| Title: |
Genomics and Proteomics applied to Infectious Diseases (to be re-accredited in June 2019) |
| Keywords: |
Tropical medicine
Technology
Laboratory
Communicable diseases
Biomedical sciences/disciplines
|
| Country: |
Portugal
|
| Institution: |
Portugal - Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical , Universidade Nova de Lisboa
|
| Course coordinator: |
Professor Ricardo Parreira
|
| Date start: |
2019-01-18 |
| Date end: |
2019-02-27 |
| About duration and dates: |
Thursday and friday (afternoon) |
| Classification: |
advanced optional
|
| Mode of delivery: |
Face to face
|
|
|
| ECTS credit points: |
2 ECTS credits
|
SIT:
60 hours SIT
Contact: 26 hours (8h Lectures + 4h Case-studies + 4h Problem-Solving + 2h Lectures by invited scientists + 8 hours tutorials)
Self study: 34 hours (12 hours private reading + 12 hours group work and presentation preparation + 10 hours exam preparation) |
|
| Language: |
English
|
Description:
In recent years, following the sequencing of the human genome and many livestock and pathogen genomes alike, we have witnessed the development of genomic and proteomic "post-genomic" technologies that have shown significant promise in the fight against infectious diseases in developing countries.
Genomics aims to sequence, assemble, and analyze the function and structure of genomes (the complete set of DNA of an organism) while Proteomics is the large-scale study of the proteome; the complete set of proteins within an organism, particularly the protein structures and functions.
These tools are enabling the discovery of novel molecular targets (biomarkers) suitable for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, improved design of vaccines and drugs with improved immunogenicity, efficacy and safety in a local context, according to the circulating pathogenic strains and the genetic background of the population to be immunized or treated.
This module has a general objective to improve student’s ability to infer the relevance of post-genomic tools in the study and control of infectious diseases.
At the end of the module the student should be able to:
1. Define the set of available post-genomic technologies and explain their application in disease monitoring and control (DNA sequencing, functional genomics, DNA Microarrays, RNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, expression and purification of recombinant proteins);
2. Analyse the specific benefits and applicability of each technology in a specific context and infer their relevance to solve specific problems (e.g. the discovery of early biomarkers of disease and their translation into easy to use point-of-care diagnostic tools);
3. Develop an experimental protocol using genomic and proteomic tools, related to an infectious disease;
4. Critically discuss and communicate published research. |
|
Assessment Procedures:
If students do not attend at least two thirds of the lessons, they are automatically dismissed from the course without any refund. The final assessment of the student will have three components:
1. Evaluation of written group-work (preparation of a research project) (30% - divided between individual self-reflection/assessment of the group work (1/3) and overall presented written essay (2/3)) ;
2. Evaluation of the performance of all members in the group in the defense of their project through oral presentation and discussion with lecturers and peers (30%; divided between 15% Presentation, 10% Discussion, 5% participation in the discussion of other projects). This session is facilitated by all lecturers in the module;
3. Multiple-choice individual exam in single-best-answer format. (40%).
For students that do not reach 10 out of 20 as the final mark, a multiple-choice individual exam in single-best-answer format will be performed. |
|
Content:
1. Automated techniques for DNA fragment and whole genomes sequencing;
2. Functional Genomics, DNA Microarrays and RNA Sequencing;
3. Sample preparation in Proteomics, Methodologies for separation of proteins and peptides;
4. Mass spectrometry to identify peptides/proteins and post-translational modifications on proteins;
5. Quantitative proteomics, Protein-Protein interactions and biomarker discovery;
6. Methods for expression and purification of recombinant proteins;
7. Application of genomics and proteomics in the study of infectious diseases in specific contexts;
8. Development of experimental protocols on application of genomics and proteomics: research projects prepared, discussed (including relevant published research) and presented by groups of students. |
|
Methods:
During the course there will be lectures (8h), presentation of case studies (6h), seminars by invited scientists (4h), group work and tutorials with problem solving (8h). |
|
Prerequisites:
Students must be proficient (write, listen, read and speak) in English.
Level of English proficiency expected: TOEFL test score 213 computer-based or 550 paper-based or 79-80 internet-based or IELTS band 6.0.
- Students must have a degree in life sciences or similar. |
|
Attendance:
max. number of students: 30;
min. number of students: 10;
min. number of English speaking tropEd students to offer the course in English: 1. |
|
Selection:
First come, first served |
|
|
|
|
|
tropEd accreditation:
Accredited in Umea in January 2014. This accreditation is valid until January 2019. |
|
Remarks:
About language: English if a non-Portuguese speaking tropEd student is enrolled.
This module is part of the IHMT post-graduate program in Biomedical Sciences (MSc) |
|
| Email Address: |
mrfom@ihmt.unl.pt |
| Date Of Record Creation: |
2014-02-05 04:31:50 (W3C-DTF) |
| Date Of Record Release: |
2017-10-02 10:48:49 (W3C-DTF) |
| Date Record Checked: |
2017-10-02 (W3C-DTF) |
| Date Last Modified: |
2021-11-21 19:12:52 (W3C-DTF) |