18607 - Applied Microbiology and Virology

Learning outcomes

The main goal of this course is to grow the ability of critically evaluating the risks and impact on human health and on social behavior of “old” and “new” microorganisms diffusion, control, manipulation by:

Understanding the way in which viruses and bacteria replicate and induce diseases in human and animals.

Learning the main molecular microbiology and virology tecniques and their application in medical field.

Understanding natural virus origin and evolution and describing how to obtain recombinant viruses in laboratory to use as viral vectors for gene therapy or as antiviral vaccines.

During the Lab course special attention will be paid to activities related to the study, identification, and genetic manipulation of viruses for therapeutic purposes. At the end of the course the student :

- is able to evaluate different strategies to generate recombinant viruses for gene therapy

- knows main techniques developed to generate recombinant viruses

- is able to technically evaluate the possibility to use recombination mediated genetic engineering (recombineering) to generate recombinant viruses

Course contents

PART 1- APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY - ( 4CFU , 32 HOURS ) PROF. ELISA AVITABILE

Contents:

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

Viruses

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

Antiviral defense and viral immune evasion strategies. Interferon system.

Antiviral vaccines and Antiviral therapies.

Influenza virus. Epidemic and pandemic viruses. Molecular determinant of pathogenicity.

Viral oncogenesis. Human Papillomavirus.

Biotecniques and their application in Virology. Viral vectors and gene therapy: CAR T cells therapy. Oncolytic viruses.  Molecular approaches to the development of viral vaccines.

 

Bacteria.

Human microbiota.

Antibacterial defense and bacterial immune evasion strategies.

Bacteria toxins.

Antibacterial therapies. Antibiotics.

Antimicrobial drug susceptibility testing.

More details at the Teacher WebSite

 

PART 2. APPLIED VIROLOGY LABORATORY - (1+1 CFU, 23HOURS) PROF. RENATO BRANDIMARTI

Contents:

Introduction to viruses genetic content (1 hour)

Molecular basis of virus-host interaction (2 hours)

Comparative analysis of the possibility to use different viruses to generate viral vectors (2 hours)

Analysis of available techniques used to generate recombinant viruses (1hour)

Recombineering: theory and applications (2 hours)

Recombineering: an experimental approach (15 hours)

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, 3a edizione (2017)

Text-books suggested also by Prof. Gallinella for the Medical Microbiology Course

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N.Carlone
Microbiologia Farmaceutica
EdiSES, 2a edizione (2013)  (If already held)

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Prescott -Microbiologia medica - Mc Graw-Hill, Ultima edizione

Brock-Madigan-Microbiologia medica -Pearson, Ultima edizione

Only for attending students

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In addition:

Lectures slides in .pdf files freely available for students attending the course. Please, ask the teacher to get the password.

Teaching methods

Lectures

The laboratory course main goal is to develop the student ability to evaluate several different approaches and identify advantages and disadvantages among experimental designs. A well defined experimental problem will be analyzed, and several possible options will be evaluated. Experimental design and protocol will be defined, with the latter being carried out on the lab-bench.

Assessment methods

PART 1. Oral and/ or written examination about courses contents.

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

Teaching tools

Lectures slides in PowerPoint freely available as .pdf files for students attending the course. Please, ask the teacher to get the password.

Office hours

See the website of Elisa Avitabile

See the website of Renato Brandimarti