Nature Unknown label
Credit hour 3
Total number of hours 29
Number of hours for lectures 22
Number of hours for tutorials 3
Number of hours for laboratory work 4

Prerequisites

Basic courses (Bachelor level) in microbiology and cell biology.

Goals

• Acquire essential knowledge to understand the links between intestinal microbiota, the immune system, and human pathologies. • Learn how to read and critically analyze scientific papers on intestinal microbiota; develop scientific reasoning skills.

Content

Lectures:
• Introduction: digestive functions.
• Gut microbiota: study methods, structure, role, and functioning of the ecosystem.
• Intestinal immune system: organization, mechanisms of action, interactions with microbiota, tolerance, intestinal immunopathologies.
• Probiotics, prebiotics, and pathologies: definitions, mechanisms of action, examples.
• In vitro digestion and fermentation systems – gastrointestinal models.
Tutorials:
• Introduction to scientific analysis: interpret, exploit, and critique results; learn oral presentation skills.
Practical Sessions:
• Student presentations of scientific papers in small groups (flipped classroom approach).
Fieldwork:
• Visit to the Gastrointestinal Models Platform.

Additional Information

• Acquire essential knowledge to understand the links between intestinal microbiota, the immune system, and human pathologies. • Learn how to read and critically analyze scientific papers on intestinal microbiota; develop scientific reasoning skills.