67006 - General Virology and Microbiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has the fundamental concepts that define the organization and metabolism of prokaryotes as well as the main phylogenetic and physiological correlations of Bacteria and Archaea in natural environments and in biotechnological applications. The student also possesses the basic concepts of virus structure and replication as well as bacterial growth and exchanges of genetic material between prokaryotic cells in order to understand the recombination mechanisms.

Course contents

Module 1 (Beatrice Vitali)  

General Microbiology (5CFU: 40 hours)

Basic principles of Microbiology.

Principles of microscopy.

Evolutionary history and microbial diversity.

Structure and functions of prokaryotic cell.

Microbial Metabolism.

Regulation of microbial metabolism and other regulatory systems.

Microbial growth.

Phototrophy, chemolithotrophy and major biosyntheses.

Catabolism of organic compounds.

Microbial interactions: symbiosis and pathogenicity.

Antimicrobial agents.

Groups of pathogenic bacteria.

Microbial Metodologies (1 CFU: 12 hours)

Techniques for the genetic improvement and selection of microorganisms in biotechnological applications.

Microbial bioconversions.

Microbiological dosage of growth factors.

MIC and Microbiological dosage of antibiotics.

Preservatives and validation.

LAL test.

Sterilization principles and techniques.

 

Module 2 (Elisa Avitabile)

General Virology (2 CFU: 16 hours)

Structure, composition and classification of animal, plant and bacterial viruses.

Genome, capsid and viral envelope. Structure-function relationship.

Different entry mechanisms of viruses into host cells (bacteriophages, plant and animal viruses).

Different steps in viral replication cycle.

Virus-cell interactions. Outcomes of infection. Cultivation and quantification of viruses.

Replication strategies of RNA viruses. In detail: Picornavirus (ss + RNA virus).

Replication strategies of DNA viruses. In detail: Herpesvirus (dsDNA virus).

Replication strategies of Retroviruses. HIV and AIDS.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Brock. Biologia dei microrganismi. Microbiologia generale, ambientale e industriale • 14/Ed. • Pearson.

Prescott. Microbiologia generale. McGray-Hill.

Teaching methods

The course consists of 8 CFUs of lectures divided as follows:

Module 1: 5 CFUs of General Microbiology + 1 CFU (12 hours) of Microbial Methodologies

Module 2: 2 CFUs of General Virology

Assessment methods

The exam consists in a written test including open and multiple-choice questions that will cover the contents of the three modules. The dates of the written tests will be published on almaesami.

Teaching tools

Presentations of the lessons will be made available online or directly in the classroom.

Office hours

See the website of Beatrice Vitali

See the website of Elisa Avitabile