Fungi and Plant Pathology (U01275)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : BIO-4-PLfpp

This course aims to increase your appreciation of the morphogenesis and cell biology of fungi and their significance in the development of economically important plant diseases. This is an exciting time in fungal cell biology, with rapid technological developments in live cell imaging and associated techniques underpinning rapid advances in our understanding of cell biological processes including vesicle trafficking, key mechanisms of virulence and morphogenesis. We will highlight the biological and technological advances occurring within these research areas. Fungi also have potentially important applications in the biotechnology industry and specific examples, such as their deployment as biosensors, will be discussed. This course will also highlight the importance of fungi and other pathogens as causative agents of plant disease. Importantly, disease is the exception rather than the rule, because plants possess a plethora of elaborate defence mechanisms to defend themselves against microbial infection. Key examples of these defence mechanisms will be presented. For example, the basis of pathogen recognition, the synthesis of reactive oxygen intermediates and the engagement of cellular suicide programmes. The extensive parallels between plant disease resistance and animal innate immunity will also be explained. Advances in our understanding of plant disease resistance often have direct agricultural utility, this fact will be highlighted in a lecture by a senior representative of the world's largest agricultural biotechnology company. This guest speaker will also discuss career opportunities for graduates within the agricultural biotechnology sector.