The course is aimed at acquiring the theoretical and applicative principles of general microbiology. The primary objective of the course is the acquisition of knowledge on the taxonomy, morphology, physiology and genetics of microorganisms. These notions will be applied to deepen the understanding of the molecular and cellular interactions that microorganisms establish between themselves and with the environment. Particular attention will be paid to the knowledge of the cellular and molecular bases of microbial virulence and pathogenicity, of human-microorganism interactions and of the host's immune response.

Bacteria
Structure of the prokaryotic cell:
-General characteristics, microscopic study, shapes and disposal;
-Architecture of the bacterial cell genetic material, cytoplasm, cytoplasmic membrane, cell wall peptidoglycan and organization of the cell wall in Gram +, Gram- and acid-resistant capsule, pili, flagella
Reproduction of bacteria:
-Cell division, bacterial spore, VBNC.
Cultivation of bacteria:
-Nutritional requirements of microorganisms, culture media, bacterial growth, growth curve of bacteria, cultivation techniques.
Bacterial metabolism:
-Energy and enzymes
-Energy metabolism: bacterial fermentation, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, phosphorylation, macromolecular synthesis (DNA, RNA, proteins, peptidoglycan).
Bacterial genetics:
-Bacterial chromosome
-Plasmids and antibiotic resistance.
-Mutations and their chemical bases
-Genetic recombinations (transformation, translation, conjugation)
Bacterial Pathogenesis:
-Mechanisms of host colonization;
-Deep-tissue penetration of the host organism
-Evasion mechanisms of host defense
-Virulence factors: flagella, capsule, fimbriae, peptidoglycan, teichoic acids, outer membrane proteins, enzymes, bacterial exotoxins, lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin).

-Biofilm
Notes on the mechanism of action of antibacterial drugs
Main characteristics of some groups of bacteria:
Staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, Enterobacteriaceae (Salmonella, Escherichia, Yersinie), Legionellaceae.

Virus
Virus structure:
-general characteristics and classification;
-structure of the virions (genome, capsid, pericapsid)
Replicative cycle of viruses:
-stages of the viral replication cycle (adsorption, penetration, exposure, macromolecular synthesis, assembly)
Pathogenicity of the virus
Microbiological and virological diagnosis
General characteristics of fungi  of medical interest
Basics of Immunology:
-the antigens
-the constitutive defenses against infection (professional phagocytes, phagocytosis, complement, interferon)
-the inducible defenses against infection (the humoral immune response, the cell-mediated immune response)

Animal Biology

D1-Knowledge and  understanding ability: Knowledge of   the microbial importance and role especially for the human health. Understanding the specific words and language of this discipline

D2-Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: Understanding the microbiology importance as biological subject to study and understand the morphological, metabolic and genetic features of microorganisms

D3-Independent judgment: Understanding the bacteria importance as simplified models to study more complex organisms

Q4-Communicative ability: Capability of using the microbiological language and of linking the different microbiological feaures.

D5.Learning capability: 

The student must demonstrate that he / she is able to:

- maintain a contradiction with people of equal preparation and expertise in different themes, regulatory, scientific and procedural;

-illustrate and discuss in groups strategies for evaluating the interaction man-organism.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Possible seminars agreed upon with students

Teaching

Frontal lectures

Attendance

No attendance

Course books

G. Dehò, E. Galli,  Biologia dei microrganismi, Ed. Ambrosiana

Assessment

The final assessment will be by oral interview consisting of questions on at least 3 topics discussed in the course. The purpose of the test is to verify the acquired knowledge and to evaluate the ability to correlate the various topics discussed in the course (descriptors 1 and 2), communication skills (descriptor 4) and the ability to solve practical problems (descriptors 3 and 5). Responses will be judged on the basis of the knowledge of the subject, the display capacity and the language used as the correct and appropriate scientific terminology.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Attendance

No attendance

Course books

G. Dehò, E. Galli,  Biologia dei microrganismi, Ed Ambrosiana  
 

Assessment

The final assessment will be by oral interview consisting of questions on at least 3 topics discussed in the course. The purpose of the test is to verify the acquired knowledge and to evaluate the ability to correlate the various topics discussed in the course (descriptors 1 and 2), communication skills (descriptor 4) and the ability to solve practical problems (descriptors 3 and 5). Responses will be judged on the basis of the knowledge of the subject, the display capacity and the language used as the correct and appropriate scientific terminology.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.