2022/23 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LISS1059 Bacterial genomics: Combating the rise of antimicrobial resistance

10 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Matt Bawn
Email: M.Bawn@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Jul to 31 Aug View Timetable

Year running 2022/23

Pre-requisite qualifications

GPA of 2.8 (US) or equivalent and enrolled at a university

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Human history has seen successive pandemics wiping out large swathes of populations and throwing societies into turmoil. Even today microbial diseases are responsible for millions of deaths annually. The advent of the large-scale use of antibiotics in the last century was an epochal defining event. For the first time, there was a tool to control infection signalling a new-era of “public-health”. This era is rapidly coming to an end with the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulent bacterial pathogens. Monitoring AMR is a major aspect of public health surveillance. For example, generating 100,000s of bacterial genome sequences currently in public databases. As a result, the scale and complexity of biological and omics data is increasing. This has led to the creation of a new frontier of discovery and interdisciplinary research. This module will discuss these themes and challenges in an evolutionary framework. You will explore how computational and data science is crucial in dealing with the rise of AMR. You will explore how microbial communities are integral to fundamental processes affecting society. You will also develop practical genomics and data-science skills.

Objectives

The objective of the module is to give students an overview of modern bacterial genomics and microbiology in action, in the context of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and bacterial disease and epidemiology.

Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, students will:

Understand the importance of bacteria to our daily lives and the synergy between human and microbial evolution.

Describe how the synthesis of genomics technologies, computation and epidemiology have created a new frontier for drug discovery and microbial interventions.

Apply skills developed during the module to real world bacterial data.

Evaluate current and future agricultural, societal and therapeutic strategies towards safeguarding antibiotics and developing sustainable therapies.

Syllabus

Indicative syllabus:

Introduction to bacterial genomes and communities

Genomics Technologies

Public health epidemiology

Bacterial Bioinformatics

Antimicrobial surveillance

Developing new antimicrobial therapies

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Visit	1	10.00	10.00
Fieldwork	1	8.00	8.00
Lecture	6	1.00	6.00
Practical	2	3.00	6.00
Seminar	4	2.00	8.00
Tutorial	2	2.00	4.00
Independent online learning hours			15.00
Private study hours			43.00
Total Contact hours			42.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Formative feedback will be provided during practicals, seminars and workshops

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	Report based on first computational practical. Max 5 pages	60.00
Presentation	Group presentation relating to sequencing project. 10 – 15 minutes	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 16/07/2023

Disclaimer

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