Molecular Approaches to Clinical Microbiology in Africa

Course summary

This practical, laboratory-based course aims to introduce clinical microbiologists and laboratory scientists working in Africa to genome-based molecular techniques for the diagnosis and characterisation of, and research into, bacterial pathogens.These techniques shall be: (i) currently applicable in African laboratories; (ii) likely to be applicable in Africa in the foreseeable future; or (iii) of value to participants in interpreting the literature and assessing the likely utility of new technologies as they are developed.

An important objective is to provide a foundation-level of understanding of the philosophy, methods and vocabulary of molecular techniques for those primarily trained in culture-based microbiology.

Programme

1. Basic molecular biology techniques including preparing, handling, and storing DNA.
2. PCR, including real-time PCR, methods and applications.
3. Determining sequence variation, its visualisation and interpretation, concentrating on conventional approaches.
4. Bioinformatic analysis of molecular and genomic data, particularly the exploitation of web-based tools.
5. Future technologies, overview and potential for clinical microbiology.

Deadline for applications: 29 April 2011