FB3GUT: Gut Microbiota and Health

Module code: FB3GUT

Module provider: Food and Nutritional Sciences; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: 6

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Marie Lewis, email: marie.lewis@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Gemma Walton, email: g.e.walton@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 2 December 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of gut microbiota; how this community of microorganisms can be manipulated and can impact on health. You will also review evidence to critically evaluate trials published in this area, and learn how the gut microbiota interacts with host systems. You will evaluate how messages are considered by different groups and how this field links to existing and potential health claims.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe the establishment of microbial gut communities, how these change throughout life, and impact on health and the gut brain axis. 
2. Compare and contrast pre, pro and synbiotics and critically evaluate comparative health claims and evidence around dietary intervention. 
3. Evaluate links between the gut microbiota, host health and immune system by applying and interpreting microbiota analytical techniques, and evaluate comparative health claims and evidence around dietary intervention. 

Module content

Within in this module, the following elements will be covered:

• Ecology of the human microbiome – how the microbiota is acquired, develops and alters throughout life. Host-microbe interactions, functionality
• Which pathogens reside in the intestinal tract and how do we keep them in check? Examples include H. pylori, desulfovbrios, proteolytic species, viruses including rotovirus, Sars-Cov-2, parasites, candida and other yeasts
• Probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics – history, definitions and examples of different types. Use in trials to mitigate disease risk or symptoms (selected examples). Underpinning mechanisms.
• Interactions between the microbiota and the immune system, with specific and non specific effects including prophylactic strategies
• Dietary intervention, gut disease, IBS, IBD, gastrointestinal cancers, gastroenteritis, coeliac, gastritis, peptic ulcers, diverticular disease, reflux
• Diet and non intestinal diseases – the gut brain axis, skin, obesity and associated risk, pancreatitis, liver disorder, ASDs
• Data analysis relevant to the field
• Health claims and legislation
• Debate – public understanding of the field – summaries for different key groups – e.g. health workers, parliamentarians, general public, scientists

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, group activities, workshops, debate, online quizzes,

Study hours

At least 26 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Review of data analysis skills- workshop of week 5 will provide students with an opportunity to analyse data – this can be checked through formative assessment prior to summative task.

Reassessment

Additional costs