Bacterial Genomes: Disease Outbreaks and Antimicrobial Resistance (FutureLearn)

Bacterial Genomes: Disease Outbreaks and Antimicrobial Resistance (FutureLearn)

Explore the genomes of bacteria and the use of genome sequencing to track harmful disease and AMR. The increase in resistance of harmful bacteria to antibiotics is a major global threat to health. Here we explore bacterial genomes and the use of genome sequencing to identify and track these drug resistant bacteria.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Join us to discover how genome research is helping scientists and healthcare professionals track disease outbreaks and prevent the rise of antibiotic resistant ‘superbugs’.

What topics will you cover?
• Diseases caused by bacteria
• What bacterial genomes look like
• Genome sequencing technology
• Mechanisms of transmission and resistance
• Genomic epidemiology – tracking the spread of bacterial pathogens
• Antimicrobial resistance

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Explain why some bacteria are pathogenic
  • Explore the structure of bacterial genomes
  • Describe the uses of different genome sequencing technologies
  • Investigate how genome data are used to track the spread of bacterial disease
  • Discuss the role of genome sequencing in stopping the spread of antimicrobial resistance
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Leeds

Improving Healthcare Through Clinical Research (FutureLearn)

On this free online course, find out how medical treatments are discovered, tested and evaluated to improve healthcare for all. Everything we do in healthcare has to be discovered and thoroughly tested before it can be put into practice. In this course you will explore clinical research – its challenges and its huge benefits to modern healthcare.

Apr 8th 2024
4 Weeks
Perioperative Medicine in Action (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University College London

Perioperative Medicine in Action (FutureLearn)

Explore perioperative medicine and how you can improve care for the high risk surgical patient. Join this RCoA endorsed course. Too many patients die or suffer prolonged complications following surgery. Perioperative medicine is an emerging, multi-disciplinary approach, which tackles this issue, by optimising the care of high-risk surgical patients. It encompasses disciplines including anaesthetics, surgery, nursing, care of the elderly, physiotherapy and healthcare management.

Jul 1st 2024
4 Weeks
Introduction to Emergency Planning and Preparedness (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Coventry University

Introduction to Emergency Planning and Preparedness (FutureLearn)

Explore the emergency planning process and learn how to develop emergency plans and preparedness frameworks. When preparing a community for an incident, creating plans for identified risks and implementing mitigation measures is key. Responding to a fire is different than responding to a flood. Different actions and different resources are needed for each of these scenarios.

Jun 3rd 2024
2 Weeks
Dying Well: The Role of Palliative Care and Sedation in End of Life Care (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Lancaster University

Dying Well: The Role of Palliative Care and Sedation in End of Life Care (FutureLearn)

Improve your care as a healthcare professional or family caregiver with palliative treatment and sedation best practices. How people die stays with those who care about them. Dying well means being able to manage challenging symptoms in clinical care settings, which can sometimes involve the use of sedation or other care options. On this three-week course from Lancaster University, you’ll learn the best practices for managing difficult end of life symptoms. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to improve your care practices as a health and social care professional or a family caregiver.

Oct 16th 2023
3 Weeks
Tackling Antibiotic Resistance: What Should Dentists Do? (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy - BSAC,FDI World Dental Federation

Tackling Antibiotic Resistance: What Should Dentists Do? (FutureLearn)

Discover the danger posed by antibiotic resistance, and how dental teams can meet the challenge to protect patients. Explore how dentists can tackle the threat of global antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics are lifesaving drugs – when you need them, you need them to work. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to health and wealth globally. Dental teams can do their bit by optimising the use of antibiotics. On this course, you’ll identify ways in which those involved in dental practice can do their bit to tackle antibiotic resistance (ABR).

May 11th 2026
3 Weeks
Causes of Human Disease: Transmitting and Fighting Infection (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Leeds

Causes of Human Disease: Transmitting and Fighting Infection (FutureLearn)

Learn how pathogens cause infectious diseases, how these diseases are transmitted and how our immune system respond to infection. Most of us have experienced common diseases like flu or less common ones like pneumonia. On this course, you’ll learn how pathogens cause infectious diseases and how these diseases are transmitted. You’ll examine the bacterial resistance to antibiotics, how this leads to serious infections like MRSA and reflect on approaches to address this problem.

Sep 23rd 2024
2 Weeks
Cancer and the Older Person: Improving Care, Outcomes and Experience (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Melbourne,Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre

Cancer and the Older Person: Improving Care, Outcomes and Experience (FutureLearn)

Gain an introduction to modern strategies of geriatric oncology and support. This course will enhance your understanding of cancer care for geriatric patients and help you to build confidence and knowledge to care for older people who have been diagnosed with or are undergoing treatment for cancer.

Sep 2nd 2024
4 Weeks
Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care Practitioners (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Melbourne,Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre

Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care Practitioners (FutureLearn)

Many people are now living with and beyond cancer. This course will show you how to provide effective survivorship care. Understand the physical, psychosocial, financial effects of cancer. Cancer is a major burden of disease across the globe. Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with the illness. This course will explore the importance of cancer survivorship, and show you how to develop an effective care plan for your patients.

Oct 7th 2024
4 Weeks
Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD) in Primary Care Settings (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Edinburgh,International Primary Care Respiratory Group - IPCRG,RESPIRE

Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD) in Primary Care Settings (FutureLearn)

Explore diagnosis and management of respiratory disease using case studies from low resource settings. Get practical guidance on primary care management of CRD. On this course, you’ll get a world-class introduction in how to diagnose and manage respiratory disease in low- and middle-income primary care settings.

Nov 13th 2023
5-12 Weeks
Infant Nutrition: from Breastfeeding to Baby's First Solids (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Deakin University

Infant Nutrition: from Breastfeeding to Baby's First Solids (FutureLearn)

Learn what good infant nutrition looks like, how and what to feed a baby, and how to start weaning. Explore the principles of good nutrition in the first 12 months of a baby’s life. In this insightful course led by nutritional experts from Deakin University, you’ll trace the milestones in a baby’s first year of life to learn about the principles of good infant nutrition and how you can apply them. You’ll explore the nutritional requirements of young children, as well as why healthy food for babies is so essential.

Mar 16th 2026
2 Weeks
Effective Livestock Production with Low Use of Antibiotics (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Effective Livestock Production with Low Use of Antibiotics (FutureLearn)

Learn what antibiotic resistance is and how to prevent it while increasing productivity among your livestock. Understand disease prevention and antibiotic use in livestock production. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing problem worldwide and is a threat to the health of animals and humans. But there is still a need for a efficient livestock production, which requires healthy animals.

Aug 26th 2024
4 Weeks