Cellular Engineering

Code:

EBE0125

Acronym:

EC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Molecular Biotechnology

Instance: 2016/2017 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Molecular Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Bioengineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIB	22	Syllabus	4	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

To acquire knowledge in terms of the fundaments that support the understanding and manipulation of cell behaviour.

To acquire knowledge in the most recent approaches for the modification and modulation of cellular function and detailed coverage of the methodology for improving cellular properties used in the production of biopharmaceuticals, gene and cell therapies and tissue engineering.

To develop the students’ reasoning and problem solving skills regarding cellular engineering as well as for the proposal of new therapeutic strategies in the context of distinct diseases, such as cancer and pathologies of the nervous system.

Learning outcomes and competences

During the lectures the students will be encouraged to discuss with the lecturer and the peers the themes under analysis. These will be accompanied by practical laboratory sessions in order to illustrate with practical examples current cellular engineering strategies discussed in the lectures. The teaching-learning process will be centered on the work (autonomous and tutored) of the student and on the elaboration (in group) of the poster of the laboratory work.

Specifically, in this UC is assumed a teaching methodology that is focused on the acquisition of knowledge that integrates a holistic vision of the current cellular engineering strategies and will allow the extrapolation of the use of the different discussed methodologies to new scenarios.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Students are provided with an introduction to engineering principles and modelling at the cellular and organism levels. Of particular interest are receptor/ligand binding, modulation of cellular activities, genetic engineering and cytomechanics.

The following topics are covered:


- The cell and its microenvironment

- Modulation of cellular activities during homeostasis and disease

- In vitro approaches of genetic, mRNA and protein engineering

- In vivo modulation of gene expression

- Cytomechanics and mechanotransduction

- Bioreactors

- In vitro engineered tissues as alternatives to animal tests.

Lab sessions are planned with practical examples that will illustrate the concepts discussed in the lectures. The lab works include:

1) Cell culture on different substrates 

2) Evaluation of cell behavior on different substrates

3) Genetic expression modulations by transfectionwith nucleic acids (DNA, siRNA and oligonucleotides)

4) Methods of assessment of efficiency of cell transfection

Mandatory literature

Carlos Azevedo, Claudio Sunkel; biologia Celular e Molecular - 5ª Edição, Lidel. ISBN: 978-972-757-692-0
van Blitterswijk C, Thomsen P, Hubble J, Cancedda R, de Bruijn J.D., Lindahl A, Sohier J, Williams D.F; Tissue Engineering, 2008. ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-0123708694
Jaalouk DE, Lammerding J. ; Mechanotransduction gone awry, 2009 (Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 10: 63-73, 2009)

Teaching methods and learning activities

a) General theoretical-practical classes will be based on the presentation of the themes of the course unit, along with the discussion of practical examples that illustrate the addressed methodologies and strategies;

b) Laboratory classes on themes of this course unit and elaboration of a poster covering the developed work (to be discussed with the teatchers).

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	80,00
Trabalho laboratorial	20,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Students are required to have an active role and to attend, at least, 75% of the practical classes and obtain a minimum classification of 10 out of 20 in the laboratory component.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade = Exam grade * 0,80 + lab sessions grade * 0,20

Lab sessions grade = 0,30*Grade of the lab session participation + 0,70 * grade of the poster

A minimum of 10 out of 20 in the written exam is required for approval.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

As specified by the rules applicable to the Mestrado Integrado em Bioengenharia.