84351 - Microbiology

Learning outcomes

Explain relationships and apply appropriate terminology relating to the structure, metabolism, genetics, and ecology of prokaryotic microorganisms, eukaryotic microorganisms, and viruses.

Course contents

• Characteristics of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi and helminths of medical importance
• Pathogenesis of infections and host defense
• Vaccines
• Antibacterial drugs, antiviral drugs
• Microbiological diagnosis
• Gram-positive and Gram-negative cocci (staphylococci, streptococci, Neisserieaeceae)
• Gram-positive rods (clostridia, Bacillus anthracis, Corynebacterium diphteriae, Listeria monocytogenes)
• Gram-negative rods belonging to Enterobacteriaceae
• Spirilli (Campylobacter jejuni, Helicobacter pylori)
• Mycobacteria
• Gram-negative rods (Bordetella pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila),
• Spirochetaes
• Chlamydiaceae, Mycoplasmataceae, Rickettsiaceae
• Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, Adenoviridae, Parvovirus B19
• Respiratory viruses, including Orthomyxoviridae, Coronaviridae, Paramyxoviridae
• Hepatitis viruses, including Hepatitis A B, C, D and E viruses
• Retroviridae
• Arboviruses, including Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Bunyaviridae
• Viruses causing encephalitis,including Rhabdoviridae. Viruses causing gastroenteritis, including norovirus and rotavirus. Picornaviridae
• Enteric protozoa including Giardia intestinalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica. Protozoa transmitted by sexual route (Trichomonas vaginalis).
• Foodborne protozoa: Toxoplasma gondii
• Vector-borne protozoa: Leishmania spp., Plasmodium spp.,Trypanosoma cruzi
• Soil-transmitted helminths, including Strongyloides stercoralis
• Teniasis and other foodborne infections caused by helminths
• Schistosomiasis
• Cutaneous and mucocutaneous mycosis (Candida albicans, dermatophytes)
• Systemic mycosis in the immunocompromised host (dimorphic fungi, Aspergillus spp., Candida spp, Cryptococcus spp., Pneumocystis jiroveci)

Readings/Bibliography

Patrick Murray, Ken S. Rosenthal, and Michael A. Pfaller. Medical Microbiology, 10th Edition, May 2025. Elsevier. Available at the Biblioteca Biomedica

Teaching methods

• In class lectures
• Interactive face-to face teaching with class engagement (multiple choice quizzes, app-based surveys)

Assessment methods

• Beginning with the current academic year, active participation in class activities (such as app-based multiple-choice quizzes) may contribute up to 2 bonus points (out of 30) to be added to the final examination grade.
• To take the test, students will need to register via AlmaEsami by the deadline set by the application.
• The exam consists of two parts. The first part is composed of a questionnaire with 26 multiple choice questions with 4 possible answers, of which only one is correct. 1 point will be awarded for each correct answer, without any penalty in the event of a wrong or missing answer.
  The second part consists in the answer to one open question; answer will be awarded from 0 to 6 points based on the candidate's ability to present the topic in a correct, concise and complete way.
• The time available for the exam will be 50 minutes.
• The final grade will be calculated as the sum of the points obtained in the multiple-choice section and the open-ended question, to which any bonus points earned through participation in class activities (up to a maximum of 2 points) will be added. The examination is passed having acquired at least 18 points Honors will be awarded to candidates who have achieved more than 30 points.
• The results will be published on Almaesami in the students' reserved area by a date specified for each exam session. Students who wish to reject the grade must notify the commission within 2 working days from the publication. In absence of any notification the exam results will be registered.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be supported by Power Point slides. Slides will be available online at the beginning of each lecture.

The teaching material is available at https://virtuale.unibo.it/ by using student's username and password

Office hours

See the website of Stefania Varani

See the website of Margherita Ortalli