Short Course Description
Maintenance of homeostasis in the cell requires integrative reactions involving multiple molecular mechanisms. Success or lack of success in regulating homeostasis can be a decisive factor that differentiates between health and disease. Indeed, responses to stress conditions encompass the entire spectrum of cellular activity, and include alterations to synthesis/turnover of RNA, proteins (proteostasis) and organelles to enable an adequate response to the changing conditions. Infections of cells with viruses, which absolutely depend on anabolic resources of the cell for replication, are a clear example of acute equilibrium-breaking conditions. Moreover, a central element in the cellular response to infections is based on differential regulation of the cellular machineries involved in establishment and maintenance of homeostasis. Thus, the regulation of synthesis/turnover of proteins is a central battleground of the evolutionary "arms race" between organisms and viruses. These cellular mechanisms, the manners by which viruses overtake them, and the countering attempts of the cell are all subject of intensive research and serve as targets for new treatments. The course will focus on mammalian systems. In addition, we will expand on the experimental techniques involved in the study of responses to stress conditions and viral infections, and on model systems currently used to study these issues.
The final score will be determined by: 50% activities in class, throughout the course, 50% final exam
Full syllabus is to be published
