School of Biochemistry & Immunology |
Visiting Student Coordinator - Dr. Andrei Budanov - budanova@tcd.ie |
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Important – please read:
- The school of Biochemistry & Immunology accepts visiting students in 3rd year and only the open modules listed below are available.
- These modules do not include any laboratory practicals and are delivered online.
- Prior to enrolment, student information should be forwarded to Dr Andrei Budanov budanova@tcd.ie and Una Murphy (biochem@tcd.ie)
- Students are advised to enrol as early as possible in order to access the college systems prior to the start of term.
- Please email queries to biochem@tcd.ie
Visiting Student Modules:
| Module Code & Name | ECTs credits | Duration and semester | Prerequisite | Assessment | Contact Hours | Contact Details | BIU33150 Biochemistry for Biosciences |
5 ECTs | Semester 1 | n/a | 60% exam, 40% course work | 20 hours. This module does not include any laboratory practicals. | Module Coordinator - Dr. Derek Nolan |
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Description
The aim is to provide Junior Sophister students of other disciplines with the grounding in biochemistry necessary to (i) understand biology at a molecular level, (ii) form a mechanistic view of biological processes and (iii) appreciate the pathobiochemical basis of disease. The module covers four major themes in biochemistry: Proteins and Nucleic Acids , Membranes, Cytoskeleton and Signalling. The module will be assessed through a combination of in course assessment and an individual end of term exam.
*This module does not include any laboratory practicals*
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
• Recall and comprehend key knowledge and concepts of the hierarchy of polypeptide structure and the forces that stabilize the three-dimensional shape of proteins
• Explain the link between a protein structure and its biological activity, and with appropriate examples, how human diseases arise from a deviation in structure
• Appreciate the principles of spectrophotometry and its applications to biomolecules
• Understand the concept of the proteome and its importance in disease
• Integrate key concepts about nucleic acid structure and function
• Demonstrate an understanding of the biochemical processes of nucleic acids in the cell
• Recall and integrate key knowledge and concepts concerning the role of lipids in membrane structure and function
• Describe how model membranes are formed and their applications
• Describe how an understanding of membrane composition and structure can be used in the design of vaccines, antibiotics and beta-blockers.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of the biosynthesis of membrane proteins, including the mechanisms of insertion and transport to their various locations.
• Explain the types of membrane transport and how this process is coupled to energy and assayed.
• Describe the structure of microtublules, their assembly and disassembly and their polarity.
• Describe the structure of microtublule motors and the processes of directed vesicle transport and cytoplasmic streaming.
• Describe the structure of monmeric actin and how it is assembled into filaments
• Explain how actin nucleation is linked to pathological states.
• Describe the general principles of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling and its regulation, the initial discovery of G-proteins linked to cyclase, the functional effects of cAMP and the activation of GPCR-linked signal-activated phospholipases.
• Discuss Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) signalling and details of MAP kinase cascades, using PDGF and EGF as examples. Explain RTK and PI3K pathways in the context of PKB (Akt) and PDK1 signalling.
• Describe the principles of steroid hormone receptor signalling mechanisms.
| Module Code & Name | ECTs credits | Duration and semester | Prerequisite | Assessment | Contact Hours | Contact Details | BIU33350 Molecular Basis of Disease |
5 ECTs | Semester 1 | n/a | 70% exam, 30% course work | 19 hours. This module does not include any laboratory practicals. | Dr. Kenneth H. Mok |
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Description
The aim is to provide Junior Sophister students with the grounding in cell signalling and disease biology and how modern therapeutics are designed, developed and deployed for the treatment of human diseases.
The topics covered will include cell signalling, drug design and delivery, and will focus on the molecular basis of cancer, pro-inflamatory disease, and metabolic disorders.
*This module does not include any laboratory practicals*
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
• Define the causes and epidemiology of cancer and the methods used in its diagnosis and treatment.
• Define the processes of drug target identification, validation and development
• Demonstrate and understanding of the chemical structure and interactions among molecular components of the cell
• Define the sites of drug action in DNA/RNA, enzymes and receptors and the procedures used in developing of new drug entities
• Explain the molecular basis of pro-inflammatory conditions and metabolic disease.
| Module Code & Name | ECTs credits | Duration and semester | Prerequisite | Assessment | Contact Hours | Contact Details | BIU33250 Introduction to Immunology & Immunometabolism |
5 ECTs | Semester 2 | This is a year 3 module. Prior credits in biological and biomedical sciences (10-20 credits) are required. Prospective students should seek advice from coordinator concerning their suitability for the module. | 60% exam, 40% course work | 20 hours. This module does not include any laboratory practicals | Dr Aisling Dunne |
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Description
This module introduces to the basic components and function of the immune system – the molecules, cells, tissues and organs that make up the immune system. It will illustrate the immune responses to infection. Additionally, it will introduce students to the importance of central energy and intermediary metabolic pathways or bioenergetics before considering how they are dysregulated in diseases like cancer and also how we can harness this knowledge for new immunotherapies.
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
- Identify cells, receptors and soluble component of the innate immune system and how they function to eliminate pathogen;
- Define how an adaptive immune response is initiated and how different types of adaptive immune responses are used to eliminate particular pathogens;
- Identify how the immune system can cause disease and how it can be exploited therapeutically;
- Recall key central energy and intermediary metabolic pathways and appreciate their importance in cellular function;
- Apply knowledge on cellular metabolism to diseases including cancer and inflammation;