Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - BISC 430 D100

Microbe-Plant Interactions (3)

Class Number: 2725

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Fri, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    MBB 231 and (BISC 303, or BISC 328, or BISC 337, or BISC 366), both with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Interactions between major groups of microbes (including fungi, bacteria, viruses, phytoplasmas and viroids) with higher plants, including the chemical signals which trigger the onset of recognition events that result in a parasitic or mutualistic relationship, and the mechanisms of plant defense.

COURSE DETAILS:

Recommended Pre-requisites:
Students interested in taking BISC 430 should have previously taken a plant biology course eg. BISC 337 as well as a microbiology course eg. BISC 303. These courses provide an appropriate back-ground for the subject matter to be cover

Outline of Topics Covered:

  1. Overview of microbes associated with plants.
  2. Types of microbe-plant associations.
  3. Evolution of microbe-plant relationships.
  4. Pathogenic associations (plant diseases).
  5. Factors affecting development of disease.
  6. Microbial pathogenicity factors.
  7. Host genetic factors and disease.
  8. Defense responses in plants.
  9. Antimicrobial compounds in plants.
  10. Molecular methods for microbe identification.

Term project: Students will select a specific plant host-pathogen interaction of their choice (following approval by the instructor). This topic can be on any plant and any pathogen, as long as there is sufficient information available.

N.B. Some lecture topics will be presented by guest lecturers as needed during the course.

Grading

  • Midterm Exam 15%
  • Final Exam 35%
  • Term project (written term paper 30% and a presentation on the same topic as a poster or oral presentation 20%). Grading of the term project presentation will be made jointly by students and the instructor. 50%

NOTES:


 

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Textbook(s): None. Course hand-outs will be provided, textbook references given, and Powerpoint presentations made available.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.