GENE414 MICROBES AND MOLECULAR PATHOGENESIS
| Course Code: | 2190414 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 6.0 |
| Department: | Molecular Biology and Genetics |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. GÜLAY ÖZCENGİZ |
| Offered Semester: | Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
1. explain the normal microbiota of humans and their benefits
2. list emerging factors and predisposing factors
3. describe virulence factors involved in adherence and colonization, invasion and spreading: surface structures, enzymes, endotoxins, exotoxins
4. explain phagocytosis, , fever and pyrogens, antimicrobial substances of body, interferon, complement system, NK cells, cell-mediated and humoral immunity
5. describe stages of inflammation, mediators and molecular mechanisms
6. understand disease development and relevant phases, nosocomial infections, epidemiology and modes of transmission
7. describe “Human Microbiome Project”, relevant research methods, future prospects including microbiome and autoimmune diseases, obesity and neuro-chemical imbalances
8. distinguish between Gram-positive (Type I, II, III, V, Tat and SRP) secretion systems and their significance in pathogenesis
9. explain the roles of biofilm formation, quorum sensing and antigenic variation in pathogenesis
10. classify microbial pathogens with respect to their nature (intracellular bacterial pathogens and viruses) with selected examples to respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital systems
11. understand systems biology approaches applied to pathogens and hosts, as well as their utility in drug and vaccine design
Course Content
Molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis including virulence factors and secretion systems of pathogenic bacteria, biofilm formation, quorum sensing and antigenic variation, host nonspecific defenses plus immune responses related to infectious agents, the molecular approaches used to characterize pathogenic microbes and their virulence factors, human microbiome and the future challenges in vaccine development and discovering new antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action.
Course Learning Outcomes
1. describe common and group-specific virulence factors of pathogens
2. communicate major key-players (secretion systems and other virulence factors, biofilm formation, quorum sensing and antigenic variation) and the links between them
3. describe disease development process, non-specific and specific host responses
4. integrate knowledge of molecular biology and genetics, microbiology, cell biology and biochemistry to understand processes and mechanisms leading to microbial infections
5. describe and evaluate basic features, methodology and potential use of human microbiome research to understand and cure human diseases other than microbial infections
6. distinguish between the nature of bacterial and viral infections as well as those caused by obligately intacellular pathogenic bacteria
7. evaluate and interpret current literature on pathogens and infections
8. understand the most common mechanisms and communicate effectively by orally presenting and documenting specific examples to most important infections of respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital systems
9. apply critical thinking and creativity in the field of molecular pathogenesis of bacteria and viruses
10. integrate the significance of microbial pathogenesis research to the discovery of novel drugs and vaccines
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | Apply the most advanced and current experimental techniques in genetic engineering, molecular biology and molecular genetics | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Practice and defend the work safety rules | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Have a commend of scientific processes; critique; design experiments and ask questions leading to theorizing | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Communicate in English and Turkish with high proficiency | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Read and interpret the current worldwide literature in molecular biology and genetics | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Pursue the most recent advances in molecular biology and genetics; explain and relate the advances to colleagues | ✔ | |||
| 7 | Challenge technical and technological riddle and welcome life-long education | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Work individually or as a team member, easily start and propagate brain storm in a work group | ✔ | |||
| 9 | Employ and defend scientific ethic rules and make them motto for their team | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution