Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Unit Catalogue 2011/12 |
|
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| ES20EX80 |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Supplementary assessment information not currently available (this will be added shortly) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take BB20032 |
| Description:
| Aims: * To provide a critical knowledge of the processes involved in infection and colonisation of plants by parasitic microorganisms that lead to disease. * To provide insights into the chemical signals exchanged as key components of recognition events. * To reveal the potential range of defences of plants: constitutive, induced non-specifically by damage, or specifically by pathogens. Learning Outcomes: After taking this course the student should be able to: * demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge on the biochemical and physical factors which determine the outcome of interactions between microorganisms and plants; * provide insights into how pathogens can avoid, negate or suppress host defences; * evaluate the different strategies by pathogens for obtaining nutrients from plant hosts; * assess alternative strategies for control of plant diseases. Skills: Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Working independently T/F. Content: Resistance genes, their structure and function. Constitutive resistance based on existing structural barriers such as cuticle, secondary cell walls and on antimicrobial chemicals such as saponins and phenolics; detoxifying enzymes; toxin binding sites. Induced resistance comprising formation of physical barriers such as new or altered cell walls, vascular occlusions, de novo synthesis of phytoalexins. 'Defence-related genes'. Triggering of defence by stress or wounding, microbial elicitors or a recognition event. Infection structures of pathogenic fungi. Pathogenicity determinants including depolymerases, toxins, polysaccharides, siderophores, detoxifying enzymes; their structure, modes of action and role. Contrasting strategies of obligate biotrophs and facultative necrotrophs. Pathogenicity and virulence genes; molecular strategies to identify them. |
| Programme availability: |
BB40194 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Biology & Biochemistry
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