- Docente: Martina Cappelletti
- Credits: 6
- SSD: BIO/19
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Molecular and Cell Biology (cod. 5825)
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from Oct 06, 2022 to Dec 15, 2022
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, the student has molecular and "omic" knowledge on the impact of microbial activity and biodiversity on human health, human activities and the environment. In particular, the course provides the student with: - understanding on the mechanisms at the basis of the bacterial cell signaling and the interaction between microorganisms and microorganism/environment; - competence on methods of advanced genetic engineering, functional genomics and synthetic biology to study microorganisms with clinical, environmental and industrial interest.
Course contents
The course covers molecular, cellular and “-omics” aspects of the following topics (considering both theoretical and methodological points of view): 1) Cell-cell communication in bacteria (quorum sensing): basic principles and components of quorum sensing (QS); role of the QS in microbial pathogenicity, genome plasticity (horizontal gene transfer), stress response, and microbial interaction with the host; application of quorum sensing circuits in biotechnology and synthetic biology of single bacteria and microbial communities. 2) Microbial biofilms: distribution and diversity of biofilms; mechanisms of biofilm formation and persistence; microbial metabolism and physiology in biofilm; role of QS in biofilm formation; biofilm resistance and tolerance; in vitro systems to grow and study the microbial biofilm; the role/importance of biofilms in medical and industrial fields. 3) Bacterial second messengers: molecular mechanisms of the nucleotide second messenger (NSM)-based intracellular signalling in bacteria; the different components involved in the NSM-based signalling; essential and emerging roles of NSMs in bacterial sensing and cellular response, biofilm formation, and microbial interactions. 4) Signalling and interactions within microbial communities: “-omics” to study microbial communities and microbial interactions; designing and construction of synthetic microbial communities for the application in medical, industrial, and environmental fields.
Readings/Bibliography
Textbook indications are given during the lectures. Scientific papers and Reviews can be obtained on-line. Alternatively, the material will be given to students as printed papers.
Teaching methods
Lectures, group works, and student presentations
Office hours
See the website of Martina Cappelletti