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MICROBIOLOGY

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Versione italiana
Academic year
2022/2023
Teacher
PEGGY CARLA RAFFAELLA MARCONI
Credits
9
Didactic period
Secondo Semestre
SSD
MED/07

Training objectives

Cognitive: The primary purpose of the course is to provide students with the concepts of Microbiology by proposing the notions of Microbiology with a health focus and at the same time developing topics closer to the figure of the Pharmacist, such as aspects related to drug therapy.
For this reason, the main concepts to be acquired will be:
• understanding the biology and genetics of those microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) which cause infectious diseases.
• to know the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying infectious diseases
• understand the positive interactions between resident and host microbial flora
• understanding the concepts of immunology that regulate immune responses to pathogenic microorganisms and the evolution of microorganisms to escape immune responses
• understanding the mechanisms of action of antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal drugs, the genetic mechanisms related to the microorganisms underlying drug resistance and the consequences of drug misuse.
• understanding the mechanisms of action of antimicrobial vaccines and of new vaccination strategies

Operative: ability to associate the microorganism with the infection and / or disease caused by it and drug therapy.

Behavioral: understanding the real role of the pharmacist towards the community by participating in the protection of people's health through information and awareness on the appropriate use of drugs.

Prerequisites

Basic concepts of biology and molecular biology, chemistry and biochemistry, anatomy and physiology

Course programme

Introduction to Microbiology: Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses, Infectious Diseases. Differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Bacteriology general part: The ultrastructure of the prokaryotic cell. Classification of bacteria. Structure and biosynthesis of the main components of the bacterial wall. Differences between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Cell division. Spores. Notes on bacterial metabolism. Bacteria genetics and gene transfer mechanisms. The microbial flora in normal and disease conditions. Probiotics and prebiotics. Pathogenetic mechanisms of bacteria. Antibacterial drugs. Laboratory diagnosis of bacterial infections.
Bacteriology special part: Staphylococci, Streptococci and enterococci, Pneumococci, Clostridia, Corynebacteria, Mycobacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterobacteria, Vibrions, Helicobacter pylori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Neisseria, Bordetella pertussis. Notes on: Treponema pallidum, Mycoplasma and Chlamydia. Nosocomial infections.
Virology general part: Virus classification, structure, and replication. Pathogenetic mechanisms of viruses. Antiviral drugs. Laboratory diagnosis of viral infections.
Virology special part: Human herpes viruses. Papillomavirus, Herpesvirus, Picornavirus, Coronavirus, Paramyxovirus, Orthomyxovirus. The hepatitis viruses. Retrovirus (acquired immunodeficiency virus-HIV). Notes on: Adenovirus, Poxvirus, Rotavirus, etc.
Mycology: Classification, morphology, and reproduction. Pathogenetic mechanisms. Antifungal drugs. Notes on mycetes of medical interest: superficial, cutaneous, and subcutaneous, systemic and opportunistic mycoses.
Principles of immunology. Innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Elements and mechanisms of innate immunity. Cells and molecules of the adaptive immune response. The humoral immune response. The cell-mediated immune response. Immune responses against bacteria, viruses and fungi. Antimicrobial vaccines.
Sterilization, disinfection, and antisepsis. Principles for the diagnosis of infection diseases, microbiological aspects of pharmaceutical production and microbiological assays of the pharmacopoea.

Didactic methods

The course is organized as follows: 72 hours of lectures which include all aspects of the program, and which form the basis of the final exam. Continuous verification of learning through continuous dialogue with students and availability for clarification on the topics covered.

Learning assessment procedures

The objective of the exam is to verify the level of achievement of the previously listed training objectives.
The exam is divided into 2 parts which will take place on different but consequential dates.
• A multiple-choice written test on all the topics covered in the course. The student must select one or two of the answers that believes to be correct from a list of four or five possible answers. The test aims to evaluate the study of the subject and the understanding of the basic elements. To pass this test and be able to access the oral exam, the student must reach the sufficiency which corresponds to 18.
• An oral exam, where appropriate terminology and an analytical / critical approach to the topics covered are assessed.
• If the written test is not passed, it is necessary to repeat the test to access the oral test.

Reference texts

RECOMMENDED TEXTS:
• Pharmaceutical Microbiology. 3rd Edition – Carlone N., Pompei R. – Edises Publisher
• Murray P.R. – Microbiologia Medica, EMSI editore.