Julia Vorholt-Zambelli: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2014

Name Prof. Dr. Julia Vorholt-Zambelli
FieldMikrobiologie
Address
Institut für Mikrobiologie
ETH Zürich, HCI F 429
Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10
8093 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 55 24
Fax+41 44 633 13 07
E-mailjvorholt@ethz.ch
DepartmentBiology
RelationshipFull Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
551-0104-AALFundamentals of Biology IIB: Plant Biology, Neurobiology, Microbiology, Immunology Information
Enrolment only for MSc students who need this course as additional requirement.
5 credits4RW. Gruissem, W.‑D. Hardt, A. Oxenius, J. Piel, J. Vorholt-Zambelli
Abstract-Water balance, assimilation, transport in plants; developmental biology, stress physiology.
- Structure, function, genetics of prokaryotic microorganisms and fungi.
- Introduction to the histology, functional anatomy of the nervous system with emphasis on sensory and motor systems and methods of neuroscience.
- Fundamental mechanisms of our immunological defence system.
ObjectiveMicrobiology: see under "Inhalt" below.
Neurobiology: Understanding the functional anatomy of the nervous system, the outlines of sensory processing as well as knowledge about commonly used methods in modern neuroscience.
Immunology: Principles of the ontogeny of the immune system and of immune defense mechanisms
ContentMicrobiology: Basic principles of cell structure, growth physiology, energy metabolism, gene expression. Biodiversity of Bacteria and Archaea in the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles in nature. Phylogeny and evolution. Pathogenicity. Biotechnology. Antibiotics.
Neurobiology: Introduction to the anatomy of the adult nervous system: Histology of the nervous system (cell types and function), functional anatomy of the nervous system (anatomical composition, motor systems, sensory systems, limbic system), build-up and physiology of the nervous system (electrophysiologic events, signal transduction and neurotransmitters), methods to study neuroscience questions
Immunology: Cellular and molecular components of the immune system, lymphoid organs, lymphocyte recirculation, innate and adaptive immunity, hematopoiesis, maturation of cells of the adpative immune system, antigen recognition and presentation, gene rearrangement, antibodies, selection mechanisms, primary and secondary immune responses, immunological memory, coordination of immune responses
Lecture notesnone
Literature- Taiz, L., Zeiger, E.: Plant Physiology 2nd ed. (bzw. 3rd ed) Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA 1998
- Brock, Biology of Microorganisms (Madigan, M.T. and Martinko, J.M., eds.), 12th ed., Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009
- Neurobiology: Neuro chapters in Campbell, Reece: Biology (Pearson); D. Purves, G.J. Augustine, D.Fitzpatrik, L.C. Katz, A.-S. LaMantia and J.O. McNamara. "Neuroscience" (Sinauer).
Immunology: chapter immune system in , Reece: Biology (Pearson)
Prerequisites / Noticenone
551-0205-00LChallenges in Plant Sciences Information 2 credits2KW. Gruissem, A. Hund, E. Martinoia, J. Vorholt-Zambelli, S. C. Zeeman, further lecturers
AbstractThe colloquium introduces students to the disciplines in plant sciences and provides integrated knowledge from the molecular level to ecosystems and from basic research to applications, making use of the synergies between the different research groups of the PSC. The colloquium offers a unique chance to approach interdisciplinary topics as a challenge in the field of plant sciences.
ObjectiveMajor objectives of the colloquium are:

introduction of graduate students and Master students to the broad field of plant sciences
promotion of an interdisciplinary and integrative teaching program
promotion of active participation and independent work of students
promotion of presentation and discussion skills
increased interaction among students and professors
ContentChallenges in Plant Sciences will cover the following topics:

Spatial patterns and coexistence of plant species
Small RNAs Regulating Plant Development
Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) and Innate Immunity in Plants and Animals
Molecular function and evolution of plant disease resistance genes
Climate change and net carbon dioxide fluxes of terrestrial ecosystems
Functioning and maintenance of biodiversity from population to community level
Abiotic stress in plants
Integrating molecular genetics, evolutionary genomics and ecology - examples in plant reproduction
Hybridisation
Plant invasions into mountainous regions
551-1103-00LMicrobial Biochemistry Information 4 credits2VJ. Vorholt-Zambelli, T. J. Erb, J. Piel
AbstractThe lecture course aims at providing an advanced understanding of the physiology and metabolism of microorganisms. Emphasis is on processes that are specific to bacteria and archaea and that contribute to the widespread occurrence of prokaryotes. Applied aspects of microbial biochemistry will be pointed out as well as research fields of current scientific interest.
ObjectiveThe lecture course aims at providing an advanced understanding of the physiology and metabolism of microorganisms.
ContentImportant biochemical processes specific to bacteria and archaea will be presented that contribute to the widespread occurrence of prokaryotes. Applied aspects of microbial biochemistry will be pointed out as well as research fields of current scientific interest. Emphasis is on concepts of energy generation and assimilation.

List of topics:
Eating sugars and letting them in
Challenging: Aromatics, xenobiotics, and oil
Complex: (Ligno-)Cellulose and in demand for bioenergy
Living on a diet and the anaplerotic provocation
Of climate relevance: The microbial C1 cycle
What are AMO and Anammox?
20 amino acids: the making of
Extending the genetic code
The 21st and 22nd amino acid
Some exotic biochemistry: nucleotides, cofactors
Ancient biochemistry? Iron-sulfur clusters, polymers
Secondary metabolites: playground of evolution
Lecture notesA script will be provided during the course.
551-1109-00LSeminars in Microbiology0 credits2KM. Aebi, H.‑M. Fischer, W.‑D. Hardt, S. R. Leibundgut, J. Piel, J. Vorholt-Zambelli
AbstractSeminars by invited speakers covering selected microbiology themes.
ObjectiveDiscussion of selected microbiology themes presented by invited speakers.
551-1129-00LEngineering Bacterial Metabolism Restricted registration - show details 6 credits7PJ. Vorholt-Zambelli, T. J. Erb
AbstractThis laboratory course has a focus on current research topics related to metabolic engineering / synthetic biology. Projects will be conducted in small groups.
ObjectiveThe course aims at introducing principles of synthetic biology related to metabolic engineering. The main focus is on practical work and will familiarize with complementary approaches, in particular genetic, biochemical and analytical approaches. Scientific presentation of results.
ContentThe projects will involve the selection of enzymes and pathways for integration into foreign host metabolism and testing of their activity. Experimental work applied during the course will comprise e.g. creation of synthetic operons, cloning work, transformation, enzyme activity tests, dynamic 13C labeling experiments. The course will be linked to ongoing research projects in the laboratory.
Lecture notesNone
LiteratureWill be provided at the beginning of the course.
752-4001-00LMicrobiology Information 2 credits2VM. Ackermann, M. Schuppler, J. Vorholt-Zambelli
AbstractTeaching of basic knowledge in microbiology with main focus on Microbial Cell Structure and Function, Molecular Genetics, Microbial Growth, Metabolic Diversity, Phylogeny and Taxonomy, Prokaryotic Diversity, Human-Microbe Interactions, Biotechnology.
ObjectiveTeaching of basic knowledge in microbiology.
ContentDer Schwerpunkt liegt auf den Themen: Bakterielle Zellbiologie, Molekulare Genetik, Wachstumsphysiologie, Biochemische Diversität, Phylogenie und Taxonomie, Prokaryotische Vielfalt, Interaktion zwischen Menschen und Mikroorganismen sowie Biotechnologie.
Lecture notesWird von den jeweiligen Dozenten ausgegeben.
LiteratureDie Behandlung der Themen erfolgt auf der Basis des Lehrbuchs Brock, Biology of Microorganisms