Biology 321 - Seminar: Topics in Microbiology: The Microbiome in Sickness and in Health

Topics course: This seminar centers on the emergent understanding of the microbiome in health and in disease. Relying almost entirely on primary literature, we examine the revolution brought about by the discovery of microbial communities that are integral to—and have coevolved with-their human hosts. Taking a broad-ranging systems approach, we will examine the ecology of microbial systems, the rules governing the assembly of the microbiome, the functional biology of the microbiome, and the consequences of perturbation (diet, antibiotic use, inflammation) on the microbiome. In the latter half of the seminar, we will explore how our understanding of infectious disease can and should be modified to reflect our growing awareness of the microbiome’s role.

Instructor Permission. Not open to first-years, sophomores