Описание:This practical course formd a part of the master-level educational program developed at the General Ecology Department of the Biology Faculty.
Research on communication between living organisms and between their communities is an important subfield of modern ecology. Neuromediators, including biogenic amines and neuroactive amino acids, are an evolutionarily conserved group of regulatory agents that, apart from transferring impulses between nervous cells, are involved in communication among cells and their groups within the framework of the microbial consortium of the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract of the human organism as well as between the microbial consortium and the host organism. Communication in the microbiota-host system is bilateral. Host neuromediators exert a significant influence on the growth variables and cultural characteristics of the microbiota. Besides, the microbiota produces neuroactive compounds that indisputably influence the health, the brain, the psyche, and the social behavior of humans, including their political activities. Therefore, this area of research is of obvious biopolitical interest.
The proposed syllabus includes
• A brief introductory course of lectures focusing on microbial communication and the symbiotic microbial consortium of the human organism with emphasis on the role of neuromediators as communication agents
• Seminars aimed at familiarizing the students with basic microbiological methods such as cultivating microbial cultures in liquid and on solid media, precipitating and disintegrating biomass, counting colony-forming units etc.
• Studies on the effects of several neuromediators on the growth and cultural characteristics of lactobacteria that are important representatives of the symbiotic microorganisms of the GI tract.
• Studies on the synthesis and release into the medium of neuroactive amines and amino acids by probiotic strains of lactobacteria; this research will be based upon modern separation methods such as high performance liquid chromatography with amperometric and fuorometric detectors. The students will be directly involved in all stages of these innovative techniques