Academic Year 2022/2023

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Pharmacy (cod. 9219)

Learning outcomes

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 of the principles of microbiological and virological analysis.

Course contents

MICROBIOLOGY:

Background to infectious disease.The immune response to infections. Vaccines. Structure-function relationships in procaryotic cells. Staining techniques in bacteriology. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial architecture. Bacterial chromosome and plasmids. Cytoplasm, bacterial ribosomes. Cell wall. Peptidoglycan structure. Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane. Capsule. Flagella and pili. Energy metabolism of bacteria. Bacterial nutrition and biosynthesis. Bacterial growth. Formation and structure of bacterial spores. Pathogenic properties of bacteria. Colonization of surfaces, invasion of tissues, production of toxins. Exotoxins and endotoxins. Bacterial genetic: mutations and gene transfer. Molecular targets of antimicrobial agents. Bacterial cultures. Identification of pathogenic species. Staphylococci, Streptococci, Corynebacteria, Enterobacteria, Pseudomonas, Mycobacteria, Neisseria, Clostridium, Bacillus, Mycoplasma, Chlamidia, Vibrio, Brucella, Bordetella, Helicobacter, Campylobacter, Legionella, Haemophilus, Yersinia, Spirochetes.

Fungi. Fungal structure and morphology. Taxonomy of fungi (Candida, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Aspergillus). Antifungal agents.

Protozoa. Cellular organization of parasitic protozoa. Classification of the parasitic protozoa (intestinal and opportunistic Amoebae, Giardiasis, Trichomonas and intestinal Flagellates, Leishmaniasis, Trypanosomiasis, Toxoplasmosis, Malaria).

Virus. Morphology and structure. Taxonomy of viruses. Replication of viruses. Genetics. Bacteriophage. Propagation and identification. Cell cultures. Pathogenesis of viral infections. Virological and serological diagnosis. Antiviral chemotherapy. Poxviridae, Herpesviridae, Adenoviridae, Hepatitis viruses, Papillomaviridae, Parvoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Coronaviridae, Togaviridae, Picornaviridae, Retroviridae.

Readings/Bibliography

MICROBIOLOGY:

- N. Carlone. Microbiologia farmaceutica. III Edizione. Casa Editrice EdiSES, Napoli, 2021.

- G. Antonelli, M. Clementi, G. Pozzi, G.M. Rossolini. Principi di Microbiologia medica. III edizione. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano, 2017.

- M. La Placa. Principi di Microbiologia Medica. XIV edizione. Società Editrice Esculapio/ EdiSES, Bologna, 2014.

The teaching material presented during lectures is made directly available to students in electronic format.

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

The final examination test is designed to verify the achievement of the following learning objectives:

- Knowledge the biological features of microorganisms and viruses;

- Understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of microbial and viral pathogenicity and host-microorganism interactions;

- Knowledge the methods of microbiological and virological analysis and targets of action of antimicrobial and antiviral drugs;

- Knowledge the main bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses etiologic agents of infectious diseases, their clinical-diagnostic aspects and elements useful for understanding appropriate therapy

The assessment of learning only occurs through thefinal examination which consists of an oral interview.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint slides

Office hours

See the website of Giovanna Angela Gentilomi

SDGs

Good health and well-being

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.