PLPPM 6010 - Molecular Biology of Plant-Microbe Interactions

Spring. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisites for undergraduate students: introductory genetics (BIOMG 2800, BIOMG 2801 or PLBRG 2250) or biochemistry (BIOMG 3300 or BIOMG 3310, and BIOMG 3320 or equivalent) and PLPPM 3010. Prerequisites for graduate students: must have taken a general plant pathology course and an introductory genetics, biochemistry or molecular biology course to enroll.

C. Casteel.

The co-evolutionary molecular battle between microbial pathogens and plants has game-like properties whose rules are emerging from recent genomic, biochemical, and cell biological advances. This course explores the molecular pieces and collective behaviors of pathogen virulence and plant immune systems, similarities between interaction mechanisms in plant and animal pathosystems, and the application of this knowledge to sustainable agriculture. The course emphasizes the development of professional skills, such as the management of scientific literature, creative design and critical evaluation of research, and communication of complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.

Outcome 1: Search the primary literature on molecular plant-microbe interactions for information and manage literature libraries.

Outcome 2: Evaluate research papers from the current and historical literature on molecular plant-microbe interactions.

Outcome 3: Interpret and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data from the primary literature on molecular plant-microbe interactions into written proposals and oral presentations.

Outcome 4: Explain the different players involved in pathogen virulence and plant defense, the different categories of molecular interaction in plant immunity, how signals are transmitted, strategies used for discovery, similarities between interaction mechanisms in plant and animal pathosystems, and application of this knowledge to agriculture.