BSc Molecular Biology / Course details

You will study  some of the most recent advances in Microbiology including the role of horizontal gene transfer in the evolution of bacterial pathogens and the spread of drug resistance, and the importance of biofilm formation in pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance.

To provide students with an insight into some of the most recent advances in Microbiology.

At the end of the course students will have an appreciation of;

• The molecular mechanisms used by microorganisms to detect and respond to
  environmental change.
• The role of quorum sensing in bacterial pathogenesis.
• The importance of biofilm formation in pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance
• The role of horizontal gene transfer in the evolution of bacterial pathogens and the spread of drug resistance.
• The mechanisms used by microorganisms to protect themselves from foreign DNA
• The use of modern genomic techniques to advance our understanding of bacteria and bacterial ecosystems.

• Environmental sensing:
  • How bacterial pathogens adapt to life in the host;
• Bacterial cell to cell communication and virulence
• Inter-kingdom quorum sensing: bacterial conversations with the host
• Biofilms and bacterial virulence
• Biofilms and antibiotic resistance - the problem with persisters
• Horizontal gene transfer and the evolution of multi drug resistant bacteria
• Horizontal gene transfer and the evolution of bacterial pathogens
• CRISPRS - A bacterial immune response to foreign DNA
• Sequencing microbial genomes, past present and future
• Synthetic bacterial genomes

An 8 minute talk on a Current Microbiology topic (10%);

2 hour examination (90%)

Two, optional multiple choice quizzes will be available on Blackboard towards the middle and end of the course. These will provide an opportunity for students to assess their understanding of the learning objectives of the course.

Primary papers and review articles selected by Dr High