2019-2020 / MICR0004-1

Bacterial pathogenesis

Duration

15h Th

Number of credits

 Master in bio-informatics and modelling (120 ECTS)2 crédits 
 Master in biochemistry and molecular and cell biology (120 ECTS)2 crédits 

Lecturer

Bernard Joris

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

SECTION I: Approaches to the study of bacterial pathogenesis

  • Microbes and disease: establishing a connection
  • Models for studying bacterial pathogenesis
  • Strategies for identifying bacterial pathogenicity genes
  • Genetics determinants of bacterial pathogenicity
SECTION II: Bacterial adherence: role of adhesins in the context of bacterial pathogenesis
  • Fimbrial adhesins: adhesive molecules on a "stalk"
  • Non-pilus (non fimbrial) adhesins
  • Biofilms: the story of microbial communities


SECTION III: Poisoning the host by toxins
  • Toxins damaging cellular membranes: paradigms and molecular features
  • Toxins acting on intracellular targets


SECTION IV: Cellular invasion by bacterial pathogens
  • Mechanism of bacterial entry into host cells
  • The bacterial life in a vacuole
  • The bacterial life in the cytosol


SECTION V: Bacterial evasion of host defences
  • Bacterial handling of host nutrients: the iron paradigm
  • Bacterial escape from the complement system
  • Bacterial resistance to antimicrobial peptides
  • Bacteria-induced host cell death


SECTION VI : Specific bacterial pathogens
  • Staphylococcus aureus: many types of staphylococcal infection
  • Escherichia coli : lmany types of infecton
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Group A and Group B Streptococcus
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Successful completion of this course should enable students to:

  • demonstrate broad knowledge of the cellular and molecular bases of bacterial host pathogen interactions;
  • describe the principal mechanisms by which specific bacterial pathogens infect their hosts and cause disease.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Courses of general bacteriology and of bacterial physiology and genetics

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Face-to-face

Recommended or required readings

Reference book Bacterial Pathogenesis. A molecular approach Brenda A. Wilson, Abigail A. Salyers and Dixie D. Whitt, Malcom E. Winkler Third edtion ISBN 978-1-55581-418-2

Assessment methods and criteria

Oral exam

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Joris Bernardbjoris@ulg.ac.be Tel: 04 3662954
Secretariat Julémont Fabienne 04 366 3341

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

Remote learning: commented powerpoints

Assessment subjects

Contents (powerpoints presentations) uploaded on MyULiège space
 
 

Assessment methods

Remote oral evaluation via Lifesize  or Blackboard Collaborate web platforms

Contacts

Bernard Joris, email:bjoris@uliege.be
 

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

Contents (powerpoints and podcasts)  uploaded on MyULiege space

Assessment methods

Remote oral evaluation via Lifesize  or  Blackboard Collaborate web platform

Contacts

bjoris@uliege.be