Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Unit Catalogue 2011/12 |
|
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| ES 20%, EX 80% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take BB20032 |
| Description:
| Aims: To provide an understanding of the processes involved in infection and colonisation of plants by parasitic microorganisms that lead to disease. To detail 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: * describe and explain the biochemical and physical factors which determine the outcome of interactions between microorganisms and plants; * explain how pathogens can avoid, negate or suppress host defences; * explain different strategies by pathogens for obtaining nutrients from plant hosts; * explain 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: |
BB30138 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Biology & Biochemistry
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