Molecular Microbiology

Course Objective

Students following this course will obtain in-depth theoretical knowledge of

various microbiological topics, including the techniques applied to

investigate those topics. Furthermore, the Laboratory research project

will allow students to combine theory and experimental approaches

to answer research questions that are related to the topics discussed in

the theoretical part of the course. For that purpose, the complex

molecular processes in the bacterial cell serve as central theme. The

emphasis is on structure and function of the cell envelope, its role in

bacterial pathogenesis and vaccine development.

At the end, the students are able to understand and know:

• Fundamental molecular processes that are important for growth,

functioning and pathogenicity of micro-organisms.

• Practical and experimental approaches in molecular microbiology,

immunology, bacterial DNA technology, protein techniques.

Course Content

This course consists of two parts:
1. A theoretical series of 12 lectures (24h contact)
2. A Laboratory project of 3 weeks.

1. The Lectures focus on bacterial processes that enable them to
colonize and survive in their niches, which can be an underlying cause
for bacterial infections . A major topic is the biogenesis of the
complex cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria, because this bacterial
compartment is directly involved in contact with the environment and
plays a pivotal role in host-pathogen interactions.

2. The Laboratory project involves a small experimental project that is
performed by the student personally (no groups). It onvolves a
microbiological research project that is related to the work performed
in the Molecular Microbiology department. The project involves three
stages:
- Reading two scientific papers for background followed by a literature
discussion
- The actual experimental work in the Laboratory (week 2 and 3 several
days of lab work and working out the experiments at home; this project
is busy and requires full days)
- Writing a labjournal and presenting the work in workdiscussion
meetings (compulsory; 4h contact).

Additional Information Teaching Methods

Theory; Lectures series Research project: in a small group with a

supervisor planning and conducting a research project in the laboratory of

that supervisor. The full participation in the laboratory project is obligatory

(requires full days).

Method of Assessment

Deliverables for the course are:
- A written Lab journal (75% of Lab project mark))
- Presentation at workdiscussions (presence required)
- Presentation of final results (25% of Lab project mark)
- A written exam on the lectures series (the exam consists of
essay questions)

The Lab project and the Exam each count for 50% towards the final mark.

Additional requirements:
- You pass the course when the Research project has been completed,
including the lab-journal (handed in digitally via Canvas).
- The mark for the written exam should be 5 or higher, or the course is
marked as
Fail).

Literature

Background:
Brock, Biology of Microorgamisms, current edition. Madigan, Martinko
DunLap Clark and Parker, Pearson Education, Inc

Each Lecture will be supported by a concise review on the topic, but
also includes data and insights of the lecturer. For the Lectures a list
of reviews is provided. These are updated yearly to keep the course up-
to-date. The list will be published on the Canvas site prior to the
start of the course.

Additional Information Target Audience

This course is part of the Minor Biomolecular Sciences. However, when

available, students of other biomolecular- or biomedical-oriented minors can

enroll.

Additional Information

Guest Lecturer: Dr. P. van der Ley; Laboratory of Vaccine Research,
National Institute of Health and the Environment, Bilthoven.

Course with a lot of direct contact with the professors, associate and
assistant professors, PhD's and postdocs.

Custom Course Registration

Maximum number of participants: 44