E2050 Laboratory course in molecular biology and microbiology

Faculty of Science
Spring 2022
Extent and Intensity
0/0/3. 3 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Taught partially online.
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Petra Bořilová Linhartová, Ph.D., MBA (lecturer)
Mgr. Petra Brenerová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Petra Bořilová Linhartová, Ph.D., MBA
RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Petra Bořilová Linhartová, Ph.D., MBA
Supplier department: RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The subject aims to teach students the basics of the work in the molecular biology lab, especially those performed in the context of research activities associated with the analysis of human and environmental samples. After completion of the course, the students should have a good idea of the limitations of such analyses, the nature of the results, and the generation of data for evaluation and research on the environmental health of humans and their microbiota.
Learning outcomes
After taking the course, the students will be able to isolate human DNA from blood/saliva/FFPE samples as well as microbial DNA from human/environmental samples, to determine their concentration and purity, to amplify human and microbial DNA using PCR, and to analyze it by dissection with restriction enzymes combined with electrophoresis on agarose gel and subsequent visualisation. The students will also get practical experience with sequencing techniques, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods.
Syllabus
  • Within this subject, several practical tasks will be performed by students, during which human/environmental samples will be processed and analyzed. 1. Introduction to the work in a molecular biology lab, health&safety information. 2. Sampling of human/environmental samples and their processing. 3. – 5. Determination of DNA mutations/polymorphisms and of predictive phenotypes in humans – human DNA isolation, qPCR vs. PCR with dissection by restriction enzymes, interpretation of the results, phenotype verification. 6. –8. Analysis of antibiotic resistance genes in a human/environmental sample from a bacterial culture; cloning. 7. – 10. Microbiome analysis in a human/environmental sample/bacterial culture – isolation of microbial DNA, PCR, gel electrophoresis, preparation of a sequencing library, basics of sequencing (whole metagenome sequencing, WMGS) and multiplex PCR. 11. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses – analysis of human biomarkers, of bacteria and viruses in human samples. 12. Discussion about limitations of individual methods of analysis, data evaluation and their interpretation; discussion about individual tasks and reports.
Literature
  • Šmarda, J. a kol. Metody molekulární biologie. 1. vyd. Brno: MU, 2005. info
Teaching methods
The concept of the course is to teach students through the practical exercise listed above in the annotation. Teaching materials and protocols are available within the university information system.
Assessment methods
To complete the course, students must complete all laboratory tasks and prepare reports from each of them.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2022/E2050