Infection, Neurobiology, and Genetics
The separate courses include lectures, seminars, and practical laboratory work.
Immunology covers the organization and development of the immune system, its activation upon stimulation, the various effector mechanisms involved in the innate and adaptive immune responses (cellular and humoral immunity), immunological memory, tolerance mechanisms, transplantation immunology, autoimmunity, hypersensitivity, immune deficiencies, and the defense mechanisms against different pathogens.
The Bacterial Physiology and Pathogenesis course will highlight the intriguing world of bacteria. It will give insight into the bacterial diversity and some of their distinctive habitats. It will illustrate in molecular detail the regulatory mechanisms of microbial adaptation to these varied environments. It will discuss the role of horizontal gene transfer in bacterial evolution and the acquisition of new coding potential, such as antibiotic resistance. The course will present the current state of knowledge regarding pathogenic mechanisms and the major disease-causing bacteria that use them. This will include an explanation at the molecular level of various pathogenic strategies such as motility, biofilms, quorum sensing, secretion systems, toxins, adhesion factors and immune evasion mechanisms. In the face of widespread antibiotic resistance among leading bacterial pathogens, new anti-bacterial treatment and prevention options will also be addressed. The Neurobiology course gives the student extended knowledge about how the nervous system is organized, and how it functions in order to change physiological state of neuronal circuits which underlies the generation of behavior. Thus, the nervous system is explored at molecular, cellular, systems and behavioral levels. The Genetics course aims to provide knowledge of genetic theory, methodology, and analysis. Subject matter includes genetic principles and the underlying mechanisms at a molecular level as well as at the cellular, organism and population levels. The course will provide students with an overall understanding of genome organization and how genetic changes at the molecular level are able to influence biological processes and how these changes affect organisms, populations and ultimately evolution.
General Information
30.0 ECTSPeriod: Autumn Term 2012, weeks 36-03Location: UmeåLanguage: EnglishStudy form: Daytime, 100% tempo, Normal StudiesSelection: Academic credits