18607 - Applied Microbiology and Virology

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will have developed the necessary skills to critically evaluate the impact of the spread, control, manipulation and emergence of 'old' and 'new' microorganisms on human health and society. Studying complex microorganism-host interactions will enable students to understand and explain infectious processes, dynamics and pathogenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, they will gain an understanding of the primary strategies of prophylaxis, antiviral therapy and antibacterial therapy, with a focus on prevalent or topical diseases. Students will also be able to explain and discuss the main techniques used in basic research and microbiological diagnostics, and the main applications of biotechnology in the biomedical field.

Course contents

PART 1 - Applied Virology Lectures (4cfu , 32 hrs ); Prof.ssa Elisa Avitabile

 

Contents:

Introduction- Infectious diseases. Pathogenic viruses. Transmission, prevention and control of infectious diseases.

How to study viruses and viral diagnostic methods. Viral spread strategies and Viral pathogenesis. Viral oncogenesis.

Antiviral defense and viral immune evasion strategies. Interferon system.

Antiviral vaccines and Antiviral therapies.

Virus genetics and evolution. Emerging viruses.

Biotecniques and their application in Virology.

Viral vectors and gene therapy.

Oncolytic viruses and anticancer therapy.

Molecular approaches to the development of viral vaccines.

A topic subject (variable from year to year), at the request of the students.

PART 2 - Laboratory of Applied Microbiology (1cfu, 8hrs -Lectures +1 cfu, 15hrs- Lab); Prof.ssa Carola Eleonora Parolin

Contents:

Lectures: Analysis of microbial communities using culture and molecular methods.

Laboratory:

Antibiotic Potency Testing.

Microscopy.

Isolation and identification of probiotic microorganisms from foods and supplements.

Extraction of genomic DNA from a bacterial culture.

Amplification of the 16S rRNA gene and sequence analysis by comparison with databases.

Readings/Bibliography

Recommended reading, among :

• Michele La Placa
  Principi di Microbiologia Medica
  Società Editrice Esculapio/EdiSES, 14a edizione (2014)

• G.Antonelli, M.Clementi, G.Pozzi, G.M.Rossolini
  Principi di Microbiologia Medica
  Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 4a edizione (2022)

• N.Carlone
  Microbiologia Farmaceutica
  EdiSES, 3a edizione (2021)

These text-books are also recommended by Prof. Gallinella for the Medical Microbiology course (second semester).
They are very comprehensive and include both the "general" part, partially covered in the applied microbiology course, and the "special" part on individual pathogenic microorganisms, covered in the Medical Microbiology course.

Specific articles on topics not covered in the texts will be indicated directly by the lecturer.

For further information on specific topics:
Principles of Virology, Flint et al., Fifth Edition (2020), ASM Press

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Alternatively:

Dimmock et al., Introduzione alla Virologia Moderna, Casa editrice Ambrosiana (2017)

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Prescott -Microbiologia medica - Mc Graw-Hill, Last Edition

Brock-Madigan-Microbiologia medica -Pearson, Last Edition

Only for attending students

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The choice of textbook will be discussed during the first lesson.

As some topics not covered in the textbooks will be explored in depth during the lessons, we strongly recommend attending classes and/or supplementing your study of the textbook by consulting your notes or the lesson slides (see below, 'Teaching support tools').
The slides shown in class do not replace notes and/or the textbook.

In addition:

Lectures slides in .pdf files, video and specific articles freely available on "Virtuale" platform for students attending the course..

Teaching methods

Lectures with slides. Class reading and discussion of scientific reports.

Laboratory activity.

“As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students 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. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme”

If the degree programme includes lectures and classes in IT laboratories, professors should include the following under the label “Teaching methods” on their website:

“As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students 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] on Health and Safety online”.

Assessment methods

PART 1 (Lectures): Oral examination about courses contents.

PART 2 (LAB): Written examination only for Lab part at the end of the course. Oral examination during the year.

For the final evaluation, the following will be considered: acquisition of knowledge and skills, exhibition capacity and language properties, ability to synthesize (identification of the key points), ability to analyze and deepening of the topics.

The final mark will be given by the weighted average between the results of the two tests.

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 ( SEE ALSO: TEACHING TOOLS)

Teaching tools

Lectures slides in PowerPoint freely available as .pdf files for students attending the course at VIRTUALE platform.

Documents, videos and tests available at the same web site.

.pdf Slides do NOT replace the textbook.

For more information, please contact the teachers.

 

Students with DSA or temporary or permanent disabilities may request assistance from the dedicated service of the FaBit Department (https://fabit.unibo.it/it/dipartimento/organizzazione/servizio-disabilita-e-dsa) and/or the University (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it).
It is recommended that you contact the relevant University Office in good time (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ). It will be their responsibility to propose any adjustments to the students concerned, which must in any case be submitted, at least 15 days in advance, for the approval of the teacher, who will assess their appropriateness in relation to the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Elisa Avitabile

See the website of Beatrice Vitali