BS3040 Plant-Microbe Interactions

This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of plant-microbe interactions across pathogenic and beneficial systems. Students will examine how fungi, bacteria, oomycetes, viruses, and symbiotic microbes colonize plant tissues; how microbial virulence factors and effectors manipulate host biology; and how plants mount local and systemic immune responses. The course will integrate classical molecular genetics with current concepts in cell biology, bioinformatics, and AI-based methods. Students will also develop scientific skills in literature analysis, data interpretation, and experimental design.