https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/AB_1122This course aims to offer an understanding of the interaction of microbial pathogens with their host and how infections with these pathogens can be treated. The use of antimicrobials as well as the rationale of antimicrobial guidelines associated with antibiotic/antimicrobial resistance will be discussed. Furthermore, the emerging problems of antibiotic resistance, the discovery of new antibiotics, and the process of bringing these new compounds into the clinic will be covered. After this course, the student can:Discuss host-microbial interactions.Discuss the problems associated with antibiotic/antimicrobial resistance.Apply and explain methods to test pathogens for drug susceptibility, including tests used for detecting specific resistance mechanisms.Explain how new antibiotics are identified, developed, approved and brought to the clinic.Explain and discuss the problems involved in developing and using antiviral agents for HIV and COVID-19.Present and discuss critically read scientific articles dealing with antibiotic development from 1940 till 2023.The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in pathogens is a major health threat that is often discussed in the media. Yet, the development of new antibiotics with new working mechanisms only decreased over the past decades. Why is the generation of new antimicrobials so difficult? In the first part of this course, we will look at the use of antimicrobials (with an emphasis on antibiotics) in the clinic and the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance among human pathogens. How do clinicians decide which antibiotics to use, how do you minimize the development and especially the spread of antibiotic resistance? In the second part of the course, we will focus on the isolation of new antibiotics. What is a good drug target? What is a good compound? And how do you set up screens to find compounds blocking these new targets? In the last part of the course, we will focus on the roadblocks and bottlenecks you will encounter once you have identified a new active compound, i.e. what factors are crucial to make a successful introduction of new compounds in the clinic. This course aims to provide a thorough understanding of antibiotic usage and the development of new antibiotics. At the same time, knowledge on the evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance will be provided. It aims to equip students with the specialized knowledge necessary to understand the primary literature and all the different aspects of this topic.The course has three different parts: lectures, workgroups and practicals. Lectures: 26h Workgroups: 12h Practicals: 10h Self-study: 120hTwo partial Exams (open questions & multiple choice), together they form the Exam. The Exam constitutes 80% of the final mark. In addition, the mark of the exam must be >5.50 in order to pass the course. The literature assignment is examined by a presentation and discussion. For this assignment the students work in groups. The mark of the assignment constitutes 20% of final mark.To be announced on Canvas.Students interested in infectious diseases and/or microbiology and/or pharmacology.The registration for the literature assignment will follow in Canvas during the course.The course is coordinated by dr. Alex Speer. The subthemes are coordinated by: dr. Karin van Dijk (clinical microbiology), dr. Edith Houben, dr. Coen Kuijl (discovery of new antibiotic targets, workgroups) and prof. dr. Wilbert Bitter (development of antibiotics from bench to bedside, workgroups). All educational activities will be provided by the experts in the field of clinical microbiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, and medicinal chemistry both from the VU University, Amsterdam UMC and from other universities and organizations.Bachelor's courses covering Microbiology and Molecular Biology with theoretical knowledge of different classes of microbial pathogens. Furthermore practical skills of handling microorganisms safely is highly recommended but not required upon enrollment.The final and leading schedule will be posted in Canvas.