Bacterial Genomes: Disease Outbreaks and Antimicrobial Resistance (FutureLearn)

Bacterial Genomes: Disease Outbreaks and Antimicrobial Resistance (FutureLearn)

Explore the genomes of bacteria and the use of genome sequencing to track harmful disease and AMR. The increase in resistance of harmful bacteria to antibiotics is a major global threat to health. Here we explore bacterial genomes and the use of genome sequencing to identify and track these drug resistant bacteria.

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Join us to discover how genome research is helping scientists and healthcare professionals track disease outbreaks and prevent the rise of antibiotic resistant ‘superbugs’.

What topics will you cover?
• Diseases caused by bacteria
• What bacterial genomes look like
• Genome sequencing technology
• Mechanisms of transmission and resistance
• Genomic epidemiology – tracking the spread of bacterial pathogens
• Antimicrobial resistance

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Explain why some bacteria are pathogenic
  • Explore the structure of bacterial genomes
  • Describe the uses of different genome sequencing technologies
  • Investigate how genome data are used to track the spread of bacterial disease
  • Discuss the role of genome sequencing in stopping the spread of antimicrobial resistance
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