Structural Bioinformatics in Biomedicine (5 op)

Arviointiasteikko

H-5

Osaamistavoitteet

Learning objectives: After passing a course, the student is expected to - to employ structural bioinformatics methods for target validation and identification of targets for polypharmacological studies - to analyze and evaluate species-specific ligand-binding properties when model organisms are used in biomedicine - to explain how unintended effects of a drug binding to off-targets could be avoided - to inspect and evaluate disease-causing and therapeutically beneficial genetic variation - to describe specific features of protein therapeutics and apply basic computational methods to design therapeutic proteins Transferable skills: During the course the participants develop the following general skills: - critical reading and analysis of scientific literature and protein-related databases - mastery of basic molecular visualization software - project management skills - self-management skills - written and oral presentation skills - teamworking skills

Sisältö

3D structures of proteins are widely exploited in drug development and diagnostics. The course provides the students with good knowledge of how the properties of 3D macromolecular structures are explored and interpreted to understand the function and activities carried out by proteins utilized in biomedical research. In this course, you will study the following topics: - Target validation, discovering targets for polypharmacological approaches and designing novel pharmaceuticals - Identification of drug off-targets to avoid unintended effects of drugs - Analysis of species-specific ligand-binding properties when model organisms are used - Understanding of disease-causing and therapeutically beneficial genetic variation - Protein therapeutics

Aika ja paikka

This is a fully online course given through the DigiCampus Moodle platform (https://digicampus.fi/; login with HAKA login and credentials from your home university). Please register to the course both in Peppi and in Digicampus! All details regarding the course schedule will be sent out over email. If you have questions, contact kathe.dahlstrom[at]abo.fi

Oppimateriaalit

The course is taught fully online and all the material is available in electronic form through DigiCampus Moodle learning platform (https://digicampus.fi/; login with HAKA login and credentials from your home university).

Opetusmenetelmät

Video lectures, other video material, self-correcting quizzes to each module, online exercises (problem-based computer exercises) related to each module material, teamwork-based project work aimed at solving a biological problem related to all course modules resulting in a poster, online presentation of poster via a pre-recorded video, peer-review of posters.

Kansainvälisyys

During the course, you will do project work in groups, which requires applying theory and acquired computational skills to solve a practical task that imitates real-life applied projects in the field of Structural Bioinformatics with a focus on Biomedicine. When possible, an external expert from the industry will be invited to evaluate the students' video presentations and provide them with feedback.

Opiskelijan ajankäyttö ja kuormitus

Lectures (video material): 9 h Reading provided module material on your own time: 15 h Exercises: 5 weeks * 4 h/week = 20 h Group work + peer-review: 3 weeks * 12 h/week = 36 h Video production of the poster presentation = 2 h Quizzes + preparation: 5 weeks * 1 h/week= 5 h Report preparation + writing: 16 h Studies on your own time: 32 h

Esitietovaatimukset

The course has a Prerequisite module with learning material and quiz, which helps students to comprehend and/or recall the following topics: - Structure and physicochemical properties of amino acids - Peptide bond as the basis of protein formation - Overview of the protein 3D organization levels - Basics of protein-ligand recognition - Overview of the drug discovery process Owing to the availability of a Prerequisite module, the course is suitable even for students from other fields.