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BB40194: Plant-microorganism interactions

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Biology & Biochemistry
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: ES 20%, EX 80%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Essay (ES 20%)
  • Examination (EX 80%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this unit you must take BB20032
Further information on descriptions 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.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

BB40194 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Biology & Biochemistry
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.