Symbiosis and Parasitism

At the end of this course the students will become familiar with the symbiotic and parasitic associations and their biology, receiving information about the major parasitic diseases of humans and animals. The course addresses the concept of symbiosis and parasitism in the plant kingdom too, starting from the origin of the plant cell, moving to the concept of soil microbiome by discussing the agricultural effects of bio-stimulants. During the lectures some association will be described in detail.

Learning outcomes expected at the end of the course: the student will be able to describe and interpret the different types of symbiosis, describing the main pest relationships, analyzing the biological cycles, the transmission mechanisms and the strategies of coexistence and coevolution host/parasite.