Host-Parasite Interactions

This course focuses on different aspects of the interactions between protozoan and metazoan parasites and their host organisms. The course content is tailor made to the specific interest of individual students. The philosophy behind the course is that students can follow up their own curiosity on a subject linked to host-parasite interactions in the broadest possible sense (i.e., plant, human, animal, and soil health). This course offers students an opportunity to deepen their knowledge on the subject of their own choice. At the end of the course the students will deliver a scientific review paper based on a thorough analysis of the literature.

• Evaluate the quality, credibility and relevance of scientific literature from bibliographic databases or AI-assisted searches

• Construct coherent and evidence-based arguments by presenting relevant ideas in a logically ordered narrative to support a specific objective or statement

• Illustrate their understanding of the subject matter in their own words, both in writing and verbal communication

• Analyse the current research landscape through the identification of knowledge gaps and proposals for feasible directions for future investigation

• Assignment essay (20%) Written introduction of review paper (including problem-purpose statement). Written main body of review paper (including outline and literature analysis). Students with insufficient grades (i.e., lower than 5.5), can enrol for a resit or one of the regular periods for NEM30306 in OSIRIS, and submit the (revised) assignment on Brightspace.
• Oral test (%) Student-supervisor discussions (scheduled multiple times throughout the period after handing-in assignments) to validate student process and understanding. Students with an insufficient grade (fail) will be asked to submit a revised version of their written paper (Introduction and main body) and participate in discussions in the resit period, or one of the regular periods of NEM30306.
• Assignment other (60%) Written main body of review paper (including outline and literature analysis). Students with insufficient grades (i.e., lower than 5.5), can enrol for a resit or one of the regular periods for NEM30306 in OSIRIS, and submit the (revised) assignment on Brightspace.
• Written test with open questions (20%) Written exam (essay question) wherein students write Future Perspectives based on the paper they have prepared in the course. Written main body of review paper (including outline and literature analysis). Students with insufficient grades (i.e., lower than 5.5), can enrol for a resit or one of the regular periods for NEM30306 in OSIRIS.

This course is for students in the third year of their BSc program, as a preparation for their thesis, and for more advanced MSc students in Biology, Plant and Animal Sciences, Nutrition and Health, Biotechnology, and Molecular Life Sciences.

• Will be made available online at the start of the course.