2023-2024 / BIOC0732-1

Interaction between organisms

Duration

40h Th, 15h Pr, 25h AUTR

Number of credits

 Master in bio-informatics and modelling (120 ECTS)5 crédits 
 Master in biochemistry and molecular and cell biology (120 ECTS)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Denis Baurain, François Beaufay, Pierre Cardol, Marielle Lebrun, Nicolas Magain, Sébastien Massart, Sébastien Rigali, Catherine Sadzot

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Organisms of all kinds are constantly interacting with each other. These interactions, which can be beneficial or harmful, can trigger a wide variety of cellular and molecular mechanisms.

This module will look at the diversity of these interactions, considering certain mechanisms that enable organisms to defend themselves or, on the contrary, to take advantage of interactions with other species.

 
Table of contents of theory lessons

- Introductory lesson: symbioses, diversity, ecology, evolution
- Bacteria/bacteria interactions
- Plant/micro-organism interactions (protists, fungi, bacteria or viruses)
- Animal/micro-organism interactions (protists, fungi, bacteria or viruses)

Table of contents for practical work,...

Practical work :

- Plant/micro-organism interaction: Inoculation of fruit/plants, observation of the response and interpretation (practical work organised at Gembloux)
- Animal cell/virus interaction: Impact of VZV infection on the cellular response to various stresses: observation of stress granules.

Tutorials :

Creation of an infographic on the diversity of parasitic eukaryotes

  • Demonstrations of symbiosis between animals and algae
  • Visit to the TERRA Ecotron (Gembloux)
  • Organization of a mini-symposium

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the "interactions between organisms" module, students will be able to:

  • Know the types of interactions between organisms and be able to illustrate them;
  • Understand the cellular and/or molecular mechanisms involved in neutral, positive or negative interactions between organisms;
  • Understand the symbioses at the origin of the eukaryotic cell and those that led to the diversity of photosynthetic eukaryotes.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

This module will build on the concepts covered in the Bac Bio and subsequent modules of the BBMC Master's course:

Toolbox :

  • Nucleic acid analysis
  • Imaging and experimental models
  • Protein analysis
Thematic modules :

  • Evolution, adaptation and diversity
  • Development: from cell to organism
  • Responses to the environment

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Theoretical lectures will most often consist of ex cathedra presentations with active student participation. Students are strongly encouraged to attend lectures and take notes in addition to the material available in eCampus and/or projected. The essential concepts to be mastered will be specified during the course.?

The practical sessions will be mainly computer-based and will introduce or put into practice the theoretical concepts covered in the lectures.?Taxonomic research related to computer graphics will be carried out in groups, but the resulting computer graphics will be the personal work of each student.

The mini-symposium will involve researchers presenting their work. The students, divided into groups to prepare for the mini-symposium, will receive the speakers' publications beforehand. Reading these publications will enable them to gain a better understanding of the topic being presented and will encourage discussion after each presentation. Each group will be asked to provide a list of questions to be addressed to one of the speakers and a summary of the speaker's response to each question (group work to be handed in during the week following the module).

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course

Recommended or required readings

Slideshows and articles relating to the module's theme and the mini-symposium presentations will be made available to students on the e-Campus platform.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )


Additional information:

A single mark will be awarded for this module, corresponding to :

  • The mark obtained for the computer graphics to be produced as part of one of the computer-based practical exercises (15% of points; individual mark);
  • The mark obtained for the group work to be carried out as part of the mini-symposium (list of questions to be addressed to one of the speakers and summary of the answers given by the speaker) (15% of points; group mark);
  • The mark obteined for the group work to be carried out as part of F. Beaufays's course (Presentation during class hours) (15 % of points; group mark)
  • The mark obtained in the written examination (open questions and/or MCQs, including on the practical work and the mini-symposium presentations) (in session; 55% of points).

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Two days of the module will take place on the Gembloux AgroBiotech campus. Students are invited to travel by train if possible (expenses covered by the Department).

Practical and/or practical work is compulsory. The concepts covered are likely to form part of the assessment. Any absence must be justified and, if necessary, students are required to put their work in order. If a report is required, it must be completed even in the event of absence.

Contacts

The supervisors are available (outside holiday periods) to answer your questions: either during the lessons/workshop sessions given as part of this module, or by e-mail.

Module coordination :

Catherine Sadzot

Tel : 04/366 24 45 
e-mail : csadzot@uliege.be 


Co-teachers:

Denis Baurain (Denis.Baurain@uliege.be)
François Beaufay (....)
Pierre Cardol (pierre.cardol@uliege.be)
Marielle Lebrun (mlebrun@uliege.be)
Nicolas Magain (Nicolas.Magain@uliege.be)
Sébastien Massart (Sebastien.Massart@uliege.be)
Sébastien Rigali (srigali@uliege.be)

Association of one or more MOOCs