Molecular and Cell Biology of Symbiosis

DK16469 — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 19:22:20 +0000

Molecular and Cell Biology of Symbiosis DK16469 Tue, 10/04/2022 - 15:22

Directors: Phillip Cleves, Carnegie Institute of Science

Course Description

The Molecular and Cell Biology of Symbiosis advanced research training course at the MBL is an immersive research-based course designed to teach basic concepts, open research questions, and facilitate state-of-the-art experimental approaches in symbiosis research. This 4-week experience will give students a deep understanding of the field of symbiosis research through a combination of hands-on research projects, lectures from experts in the field, and interactive workshops.

The course focuses on how evolutionarily diverse symbiotic relationships form, are maintained, and are impacted by environmental stress. Course modules will consist of a combination of well-established model organisms with tractable imaging and genetic tools and emerging model organisms. In addition to working with a variety of evolutionarily diverse organisms, participants will learn to study symbiotic relationships across various scales of biology - from molecules to ecosystems - to gain an appreciation for the interdisciplinary nature and impacts of symbiotic relationships.

Specific topics include:

molecular mechanisms of microbe selection
live-cell imaging of host-microbe interactions
biochemistry and metabolic maintenance of microbiome communities
effects of stress on symbiotic relationships
development and application of genetic tools to study aquatic symbiosis
gene regulatory and signaling networks associated with symbiosis
experimental model organisms to study symbiosis
evolution of symbiosis across taxa

In addition to hands-on experiences, the participants will also build professional skills, such as scientific communication through research presentations, and a network of international collaborators and mentors through immersive, daily interactions.

Microbial Diversity

sandstormer — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 21:05:20 +0000

Microbial Diversity sandstormer Mon, 11/22/2021 - 16:05

Directors: Scott C. Dawson, University of California, Davis; and John Spear (Colorado School of Mines)

Course Description

Launched in 1971 by Holger Jannasch, the Microbial Diversity summer course at the Marine Biological Laboratory has trained generations of scientists from diverse backgrounds. The course is an intense immersion experience for 20 students that lasts 6.5 weeks. The goal of the course is to teach professors, postdocs and advanced graduate students how to discover, cultivate, and isolate diverse microorganisms catalyzing a breadth of chemical transformations, as well as how to perform molecular and computational analyses relevant to their study. While microbial isolation techniques form the essential core of the course, each new set of directors brings an additional focus that reflects their interests/expertise. We have introduced basic genetic methods to the course for the first time to enable students to study how microbes catalyze interesting reactions and exhibit interesting behaviors. In addition, we emphasize state-of-the-art imaging techniques and training in quantitative microscopy to study microbial cell biology and single-cell gene expression. Genetically-tractable strains isolated in the course are sequenced by Pacific Biosystems, and students learn how to annotate and analyze their genomes. Given the wealth of DNA, RNA and protein sequences now available from isolated microbes and environmental samples, these tools are important for students to master so they may understand what these sequences mean and in which context they are expressed—be it in the marine environment, soils, or plant and animal hosts. We also emphasize quantitative approaches to microbial diversity, including teaching students how to describe the energetic potential of diverse metabolisms. A dedicated team of resident course instructors as well as guest-lecturers participate in the course every summer, allowing students to be exposed to exciting current research. The opportunity to interact one-on-one with these individuals is a tremendous opportunity, often leading to future collaborations.