ systematically analyzing a complex biological problem based on scientific literature and processing it in a research proposal and essay,
─ using bioinformatic methodologies to analyze and visualize genomic data of plant-microbe interactions (use the command line and R)
─ verbal and written reporting, discussing and peer reviewing of results and syntheses
Inhoud
Entry requirements
Level 2 course “Moleculair Genetische Onderzoeks Technieken” and/or “De Cel” is compulsory. It is recommended to have completed the courses “Microbiële Interacties” or “Plantenfysiologie”. If you have completed the course “Planten Adaptatie en Afweer”, you are excluded from participation in this course.
 
Study path
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions is a core course of the Plant Biology and Microbiology study paths. Moreover, the course is a (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, and Science and Business Management.

Content description
The aim of this course is to understand how the immune system of plants functions, how plants and good or bad 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. For five weeks, experiments are carried out in the laboratory, in which plant disease tests with microbes and insects are carried out and molecular reactions are measured to understand the complexity of these. In computer practicals, bioinformatic analyses of genomic data are performed. In addition, the last 4 weeks are spent on processing of primary scientific literature in a popular article and on formulating a research question and experimental approach, based on your own interest, in an in-depth project proposal.
 
Educational forms
Lectures, tutorials, practicals (groups of 2 or 3), computer practicals, writing and reviewing a popular science article and a research proposal (groups of 2 or individual). You present the results of the practicals to your fellow students at a mini-symposium. The essay and proposal are pitched and (peer-)reviewed.
 
Grading
Active participation in practicals and presentation assignments is mandatory. The final mark consists of a weighted average of: exam (50%), (computer) practicals (25%), article (12.5%) and research proposal (12.5%). For each of the parts you have to get a grade of at least 5.5.
 
Study material
Lab coat, manual (provided at the start of the course), lab journal, laptop.
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