Pathogens and Disease in Marine Systems

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• team working
• time management
• report writing

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• in description of specimens, interrogation, analysis and presentation of raw and processed data

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• knowledge of common marine pathogens

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• An understanding of the evolutionary and ecological aspects of marine parasitism;
• An awareness of the range and variety of parasitic associations in the sea;
• A knowledge of medical and economic problems caused by marine parasites.
• A practical knowledge of methods of pathogen detection, enumeration and evaluation;

There are many different kinds of associations between species of organisms. Parasitism is perhaps the most intimate of these, involving very tight integration between the biologies of the interacting species. Contrary to popular belief, parasitic relationships are highly varied and parasitism can be extraordinarily difficult to define. The associations between organisms are often so subtle as to defy easy description. However, the development of molecular techniques over the last twenty years has opened up new means of characterising these intimate associations and the marine fauna provide an unparalleled range of parasitic interactions. Most marine animal phyla include parasitic members and most marine animals are themselves susceptible to infection by co evolved parasitic species. An overview is given of the range of such associations in the sea and the phylogenetic diversity of both parasites and hosts. Other topics covered include: problems faced by parasites and the ways in which they have overcome these; evolutionary and ecological aspects of being a marine parasite; economic and medical marine parasitology.

Formal Lectures: 11 x 1-2 h lectures will provide an introduction to the theory underlying an ecological approach to understanding the role of pathogens in marine ecology. Each lecture systematically covers the main concepts and topics by the use of PowerPoint presentations. Where relevant, lecturers' own research experience in the appropriate fields is brought into the lecturing sessions and, when possible, external speakers will be invited into the lecture programme. References to the applicable chapter of course text and/or other relevant journal articles are provided as essential reading for each lecture.

Interactive peer discussion sessions will also be used to embed learning through group discussion and group presentation.

Practical sessions: 3 hour practicals, as appropriate, will exemplify the theory covered during formal lectures. Practical content will include consideration of the identification of common marine parasites in fish and invertebrates, and the molecular detection of parasites, as appropriate.

Support: is provided by staff and/or postgraduate demonstrators.

A wide range of support can be provided for those students who have further or specific learning and teaching needs.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.