Period (from – till): 26 September 2016 – 7 October 2016
 

Course Coordinators
Prof. dr. Jos van Strijp, Medical Microbiology, UMC Utrecht
Prof. dr. Jos van Putten, I&I, Infection Biology, Vet. Medicine
Dr. Kristin Denzer (course registration)

*supportive

Course description
By covering the following topics students will get the opportunity to expand their knowledge in the field of bacterial pathogenesis:

• Bacterial Cell Biology: genome plasticity, mobile genetic elements, intracellular signaling, membrane biogenesis
• Prokaryotic Cell Signalling: chemotaxis / mortility, cell-cell signaling (quorum sensing, biofilms)
• Bacterial Virulence Strategies: LPS synthesis, carbohydrate receptors
• Bacterial exploitation of host cell biology: mucosal cell entry, transcytosis, intracellular trafficking and survival
• Bacterial Community: intestinal flora and health
• Host Cell Defense: innate receptors, innate effectors (collectins, defensins, sIgA, mucus)
• Therapy & Resistance: mechanisms of action antibiotics, resistance mechanisms: integrons, plasmids, efflux pumps
• Bacterial related disease: chronic inflammation, atheroscleroris, auto-immuno diseases and tumor formation

During tutorials students will present and discuss the following topics: protein secretion systems, pathogenicity islands, bacterial adhesion, immune evasion strategies, novel antibiotics/phage therapy

Next to the written exam students are challenged to prepare an outline for their own grant proposal.
This will count for 10% of the final grade.

Literature/study material used:
All presented lectures and relevant journal references will be made available by BlackBoard and/or handouts. These materials form the basis of the course and are the subject of examination.

Registration:
Automatically after acceptance to the programme. Other students (only in exceptional cases) apply via studyguide. The maximum number of participants is 30.

Contact:
Prof. dr. Jos van Putten or Prof dr. Jos van Strijp (course content): j.vanputten@uu.nl or J.vanStrijp@umcutrecht.nl
I&I Secretariat (course registration & Osiris): secretary.iimaster@umcutrecht.nl

Mandatory for students in own Master’s programme:
Yes

Optional for students in other GSLS Master’s programme:
Yes (only in exceptional cases)

Prerequisite knowledge:
Participants should have successfully passed the course ''Infection and Immunity'' of the BSc Biomedical Sciences of the Utrecht University, or have equivalent knowledge. This implies that students are considered to be familiar with basic aspects of bacterial infections including bacterial architecture and physiology, virulence factors, virulence plasmids, bacterial protein secretion, toxins, and the principles of inflammation and immunity.