Course Syllabus

Gut reaction: How human microbes shape our lives

Faculty

Ana Raquel Andrade Veríssimo PhD (Developmental Molecular Angiogenesis, University of Birmingham, UK, 2012).  Assistant Professor, Saga University, Japan, 2015-2018. EdTech scientific VR simulation designer/scrum master, Labster ApS, 2018-2020. Lab manager, Copenhagen University, 2020-2021. Project and outreach manager, Copenhagen University, 2021-2023. Centre Administrator, Copenhagen University, 2023-present. With DIS since 2023.

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.

Formative quizzes: short-answer, based on the slides and what was discussed in the class immediately before (no need to do extra research).
Summative tests: open book, test understanding of what was learnt
Report-outs and discussions: tests both understanding, as well as questioning of the information and making logical hypotheses based on what is learnt in class and with the preparation work.
Hot topics presentations: students pick one subject related to the microbiome that is of interest to them and prepare a presentation based on 3 research papers. Then, they lead a short discussion.

Field Studies

Dates: February 28th from 8:30 to 12:30; April 10th from 13:00 to 17:00.

Required Readings

• Selected chapters from I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes within Us and a Grander View of Life. Ed Yong. Harper and Collins, 2016.
• 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) and student-selected readings from the popular and scientific literature.

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 Enrollment and Grading and Academic Expectations and Honor Code