Cyanobacteria: diversity, evolution and ecology

Duration

15h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Annick Wilmotte

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

All year long, with partial in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic bacteria that played an important role in the evolution of Planet Earth. They were responsible for the oxygenation of the terrestrial atmosphere about 2,3 Ga years ago and the ancestor of vegetal plastids was an ancestral cyanobacterium. Today, they are important primary producers in biotopes where they can find light, liquid water, air and some minerals. They have developped resistance mechanisms to extreme environmental conditions and are prolific producers of secondary compounds that can be useflu to society.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The student wiill learn the characteristics of the cyanobacteria and will get the occasion to handle and cultivate them.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

general knowledge in microbiology/bacteriology

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

  - Introduction
- Evolution and morphology - Ecology - Metabolism - Cellular differentiation (heterocysts, akinetes) - Gas vesicles
- Adaptations to extreme environmental conditions - Biotechnological applications (Production bioactive compounds, source of proteins, etc) - Our research on planktonic cyanobacteria that form toxic blooms - Our research on Antarctic cyanobacteria
- In function of the interests of the student, some practical training will be given in the laboratory to learn isolation and cultivation of strains, molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of strains, participation to a biodiversity study by Illumina amplicon sequencing, participation to a monitoring study of toxigenic taxa in Belgian surface waters.  

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Theoretical course in presence and practical training depending of the student

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Copies of transparencies used in class

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam


Additional information:

If necessary, exam on the theory or presentation of a publication, and report on the practical excercise

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Optional course, in function of the student

Contacts

A. Wilmotte, InBios-, B6, Allée du 6 aout, 11
Tél. : 04/366.33.87/38.56,
e-mail : awilmotte@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs

Items online