Basic Parasitology
Course content
The course gives an introduction to the biology of parasitism, and the interactions between parasites and their hosts. Focus is on fundamental concepts in parasitology, for example the definition of parasitism as a life form, adaptations to parasitism, host exploitation strategies, and fitness effects of parasitism on host individuals and populations. Those concepts will be supported by “hands-on” experimental work on host-parasite models in the laboratory in combination with research-based lectures. In addition, examples of the distribution and importance of parasites in wildlife populations will be provided, and the potential commercial applications of using parasite models will be explored and discussed.
MSc Programme in Biology
MSc Programme in Biotechnology
The aim of the course is to provide students with a broad introduction to animal parasites and how they interact with their hosts. Students will gain practical experience working with experimental host-parasite models in the laboratory.
Knowledge
- Define parasitism and describe adaptations to a parasitic lifestyle.
- Describe the general biology of major groups of animal parasites.
- Understand fundamental concepts related to the transmission and host exploitation strategies of parasites.
- Understand the consequences of parasitism to animal populations.
- Evaluate the potential use of parasite models in industrial applications.
Skills
Students will obtain basic skills in working with experimental host-parasite models. They will learn to quantify and identify parasites from different systematic groups by use of dissection and molecular tools. Students will gain practical experience in obtaining their own data set, hypothesis testing, and data presentation and interpretation.
Competences
Students will obtain knowledge on important concepts of parasitism and how to apply those to: 1) explain the distribution of parasites and the following implications for host populations, 2) understand the transmission of parasites under natural conditions, and 3) examine novel ways to implement host-parasite models in industrial research.
The course provides a “hands on” approach to study fundamental parasite biology by the use of experimental host-parasite models. Learning methods include lectures introducing each concept followed by practical and theoretical exercises. Morphological adaptations to parasitism and variation in life-cycles will be presented. Factors affecting host and parasite fitness, and parasite distribution within and among hosts will be demonstrated experimentally, and their applications in real-life situations will be discussed. A concrete example of how knowledge on fundamental parasite biology was turned into into the production of a medicinal product will be presented.
See Absalon for a list of course literature
Fundamental qualifications within the area of zoology is
recommended.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is
recommended.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Oral examination, 20 minutes with 30 minutes preparation time
- Type of assessment details
- Individual oral examination in topics from the textbook and/or other learning material posted on Absalon (including power point presentations and research articles).
- Aid
- Without aids
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
-
Same as the ordinary exam.
Criteria for exam assessment
In order to obtain the grade 12 the student should
convincingly and accurately demonstrate the knowledge, skills and
competences described under Learning
Outcomes.
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 34
- Preparation
- 126
- Theory exercises
- 10
- Practical exercises
- 34
- Exam
- 2
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- NPLK15000U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedulegroup
-
C
- Capacity
- No limitation – unless you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.
- Studyboard
- Study Board for the Biological Area
Contracting department
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
- Brian Lund Fredensborg
(3-66706a4474706972326f7932686f)
Institut for Plante og Miljøvidenskab/Faggruppe Organisme Biologi
Teacher
Brian Lund Fredensborg, blf@plen.ku.dk, Institut for Plante og
Miljøvidenskab/Faggruppe Organisme Biologi, Tlf: 353-32676
Christian Moliin Outzen Kapel, chk@plen.ku.dk, Institut for Plante
og Miljøvidenskab/Faggruppe Organisme Biologi, Tlf: 353-32690
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