4 ECTS PhD-course at Aarhus University
5 days intensive course
Date: 20-24 August 2012
Venue: 4 days at AU-Foulum, 1 day at AU-Årslev
Aim of course
The aim is to provide the students with knowledge and experience in the techniques and applications of methods used in proteomic and metabonomic analyses in relation to food quality so that the students are able to evaluate benefits and potentials of these methods in their own projects.
Course contents
The course will give students an up-to-date introduction to proteomic and metabonomic methods used in food science to characterise molecular composition of food in relation to functional properties and their biological effects. The course will cover methodologies used in the detailed molecular characterisation of food, like e.g. different genetic variants and post-translational modifications of milk and other food proteins, understanding of biological effects of food components and bioactive substances by in vitro cellular proteomics and metabononic analyses of cell lysates to elucidate biological effects and pathways. Furthermore, metabolomic and proteomic analyses of e.g. biofluids and tissue biopsies will be covered.
Draft course programme
Day 1:
Introduction to in vitro cell growth and studies (examples of cell types, cell harvest for subsequent analysis, extractions, measures of cell viability and other parameters. Examples of 1-2 studies. Visit to cell labs. Introduction to proteomics: general concepts, analytical techniques briefly, data analyses. Instrumentation and principles of MS of proteins and peptides.
Day 2:
Proteomic analysis of different fractions of milk. Proteomic analyses of milk with different coagulation properties. Meat proteomics. Peptidomics. Protein identification by MALDI ToF MS and MS/MS and 2D gels.
Day 3:
Introduction til metabolomics: General concepts, analytical techniques briefly, multivariate data analysis etc. NMR techniques for metabolomics: Aquous phase, HRMAS. LC-MS techniques for metabolomics (MRC/XUZH), GC-MS techniques for metabolomics. Use of animal models and metabolomics in nutrition research. Individual work: Draft for report contents to be prepared.
Day 4:
Metabolomic studies on whole-grain cereals and dietary fibers. Metabolomic studies on plants/vegetables. Metabolomic studies on milk. Transfer to Årslev.
Day 5:
Hands-on NMR/LC-MS. Evaluation.
Course evaluation
Applicants should send their CV indicating their educational background and a short description of the phd project in relation to the course topic, and indicate specific interests in the methods in the course. Admission to the course will be based on this.
After the course a report should be prepared (a list of contents will be prepared and approved during the course) about how the methods, or some of the methods, covered by the course could be used in the students own PhD project. This will require a full week’s work and some additional reading.
The report will be evaluated (passed/not passed) by the “course supervisor” selected among the teachers at the course, and commented as feed-back.
Syllabus
A series of hand-outs with relevant literature will be provided ahead of the course, and should be read prior to course start. The literature will cover subjects related to the content of the lectures (book chapters, reviews, original papers and descriptions.
Number of participants
16
Course fee
Participation: free of charge. Accommodation and food costs: DKK 6,000. Food costs only: DKK 1,800.
The course is financially supported by the Graduate School of Science and Technology (GSST) at Aarhus University.
Course brochure
Download a free copy of the course brochure here.
Registration and further information
Please contact Lotte Bach Larsen at Aarhus University.
