Bacterial pathogenesis [SBIOB371]

Learning outcomes

Be able to recognise the stages of a bacterial infection. Be able to appreciate the diversity of bacterial pathogens, the diversity of their targets (human, animal, plant), the diversity of molecular mechanisms used by these pathogens to multiply at the expense of a host. Be able to present these mechanisms and the broader context to other students.

Objectives

In order to acquire the above learning, the student will be required to describe a pathogen or a group of related pathogens, to identify the different stages of infection, as well as the mechanisms selected by the pathogenic bacteria to carry out an infectious cycle that allows them to multiply.

Content

Five or six pathogens will be analysed in the course. These 5 or 6 pathogens differ by their target (animal, plant, human), their mode of proliferation on or in the host, and the molecular mechanisms they have selected to carry out their infectious cycle. It is on this last aspect that the course focuses.