03033 - Toxicology

Learning outcomes

The course provides an introduction to the field of Toxicology. At the end of the course, the student knows: - the principles governing entry, fate, and effects of toxicants on living systems; - the effects of xenobiotics on metabolism, physiology, and morphology of different cell types, tissues, and organ systems; - the major genetic and environmental determinants of risk; - the drug discovery and the drug preclinic development process; - the principles governing fate and effects of environmental toxicants on human health and ecosystems; - toxic effect modulation by food and accumulation of toxicants through the food chain; - the procedures for risk evaluation.

Course contents

Course I - GENERAL AND SPECIAL TOXICOLOGY - Carmela Fimognari

General Toxicology

History and scope of Toxicology; agents of toxicity, morphological, functional and biochemical modifications induced by drugs and xenobiotics.

Factors affecting toxic responses.
Drug toxicity: definition of wanted and unwanted side effects, individual variability in drug response, hyperresponsivity, hyporesponsivity, idiosyncrasy, allergy, tolerance, tachyphylaxis. Toxicity coming from association of xenobiotics.

Special Toxicology

Necrosis and apoptosis: irreversibility of cell damage and cell death.

Genetic toxicology: gene mutations, chromosome aberrations, DNA repair systems.

Carcinogenesis: definitions and mechanisms of carcinogenetic agents, genotoxic and epigenetic carcinogens.

The process of drug development and regulatory aspects. Safety of pharmaceutical and biotechnology products.

Course II - TARGET ORGAN TOXICITY - Eleonora Turrini

Toxic response of the kidney: classification of toxic effects, mechanisms of toxicity, examples of toxic agents.

Toxic response of the liver: classification of toxic effects, mechanisms of toxicity, examples of toxic agents.

Toxic response of the respiratory system: classification of toxic effects, mechanisms of toxicity, examples of toxic agents.

Toxic response of the immune system: immune system organization and function, classification of toxic effects, mechanisms of toxicity, examples of toxic agents.

Toxic response of the nervous system: nervous system organization, classification of toxic effects, mechanisms of toxicity, examples of toxic agents.

Toxic response of the reproductive system: reproductive system organization and function, classification of toxic effects, mechanisms of toxicity, examples of toxic agents.

Toxic response of the skin: skin organization and function, classification of toxic effects, mechanisms of toxicity, examples of toxic agents.

Course III - RISK EVALUATION OF XENOBIOTICS FROM INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS - Davide Manucra

Limit values for industrial toxicants, emission of harmful substances into the environment.

The biological monitoring in the occupational environment.

General principles on the risk analysis from environmental pollutants.

Toxic effect modulation by food. Rules on food safety. Natural toxins. Pesticides, food additives and residues. Toxic compounds from technologic processes. Heavy metals.

Toxicology of prions.

Regulation of xenobiotics in the environment and food. Presentation of specific toxicological databases. Use and processing of data on online databases to calculate the risk associated with the presence of environmental and / or food contaminants.

Readings/Bibliography

Casarett & Doull's Toxicology: The basic science of poisons (by C.D. Klaassen), 8th Edition, Mc Graw-Hill, 2013.

Wallace Hayes A. Principles and methods of Toxicology, 6th Edition, CRC Press, 2014.

Teaching methods

Traditional. This course does not include laboratory training.

The course participates in the University's educational innovation project.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist in an oral test aimed at assessing the student's understanding and knowledge of the topics set out during the course. The examination consists of an interview focusing on the three modules, which can not be split and must therefore be dealt with within one exam. The marks obtained for each interview, in proportion to the number of credits, contribute to the final grade of thirty. The achievement by the student of an organic vision of the issues addressed during the course and the use of an appropriate specific terminology will be assessed with a mark of excellence.

Teaching tools

Slides are usually used to enhance clarity during courses. The materials used will be uploaded to to the website https://iol.unibo.it. Username and password are reserved for students enrolled at the University of Bologna.

Office hours

See the website of Carmela Fimognari

See the website of Eleonora Turrini

See the website of Davide Manucra