Course Syllabus

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Gut reaction: How human microbes shape our lives

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Semester & Location:

Spring 2022 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:

Elective Course - 3 credits
Major Disciplines:

Biology, Biomedicine / Biotechnology, Pre-Medicine / Health Science
Prerequisites:

One year of biology, one course in either molecular biology or genetics, and one chemistry course, all at university level
Faculty Member:

Jodi Schwarz
Program Director:

Susana Dietrich
Time & Place:

Monday and Thursday, 16:35 - 17:45  |  Classroom V10-D11

 

Faculty

Science-and-Health-Jodi-Schwartz.jpg

Jodi Schwarz, Associate Professor

Associate Professor in Biology at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA (2013-present). Assistant Professor in Biology at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA (2006-2013) Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Evolutionary Genomics at the Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, USA (2004-2006). Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA (2002-2004).  PhD in Zoology at Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA (1997-2002).  MS in Marine Science at University of California Santa Cruz, USA (1994-1996). DIS visiting faculty 2022.

 
Course Description

The human body serves as an ecosystem for billions of bacteria that live in and on us. In this course, we will explore how the microbiomes living in our bodies affect health and disease. We will learn how researchers use bioinformatics and animal models to study how microbes regulate metabolic processes, prime the immune system, and influence mood through the “gut/brain axis”. Students will develop an independent "Hot Topics" project based on their interests. 

 

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to: 

  1. Explain fundamental ecological principles of the human microbiome and connect these principles to concepts of dysbiosis and disease.
  2. Describe how different human microbiomes may impact human biology and assess the potential of microbiota to maintain health and treat disease.
  3. Describe foundational research strategies for studying the microbiome and how these can address questions about the roles of microbes in human biology.
  4. Develop a synthetic understanding of one topic through critical analysis of the scientific literature and use that understanding to teach a general audience about the topic.
  5. Critically evaluate new developments that are reported in news media 

 

Description of Grading/Evaluation 

To be eligible for a passing grade in this class all of the assigned work must be completed.

Assignment Weight
Formative Quiz 1: Microbial Cells, Diversity, Innate Immunity* 10%
Formative Quiz 2: Ecology of Microbial Communities* 10%
Formative Quiz 3: Metagenomics* 10%
Summative Test (covering Cells - Metagenomics) 20%
Report Outs, Discussions, and Preparation/Engagement 20%
Hot Topics: Prep, Presentation and Discussions 30%

* Formative quizzes may be revised and resubmitted for re-scoring

Details and guidelines for each assignment will be provided to students on Canvas.

 

Field Studies

This course will be accompanied by field studies. Field studies are typically a half-day excursion.

Two field studies will take place during the semester.

 

Required Readings

  • Selected chapters from I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes within Us and a Grander View of Life. Ed Yong. Harper and Collins, 2016. Available at the Student Hub.

  • Short selections from the textbook Microbiology, An Introduction, 12th edition. Tortora et al. Pearson, 2020  (pdfs posted to Canvas).

  • Selected papers from the scientific literature (pdfs posted on Canvas).

  • Student selected readings from the popular and scientific literature.

 

Major Topics/Modules

We Contain Multitudes
What does it mean to be human when most of the cells in our body are microbes? Where do body microbes come from?
The Ecology of Human Microbial Communities
Frameworks for understanding the roles of microbes as they interact with their larger environment, the human body: diversity, symbiosis, dysbiosis. 
Metagenomics
Research methods for studying microbiomes using bioinformatics and animal models to probe the structure and function of microbial communities. What research questions and human populations are privileged vs. underrepresented in this research?
Our Microbes Ourselves
Select examples of what we currently understand about the roles of microbes from birth throughout life: nutritional roles and the GI tract; interaction with the immune system; the gut-brain axis and impact on behavior, mood, and cognition; roles of oral and respiratory microbes, chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, and others.
The Promise and Perils of Harnessing Microbial Power
Manipulating microbes to promote health and to treat disease, such as antibiotics, probiotics/prebiotics, fecal transplant, and developing approaches for modifying the microbiome.
Hot Topics in Human Microbiomes (independent student projects)
Select a topic of interest, read select papers in the general and research literature, and develop teaching activity to share with the rest of the class.

 

Policies

Laptop policy

Use of laptop computers in class is limited and only allowed for taking notes and ad hoc research within the class discussions. Cell phones and other electronic devices should be turned off and stored away.

 

DIS Contacts

Susana Dietrich, Program Director, shsupport@dis.dk
Science & Health Program Office: Vestergade 7-37

 

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on: 

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due