91008 - Microbiology and Public Health

Learning outcomes

Objectives: At the end of the course, the student will acquire: - knowledge of principles of Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology and Parassitology;- Knowledge of the molecular and cellular basis of microbial pathogenicity and of the characteristics of host-microrganism interactions; -knowledge of the targets and mechanisms of action of antimicrobial and antiviral drugs; - knowledge and practical skill of the principles of microbiological and virological analysis; -knowledge of the microbiological quality control of pharmaceutical products.

Course contents

Frontal Lessons (8 CFU)

Fundamentals of Microbiology

• Introduction to the course and basic concepts of microbiology.
• General characteristics of microorganisms: viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.
• Microorganisms in the environment and in humans.
• The human microbiota: composition, functions, and its role in health and disease.

Bacterial Structure, Physiology, and Genetics

• Bacterial cell: genome, ribosomes, cytoplasm, and cell membrane.
• Bacterial cell wall: structure and biosynthesis.
• Bacterial staining techniques.
• Surface and accessory structures: capsule, S-layer, pili, flagella, and biofilms.
• Bacterial growth and reproduction.
• Sporulation and spore germination.
• Bacterial genetics: conjugation, transformation, and transduction.
• Bacterial metabolism: aerobic and anaerobic respiration, and fermentation.

Pathogenesis and Antimicrobial Therapy

• Mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis.
• Infection and infectious disease.
• Exogenous and endogenous infections.
• Host defense mechanisms.
• Exotoxins and endotoxins.
• Antimicrobial agents, antibacterial drugs, and antibiotics.
• Mechanisms of action of antibiotics and major mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance.

Microbiological Diagnostics

• Bacterial culture in liquid and solid media.
• Selective and enriched culture media.
• Bacterial growth curve.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method and determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).

Medical Bacteriology

• Classification of the major bacterial pathogens.
• Gram-positive cocci: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis.
• Gram-positive rods: Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium tetani, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridioides difficile, Clostridium perfringens, Listeria monocytogenes, and Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
• Mycobacteria: Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Gram-negative cocci: Neisseria meningitidis.
• Gram-negative rods: general characteristics and the Enterobacteriaceae family, with particular emphasis on Escherichia coli.
• Spirochetes: Treponema pallidum.

Virology

• Structure and classification of viruses.
• Viral replication cycle.
• Cell culture techniques and diagnosis of viral infections.
• Antiviral strategies and major classes of antiviral drugs.
• DNA viruses: Herpesviridae and Human Papillomaviruses (HPV).
• Hepatitis viruses (HAV, HBV, HDV, HCV, and HEV).
• Influenza viruses.
• Retroviruses: HIV-1 and HIV-2.

Medical Mycology and Parasitology

• General characteristics of medically important fungi and protozoa.
• Major fungal pathogens, including Candida spp. and dermatophytes.
• Clinically relevant protozoa, including amoebae and Plasmodium spp.

Laboratory Activities (1 CFU)

• Introduction to laboratory safety and basic microbiological techniques.
• Gram staining.
• Bacterial isolation and cultivation on solid media.
• Bacterial identification using biochemical tests.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disk diffusion.
• Determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).
• Interpretation of experimental results and preparation of laboratory reports.

Readings/Bibliography

Patrick Murray, Ken S. Rosenthal and Michael A. Pfaller. Medical Microbiology (8^th Edition, 2016 - 9^th Edition, 2020. Elsevier).

Section 1: Chapters 1, 2

Section 2: Chapter 4

Section 4: Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23 (Neisseria), 25, 26 (Vibrio), 28 (Helicobacter), 30, 32, 35 (Chlamydia)

Section 5: Chapters 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 (Papillomavirus), 43, 49, 54, 55

Section 6: Chapters 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65 (only species reported in the slides), 67

Section 7: Chapters 68, 69, 73 (only species reported in the slides), 74

Teaching methods

Front lectures supported by powerpoint presentations of each topic of the course will be shown. The teaching material utilized is available to students on the IOL platform. The material alone is not enough for a deep and complete learning of the subject and must be integrated with the text book suggested by the teacher.

Laboratory practice with supporting tutors.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students (including all the international incoming exchange students, i.e. ERASMUS) must attend Module 1, 2 [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas] online, while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class or on Microsoft Teams according to the modality chosen by the teacher. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme ("studiare"--"formazione obbligatoria su sicurezza e salute").

To attend the laboratory, it is requested that students have completed the compulsory course on safety at work and they have handed over to the teacher (or sent by e-mail to francesca.bonvicini4@unibo.it) a copy of the certificate of passing the final exam.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Assessment methods

In order to take the examination, the student must have attended at least 80% of the laboratory exercises and 70% of the lectures. Students are reminded to check the prerequisites listed in the course structure diagram.

The examination will evaluate whether the student has mastered the above listed skills and has reached the teaching objectives. The final exam consists of a questionnaire with multiple choice questions and true or false questions. The questionnaire, for a total of 33 questions, must be completed within 30 minutes of time. For each question, the student will have to specify only one answer considered correct. The score of the exam, out of thirty, is given by the number of correct answers.

The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools during the examination is prohibited. Any unauthorized use of such tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

The final score of MICROBIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH, ELEMENTS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY (I.C.) will be the weighted average of the two exams.

Registration on-line on AlmaEsami is mandatory.

Teaching tools

Video projector-PC system for the front lectures; biological laboratory for the practical exercises. The slides and the experimental protocols are made available to students on the online teaching platform (IOL).

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Bonvicini