69870 - Bacteriology and Immunology

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course the student acquires the basic principles of bacteriology and immunology necessary for the study of the main mechanisms governing the relations between causative agent and animal host; the student knows the main methods for diagnosis and immunization.

Course contents

Microorganisms and diseases: Koch's postulates. Study of microbial structure: microscopy . Procaryotic cell structure. Microbial nutrition and growth : common nutrient requirements, culture media, isolation of pure cultures, the growth curve, the influence of environmental factors on growth, measurement of microbial growth. Control of microorganisms by physical and chemical agents. The pattern of microbial death. Microorganism and host: basic concept of infectious disease, mechanisms of bacterial virulence, bacterial toxins. Taxonomy and classification of bacteria, phenotypic and genotypic methods. Bacterial genetics: mutations and recombination. Antibiotic resistance, minimum inhibitory concentration, disc diffusion method. Bacterial taxa of veterinary concern. Introduction to immunology. General properties of immune responses. Antibodies: structure and functions. Antigens. Antibody binding of antigens. Antigen receptors and accessory molecules of T lymphocytes. The major histocompatibility complex. Antigen processing and presentation to T lymphocytes. Activation of B and T cells. Immunologic tolerance. Effector mechanisms of humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Serological tests. Immunity at body surfaces. Passive immunity: natural and artificial. Vaccines. Adjuvants. Classical and molecular methods in clinical microbiology.

Readings/Bibliography

Poli G., Cocilovo A., Dall'Ara P., Martino P.A., Ponti W.,  Microbiologia e immunologia veterinaria, II Edizione, UTET, Torino, 2005.

Tizard I., Veterinary immunology: an introduction, VII Ed. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 2004.

Powerpoint presentations used by the teacher during the course and uploaded in AMS Campus (http://campus.unibo.it)

Teaching methods

The theoretical lectures take place in a teaching room properly supplied with multimedia equipment. The practical lectures, carried out in a properly equipped teaching lab, provide for a constant presence of the teacher with introductive and explanatory discussions. Every practical training activity is carried out singly by the students and submitted to discussion with the teacher.

Assessment methods

The examination of the teachings of virology and bacteriology and immunology takes place at the same time, it is not possible to support the two parts separately and the single parts of the exam that could be overcome are not considered valid.

The assessment of learning of bacteriology and immunology is through a final written exam which consists of questions aimed at ascertaining the knowledge acquired by the student on different topics dealt with during the theoretical lectures and practical training activities. During the test, no books and  electronic devices will be allowed. The test consists of 10 general and special bacteriology and immunology questions with “true/false” response of 1 point value if correctly answered or 2 points if the response is also reasonably explained and 3 open questions that will mark 0 to 5; the test will be passed when a minimum mark of 18 points out of 30 will be obtained; an unsuccessful test involves repeating the test by the candidate. In the event of a successful outcome (at least 18 points out of 30) the candidate may perform an oral examination of about 20 minutes to improve the mark discussing the results with the teacher to clarify the main gaps.The exams of the three courses included in the integrated course of “Microbiology and Parasitology” will be always taken on the same date. The final score of the course "Microbiology and Parasitology" consists of the synthesis of the final evaluations of the three courses that compose it.

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Teaching tools

PC video-projector, web-connected PC, teaching lab

Office hours

See the website of Silvia Piva