Bacterial Physiology and Pathogenesis

About this programme

Bacteria define the planet Earth upon which we can live. They essentially occupy all available environmental niches, no matter how inhospitable and extreme these may seem to us. Bacteria are therefore masters of diversification, adaptation and resilience. For the most part their success allows our survival. As a consequence of this success however, a mere fraction of this bacterial population can inflict a significant degree of human morbidity and mortality. It is therefore essential to understand the molecular basis of this diverse bacterial physiology as it will teach us a great deal about fundamental biological processes that are the key to life. Although much on this subject is known already, such is the shear extent of bacterial diversity that our knowledge base has barely begun to scratch the surface. Hence, have no doubt that the future potential of basic and applied research in bacterial physiology and pathogenesis is enormous! To reflect on significant areas of scientific research into this subject, lectures will be divided into four core areas. The first concerns “Principles and Applications of Bacterial Diversity,”. Lectures on this topic will aim to instruct on bacterial diversity and taxonomical classification. They will also inform on the molecular basis for life in extreme environments. Fundamental concepts of bacterial bioenergetics will also be discussed. The second concerns “Bacterial Regulatory Networks”. The ability of bacteria to maintain biological function even when exposed to noxious environmental stresses is a hallmark of their capacity for adapta