Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Docente: Marco Candela
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: CHIM/11
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Biodiversity and Evolution (cod. 9075)

Learning outcomes

In the course we will explore tree main aspects in the metagenomic research, the technical aspects, the biological implications and the piratical experience. We will discuss how to conduct a metagenomic study, starting from the experimental design and sampling campaign, until the DNA extraction, libraries preparations and NGS sequencing. Approaches of bioinformatics and biostatistics will be also discussed. Following the technical aspects, we will discuss the application of metagenomics in the microbiome science, including the co-evolutionary trajectories between the human beings and their microbiomes and the deriving implications for evolutionary and personal medicine. Further, we will discuss pioneering applications of microbiome science in the “one health” context, were the planet microbiomes and microbiome diversity are central for the health of the planet and for the evolutionary history of its inhabitants. Finally, some piratical aspects will be faced, becoming familiar with metagenomics studies, from the study design to bioinformatics and biostatistics.

Course contents

  • Metagenomics in microbiome science,
  • Next generation sequencing
  • Bioinformatics and biostatistics in metagenomic studies
  • Ecology and dominant dynamics in microbial communities
  • Microbiota and “one health”, microbiome centrality as a life support system on our planet, interaction with climate change and pollution
  • The human microbiome, from co-evolutionary history to personalized medicine
  • The halobionts microbiome (animal and plants) from phenotypic plasticity to phylosymbiosis
  • Paleometagenomics, ancient microbiomes and evolutionary and co-evolutionary dynamics

Readings/Bibliography

Lesk Introduction to Bioinformatics (V Edition_2019)

Metagenomics, perspectives, methods and applications, M Nagarajan (2017)

R in action, third edition

Multivariate analysis of ecological data with ADE4

Brook, biology of microorganisms 15th edition

Papers and reviews suggested by the teacher

Office hours

See the website of Marco Candela

SDGs

Climate Action Life on land

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.