The course aims to give students knowledge of the main flow cytometric techniques applied to several aspects of cell biology and to diagnostics. In particular, they will be taught methodologies to study cell survival and death (apoptosis and necrosis), gene mutations, cell cycle, immunophenotyping, cell proliferation and differentiation, cell-mediated cytotoxicity, cytokine secretion and some of the most frequent haematologic disorders.

Notes on the structure and functioning of flow cytometers. The fluidic, the optic and the electronic systems. Light scattering, fluorescence, and fluorochromes. Generation of cytometric graphs and interpretation of flow cytometric data. Use of controls in flow cytometry. Analyses of cell survival and death. Evaluation of cell apoptosis and necrosis. Apoptosis/necrosis progression. Analysis of DNA content. Analysis of cell cycle with mono-parametric (propidium iodide, PI) and bi-parametric (PI/BrdU) approaches. Evaluation of the frequency of cell mutants by flow cytometry using the X-linked Pig-a reporter gene involved in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Analysis of phenotype and function of the immune system. Analysis of intracytoplasmic proteins and of cytotoxic activity of some cells of peripheral blood samples. Haematopoietic stem cell biology. Absolute count of haematopoietic progenitors in haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Hematopoietic differentiation in vitro. Use of monoclonal antibodies against surface antigens defined by the cluster of differentiation (CD) in the identification of the lympho-haematopoietic subpopulations and the description of haematopoietic cell differentiation. Flow cytometric characteristics of the main haematological disorders.

D1-KNOWLEDGE AND COMPREHESION  At the end of the course, students  must prove to have learned and understood program content.

D2 ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND COMPREHENSION  Students must be able to describe the various methodologies and know when to apply  them in different contexts.

D3 CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS Students must have a sufficient command of what they have learned to correctly and critically establish the correlations between the methodologies studied and the information that can be derived from these; they must be able to use these skills to solve scientific questions proposed.

D4 COMMUNICATION SKILLS   Students must show competence when relating their knowledge and must use appropriate terminology. Students must be able to communicate what they have learned clearly and comprehensibly even to those who have no knowledge of the topic.

D5- LEARNING SKILLS  Students must be able to examine and comprehend scientific texts so as to become actively involved in developing their knowledge of the topic of study. 

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

Data analysis with cytofluorimetric softwares.

Teaching

The course will consists in lecturers and lab experiences.

Course books

Lecture notes of Citometria applicata e diagnostica. L.Zamai et al., available in Moodle; slides of the lessons in pdf format (WEB page).

For diagnostic cytometry are proposed the following texts: “Diagnostica Citofluorimetrica Integrata delle Linfocitosi di Tipo B, Amodeo, available in Moodle;  "Diagnostica Citometrica delle Neoplasie Ematologiche," Ortolani, Editrice Quattroventi and scientific articles

Assessment

Oral examination (can be either in English or Italian). To verify the level of knowledge, it will be asked at least 3 questions regarding the topics of the course. The evaluation will be performed on the basis of the knowledge, the critical approach, the speaking ability and appropriate terminology to present the topics. Each of the evaluation criteria is judged on 4 level scale. Particular attention will be paid to the first two criteria.

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.

Teaching

WEB page with lessons in pdf format and scientific articles

Course books

Lecture notes of Citometria applicata e diagnostica. L.Zamai et al., available in Moodle; slides of the lessons in pdf format (WEB page).

For diagnostic cytometry are proposed the following texts: “Diagnostica Citofluorimetrica Integrata delle Linfocitosi di Tipo B, Amodeo, available in Moodle;  "Diagnostica Citometrica delle Neoplasie Ematologiche," Ortolani, Editrice Quattroventi and scientific articles

Assessment

Oral examination (can be either in English or Italian). To verify the level of knowledge, it will be asked at least 3 questions regarding the topics of the course. The evaluation will be performed on the basis of the knowledge, the critical approach, the speaking ability and appropriate terminology to present the topics. Each of the evaluation criteria is judged on 4 level scale. Particular attention will be paid to the first two criteria.

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.

The student can request to sit the final exam in English with an alternative bibliography.