The major objective is to familiarize the students with the use of
bioengineering technologies in modern cellular physiology and to
prepare the students to work in and/or interact with researchers in
this field. It will be demonstrated how bioengineering disciplines
such as signal and image analyses, electrophysiology, informatics,
and modeling are combined synergistically to spearhead
technological advances at the frontiers of the basic biological and
therapeutic sciences. The principles will be applicable to other
cellular processes and pathologies such as beta cells an diabetes
or nerve cells and neuropathies. Each student will be assigned an
inherited cardiac pathology that he or Medicine & Technology ‐
MS 2/3 JW, 20 January 2014 she will explore with respect to its
genetic, electropysiological and calcium signaling
parameters.
Læringsmål:
En studerende, der fuldt ud har opfyldt kursets mål, vil kunne:
Explain the significance of the different ionic and molecular
constituents of mammalian cells
Outline the overall energy balance of cells in relation to
ionic and molecular gradients and mitochondrial function
Discuss the major types of ionic channels and transporters as
they apply to the generation of cardiac action potentials and
excitation-contraction coupling.
Explain the principles of single cell voltage clamp recordings
and interpret the obtained results
Discuss the basic principles of the compound microscope and its
adaptations for high speed, high resolution and fluorescence
recordings
Explain the design parameters of fluorescent probes with
respect to sensitivity, kinetics, spectral specificity, and
subcellular targeting.
Interpret different types of calcium signaling records obtained
by high speed fluorescence imaging of targeted calcium probes.
Explain how molecular techniques (polymerase chain reaction,
sequencing, and screening of genetic libraries) are used to
identify inherited point mutation that cause abnormal protein
function associated with cardiac pathologies.
Explain how the mutation of ion channels may be revealed in
voltage clamp records and electrocardiograms.
Explain how mutations may result in aberrant calcium signaling
predisposing for cardiac insufficiencies. Explain how stem cell
approaches may aid in the investigation of cardiac pathologies and
serve as foundation for novel therapies.
Explain the most important parameters in analog to digital
conversion
Discuss some engineering principles related to the electronic
cardiac pacemaker, laser ablation, stem cells and directed cardiac
differentiation, engineered biological cardiac pacemakers, cardiac
assist devices, and artificial hearts.
Kursusindhold:
Topics: The course starts with a review of the principles of basic
cellular physiology that emphasizes quantitative considerations of
relevance to experimental design. The constituents of the cardiac
cell are identified. It is described how the ion channels and
calcium transporters associated with the cell membrane, the
sarcoplasmic reticulum, the nucleus, and mitochondria interact to
generate the cardiac action potential and control the development
of contractile force. Engineering concerns associated with these
processes will be discussed from the standpoint of experimental
techniques (voltage clamp and calcium imaging studies) and
therapeutic approaches (e.g. pacemakers and cardiac assist
devices.) On this background each student will investigate a
particular cardiac abnormality resulting from an inherited point
mutation. Activities: Material presented in lectures will be
emphasized and illustrated further in homework and computer based
activities (simulations of cardiac action potentials and spread of
exitation, data analysis of voltage-clamp records from normal and
mutant ion channels, image analysis calcium signaling records, and
data mining of genomic libraries.)
Litteraturhenvisninger:
J.G. Webster, Medical Instrumentation: Applications and Design, 4.
ed. Wiley. Lecture notes, and selected scientific articles.
Bemærkninger:
Students may choose to take the course for 10 ECTS. In this case
they will perform additional research oriented work to gain the
additional 5 ECTS: 1) Be coached in reading an original research
publication of relevance to their assigned inherited cardiac
pathology and presenting it to their fellow students (30%), 2)
Write a report summarizing their findings (% 40), and 3) Present
and discuss their findings using a Powerpoint presentation (30%).
Lectures will be given in English, but other interactions including
student presentations will be in English or Danish as preferred by
individual student.
