Microbiology Profile

This practical work unit aims to apply students' knowledge of microbiology and molecular biology to identify bacteria in the environment.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the bacterial population present in a soil sample is typically performed by identifying species using conventional bacteriological methods in successive stages: 1) isolation of the bacterial flora; 2) diagnosis of family and genus using conventional media and tests; 3) diagnosis of species using API System galleries.

Molecular biology techniques now make it possible to identify bacteria present in a sample without the need for culture. This approach requires access to a sequencing platform and will also be carried out in practical work, allowing the two approaches to be compared. The sequencing results obtained will enable bioinformatic analysis of the rrsA gene specifying the 16S RNA of the isolated bacteria.

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This course describes the methodology used by life science researchers to communicate the results of their experiments, both in writing and orally. As English is the common language of international researchers, a large part of this course is taught in English.

Written communication is addressed through the study of the (macro) structure of a research article and an examination of the publication process in scientific journals. Several elements of written structure (micro) are examined in order to understand the differences between scientific English and literary English: clarity, cohesion, and coherence.

These studies are supplemented by a supervised project during the semester, in which students are required to analyze a research article recently published in scientific literature and transcribe it in the form of an oral presentation (conference) in English.

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This EU is a logical continuation of the S4 EU (Fundamentals of Physiology and Immunology) and aims to deepen knowledge of fundamental, applied, and clinical immunology. We will also address "unconventional" concepts in immunology and develop innovative immunotherapy strategies. This course unit will cover all topics related to modern immunology and will be strongly oriented towards the clinical aspects of this discipline.

 Keywords

Fundamental immunology, Anti-infectious immunity, Immunotherapy, Vaccination, Autoimmunity, Immune deficiencies, Anti-cancer immunity, Non-conventional immunity

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Molecular biology is not only a fascinating subject in its own right, but it also provides other biological disciplines (cell biology, genetics, physiology, etc.) with fantastic tools for modifying and quantifying genes and their products.

The EU is deepening its understanding of the mechanisms involved in the organization, maintenance, replication, and expression (transcription, post-transcriptional modifications, translation) of eukaryotic genomes.

In particular, we will explore the properties of information-carrying macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins) and how interactions between them explain the functioning of eukaryotic cells and their adaptation to the environment and the development of organisms.

At the same time, the main techniques used to monitor or modify gene expression, or to study the mechanisms of this expression, will be presented in lectures and explored in greater depth in tutorials through the analysis of results.

Thus, the tutorials address these topics in the form of (1) exercises that allow students to test their understanding of the knowledge described above, and (2) experiments taken from scientific articles for analysis. In this way, the fundamentals of scientific reasoning and critical analysis of results will be acquired and/or further developed.

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This course unit aims to deepen students' knowledge of microbiology for those who wish to pursue further studies in this discipline.

She will discuss molecular genetics applied to prokaryotes (mobile genetic elements and resistance, CRISPR, 2-component system, quorum sensing, horizontal transfers, etc.) and the specificities of bacterial metabolism.

Bacteria with a particular morphology will be presented.  

In virology, the pathophysiology of viral infections, as well as the prevention and control of viral diseases, will be presented. Mechanisms of immune evasion will be detailed. Mechanisms of viral evolution will be described and linked to viral emergence.

The parasitic lifestyle of certain eukaryotic microorganisms will be illustrated by describing their obligatory intracellular development and the changes in the host cell induced by these parasites.

Finally, the EU will address the concept of microbiota and present the latest data on the nature of human microbiota and its role in health.

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