90821 - Antiviral and Antimicrobial Strategies

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has advanced knowledge in the field of virology and microbiology, with particular reference to the biodiversity of viruses and microorganisms, the dynamics of infectious processes and the logic for the development of antiviral and antimicrobial strategies, including the development of drugs and vaccines. In addition, the student has knowledge and skills in the laboratory related to the technologies necessary for the design, development and characterization of vaccines.

Course contents

At the end of the course, students have advanced knowledge in the field of microbiology and virology, with particular reference to the biodiversity of microorganisms and viruses, the dynamics of infectious processes and the rationale for developing antimicrobial and antiviral strategies, including the development of antimicrobial/antiviral drugs and vaccines. In particular, the student knows: - the main groups of microorganisms and viruses; - the virulence and pathogenicity factors of microorganisms and viruses; - the dynamics of disease processes and interactions with host; - the strategies for the design and development of antimicrobial and antiviral drugs; - the strategies for the design and development of antimicrobial and antiviral vaccines.

The student is also familiar in the laboratory with the technologies necessary to the design and development and evaluation of vaccines. In particular, the student is able to: - conduct bioinformatic analys of the genomes of microorganisms and viruses to identify suitable molecular targets; - use molecular biology technologies for expression of heterologous protein, suitable as vaccine components.

Course contents

General principles on the dynamics of infectious processes and the development of antimicrobial and antiviral strategies.

Antiviral vaccines: inactivated virus, attenuated virus, subunit, recombinant. Lines of biotechnological development of vaccines.

Antibacterial vaccines: inactivated cells, attenuated cells, toxoids, polysaccharides, protein subunits.

Reverse vaccinology: genomics, post-genomics and vaccine development.

The development and application of of novel antimicrobial and antiviral drugs

Viruses of medical relevance and related antiviral strategies.

Bacteria of medical relevance and related antimicrobial strategies.

Laboratory module: expression of recombinant capsid protein of parvovirus B19 by using the Baculovirus expression system.

Teaching methods

Lecture

Laboratory with supporting tutors

Assessment methods

The examination aims to assess the achievement of the learning objectives of the course. Students are required to achieve advanced knowledge in the field of microbiology, with reference to the biodiversity of microorganisms and viruses, the dynamics of infectious processes and the rational basis for the development of antimicrobial and antiviral strategies. In particular:

- Knowledge of the main groups of microorganisms and viruses, their genomic organization and their pathogenicity factors;

- Knowledge of the dynamics of infectious processes and interactions with the host;

- Knowledge of strategies for the design and development of vaccines;

- Knowledge of strategies for the design and efficacy assessment of antimicrobial and antiviral drugs

- Ability to use molecular biology technologies for the production of recombinant proteins and viruses.

The test consists of an interview on the program of the course, and in the presentation and discussion of a report of the laboratory experiments. The vote, out of thirty, will be given by the average of the evaluation of the oral and the report presented.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint Presentations

Review articles on selected topics

Laboratory protocols

Office hours

See the website of Giorgio Gallinella