00714 - Microbiology (L-Z )

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will know:

• žgeneral characteristic of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi and parasites
• žroutes of transmission
• žthe establishment of pathogenic host-parasite interaction
• žincubation period
• žthe role of immunity during the course of infection
• žthe meaning of production of infection and production of disease
• žthe diagnosis of infection (direct and indirect). Collection of specimens, request for testing, tests employed, interpretation of tests
• žbasic concept of prophylaxis and therapy
• žprinciple of treatment. Antimicrobial drugs and mechanism of resistance
• žmost relevant bacteria (focusing on their characteristic, mechanism of action, symptoms, diagnosis, therapy, available vaccine)
• žmost relevant viruses (focusing on their characteristic, mechanism of action, symptoms, diagnosis, therapy, available vaccine)
• žmost relevant protozoa, fungi and parasites (focusing on their characteristic, mechanism of action, symptoms, diagnosis, therapy, available vaccine).

Course contents

A.A. 2025/2026

Antonella Marangoni and Simone Ambretti

Medical microbiology. Manifestations of infection. Microbial causes of infection. Bacteria, viruses, protozoa and human infection. How microorganism cause diseases.

Immune response during the course of infection. Principles of direct and indirect diagnosis. Vaccines and gammaglobulins.

Bacteria. Structure, metabolism and reproduction. Spores and their meaning, bacterial genetics, mechanism of action antimicrobial drugs, mechanism of bacterial resistance. Diagnosis of bacterial infections.

Staphilococcus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Bacillus, Lysteria monocytogenes, Mycobacterium, Neisseria, Enterobacteriaceae, Helicobacter, clostridia (Clostridium tetani, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium difficile), spirochetes, Chlamydia, Legionella, Bordetella, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Haemophilus and Campylobacter.

Protozoa. Giardia intestinalis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Leishmania, Amoeba, Plasmodium, Toxoplasma gondii.

Fungi. General characteristics of fungi. The most important fungal infections for humans. Yeast (Candida albicans e Candida spp), Pneumocystis carinii, Cryptococcus neoformans. Mould (Aspergillus spp).

Viruses. Classification, structure and replication cycle (DNA and RNA viruses). Pathogenesis mechanisms. Diagnosis of viral infections. Antiviral drugs and Interferon.

Orthomyxovirus, Paramyxovirus, Enterovirus (Poliovirus, Coxsackievirus), Rubivirus, Papillomavirus, the etiologic agents of primary hepatitis viruses (HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV, etc), Arbovirus, Coronavirus, Herpesvirus, Retrovirus.

Readings/Bibliography

Michele La Placa. Principi di Microbiologia Medica. 14th edition.

The recommended textbook is especially useful for the general topics; however, it should be supplemented with the lecturers’ slides for the more specific content.

Teaching methods

During the lectures, the topics included in the course syllabus will be presented and developed, with plenty of opportunity for student questions and encouragement of in-depth discussion on the subjects covered.

Assessment methods

The final exam aims to assess the students' knowledge of the main bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi capable of causing infections in humans. Students should be able to explain their key characteristics, pathogenesis, and provide a general overview of the available diagnostic approaches.

The exam will be oral (in Italian). Each student will be required to answer  at least two questions (based on the course content), covering both basic microbiology concepts and specific microorganisms responsible for human infections.

Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

• 18–20: Preparation shows some gaps; analytical skills emerge only with the instructor’s guidance. Basic concepts are present, and the student uses correct, though very basic, language.

• 21–25: Preparation shows a few limited gaps on course topics. Basic concepts are present, and the student expresses themselves correctly, even if not always fully aligned with the context.

• 26–28: Good preparation with the ability to make independent critical analyses; good command of technical terminology.

• 29–30L: Excellent preparation on all course topics; above-average ability to make independent critical and integrative analyses; full command of technical terminology and strong argumentation and self-reflection skills.

Teaching tools

Lecture slides and additional resources will be made available on Virtuale website

Office hours

See the website of Antonella Marangoni