INTEGRATED COURSE OF MICROBIOLOGY
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2020/2021
- Teacher
- ANTONELLA CAPUTO
- Credits
- 12
- Curriculum
- MORFO-FUNZIONALE
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- BIO/19
Training objectives
- The biotechnologist is specialized in the use of biological systems and parts of them (e.g. viruses, bacteria, eukaryotic cells, antibodies) manipulated through genetic engineering techniques and microbial technologies for applications in different production sectors (e.g. medical / healthcare, food / agricultural, environmental, industrial). Microbiology is a discipline that belongs to the life sciences and deals with the study of the morphology, classification, physiology and interactions of all microorganisms, including viruses, as simple models for the study and understanding of biological processes.
The teaching of this integrated course, consisting of a general and applied Microbiology module and a Clinical Microbiology module, provides students with the general basis for building knowledge, skills and competences related to microorganisms (prokaryotes, eukaryotes) and viruses, their interactions with other organisms (prokaryotes and eukaryotes), the environment and the host, as well as relating to the main microbiological techniques essential for the study, isolation and identification of microorganisms and for the development and characterization of biotechnological products. Furthermore, the Clinical Microbiology module will provide the student with more specific theoretical information on the main microorganisms of medical interest.
At the end of the course, the student will know the classification, structure and main biological properties of microorganisms, will have theoretical skills on the main factors that influence their growth, will be his/her bases to study and use microorganisms for biotechnological applications, and will be able to discriminate the main microorganisms associated with pathologies in humans based on their biological properties. Prerequisites
- Although there are no prerequisite rules, in order to better understand general and applied microbiology lessons, the student must have basic knowledge of chemistry, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, with particular attention to animal science, with scientific language skills. To face the lessons of clinical microbiology the student must have already acquired the knowledge of the general and applied microbiology module.
Course programme
- The integrated course (12 CFU, 96 hours) includes the General and applied Microbiology module (6 CFU, 48 hours) and the Clinical Microbiology module (6 CFU, 48 hours).
General and applied microbiology:
History of microbiology. Structure and functions of bacterial cells: cytoplasmic membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, cytoplasmic inclusions, wall (structure and synthesis of the wall), outer membrane, capsule (composition and role in pathogenicity), fimbriae, pili and flagella (composition of structure and function). Specific characteristics of Bacteria and Archea. Spores: composition, characteristics and function, sporification and germination, specific coloring. Bacillus Thuringensis (biotechnological application in agriculture). Sec-dependent and sec-independent secretion systems. Classification of bacteria and main colors (Gram and Ziehl Neelsen). Genetic information in prokaryotes: nucleoid and genomic DNA replication. Genetic elements (plasmids, integrons, transposons, viral elements). Transcription and translation. Elements of energy metabolism and biosynthesis. Microbial control methods: physical, mechanical and chemical methods and main mechanisms of action. Antibiotics: isolation of antibiotic-producing microorganisms; sensitivity; classification by target of action and mechanism of action. Development of antibiotic resistance and resistance mechanisms. Bacterial genetics and transfer of genes (transformation, generalized and specialized transduction, conjugation). Biofilms and quorum sensing. Microorganism-host interaction: mutualism, commensalism and opportunism; the human microbiota; pathogenicity and virulence; classical and molecular Koch postulates; the stages of infection (colonization, avoidance of the host's defenses, invasion, induction of damage). Toxins (exo- and endo-toxins): characteristics and properties. Helicobacter pylori and virulence factors involved in the infectious process and gastric cancer. Chemical and physical factors that influence the growth of bacteria. Isolation methods and identification of bacteria (culture media; the growth curve). Primary and secondary metabolites. The basics of bioreactor controlled growth. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses: structure and classification. Stages of viral infection. Replication strategies of viruses belonging to different classes. Outcome of prokaryotic virus infections: lytic cycle and lysogenic cycle. Outcome of eukaryotic virus infections: cell-virus relationship; host-virus relationship. Involvement of eukaryotic viruses in neoplastic transformation. Methods of study of prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses. Virus titration. Vaccines (general characteristics and examples of biotechnological vaccines).
Clinical microbiology: Mycology and parasitology (general notes and focus on the main human pathogens and related clinical aspects). Bacterial infections with clinical importance in humans in the respiratory tract (including Streptococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), skin (including Staphyloccus aureus), CNS (including Clostridium Botulini and Clostridium Tetani), urogenital tract (including Clamydia, Neisseria and Treponema Pallidum), gastrointestinal tract (including Helicobacter Pylori and Campilobacter Jejuni) and cardio-lymphatic system (including Enterococci). Viral infections with clinical importance in humans in the respiratory tract (including Influenza Virus and Coronavirus), skin (including Herpesvirus), CNS (including Coxsackievirus and Poliovirus), urogenital tract (including Papillomavirus), gastrointestinal tract (Hepatitis ) and cardio-lymphatic system (HIV). Methods of research and identification of pathogens by serological, molecular and cultural techniques. Didactic methods
- For the general and applied Microbiology module, teaching will take place through lectures conducted by the teacher with the use of support materials (slides, small videos and didactic support activities provided by the reference text).
Students are required to actively participate in the lessons, without hesitation to ask for clarification during or at the end of the lessons, to proceed regularly with the independent study of the reference text, and to participate in the virtual class activated by the teacher with whom (through periodic checks assigned by the teacher) the student will be able to self-evaluate and verify his / her preparation and understanding of the topics during the course by answering the questions provided at the end of each teaching unit. Participation in the virtual class will thus encourage study and preparation for the exam.
For the Clinical Microbiology module, teaching will take place through lectures conducted by the teacher with the use of support materials (slides provided by the teacher). Learning assessment procedures
- For each module, the objective of the exam is to verify the level of knowledge and in-depth study of the topics of the course program, the student's reasoning ability and expression with appropriate terminology.
For the general and applied Microbiology module, the exam will be oral or written in the form of multiple choice questions (50-60 questions, each with 5 choice answers, one or more correct. The time available will be 30-40 minutes).
For the Clinical Microbiology module, the exam will be written in the form of multiple choice questions (32 questions, each with 4 choice answers, one of which is correct; the time available will be 15-20 minutes) or oral, and will focus on the topics covered in class.
The evaluation will be expressed in thirtieths: the minimum mark is 18/30 which will be acquired having accurately answered 60% of the questions administered. Each correct answer will be given a score of + 1; wrong or null answers will not be attributed any score (0). For those interested, for each written exam there will be a single day (a few days after the exam) in which it will be possible to view their work. There will be no other possibilities nor will it be possible to receive replies by e-mail.
The oral or written exams will be conducted online or in presence according to the University's indications and guidelines. Reference texts
- General and applied microbiology:
For the study and preparation of the exam, students will use the teaching material (self-assessment quizzes, in-depth cards, exercises available on the MyZanichelli platform) provided by the textbook recommended below, which they can access with the unique credentials they will obtain buying the book.
Students can also refer, as a reminder, to the material used for the lessons by the teacher (slides and videos), available on the teaching mini-site.
All this material, together with the notes taken in class and the textbook, as well as the periodic self-assessment through participation in the virtual class, will support and guide the study and preparation of the exam tests.
Recommended text: Dehò, Galli - Biology of microorganisms, III edition 2018 - Ambrosiana Publishing House
Clinical microbiology:
For the study and preparation of the exam, students will use the teaching material provided by the teacher, available on the teaching mini-site. All this material, together with the notes taken in class and the textbook, will support and guide the study and preparation of the exam tests.
Recommended text: Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology for the health professions and Dentistry, Simona De Grazia, Donatella Ferraro, Giovanni Giammanco, Second edition, Pearson
