Virus, Microbe, and Host

By the end of the course students are expected to be able to master:

Knowledge:

• Describe the ability of bacteria to live as single-cell organisms or in intimate associations with eukaryotes
• Describe the molecular basis of bacterial mutualistic symbiosis with a selection of animals and plants
• Describe the interactions of bacteria with animals, plants and viruses
• Explain the molecular mechanisms underlying bacterial pathogenesis in humans, with examples from selected pathogens
• Explain ecological and evolutionary roles of viruses that infect microbes, plants, and animals
• Describe mechanisms of microbial immune systems and anti-immune systems
• Discuss the co-evolution of viruses that infect microbes, plants, and animals
• Analyse the composition and function of plant and animal microbiomes
• Evaluate the principles of phage therapy and its potential applications in medicine and biotechnology
• Understand the evolutionary dynamics of pathogenicity, virulence selection, and host-pathogen interactions

Skills:

• Evaluate and analyse bacterial adaptation to pathogenicity
• Evaluate the potential of bacteria to produce infectious disease in humans
• Critically assess primary literature on virus-microbe-host interactions across different biological systems
• Integrate molecular, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives to interpret host-microbe-virus relationships
• Apply theoretical framework such as virulence trade-off theory to real-world examples of infectious disease
• Communicate complex concepts in microbiology and virology clearly and effectively

Competences:

• Analyse, put into perspective, and criticize the primary scientific literature
• perform effective oral presentation of acquired knowledge and ideas
• Translate scientific insights into applications in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology
• Conducting literature-based research and presenting findings