84351 - Microbiology

Learning outcomes

Explain relationships and apply appropriate terminology relating to the structure, metabolism, genetics, and ecology of prokaryotic microorganisms, eukaryotic microorganisms, and viruses.

Course contents

Characteristics of microorganisms of medical importance, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and helminths. Normal microbiota, Host-microorganism relationships, Mechanisms of pathogenesis and host defenses. Principle of microbiological diagnosis. Antimicrobial drugs and mechanisms of resistance to antibacterial drugs. Antiviral drugs and interferons. Vaccines and gammaglobulins. Generalities about transmission of diseases.

Bacteria of medical relevance: staphylococci, streptococci, neisserieaeceae, clostridia, Bacillus anthracis, Corynebacterium diphteriae, mycobacteria, enterobacteriaceae, Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio cholerae, Helicobacter pylori, Legionella pneumophila, haemophilus, bordetella, spyrochaetes, chlamydiaceae, mycoplasmas, rickettsiae.

Viruses: Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, Adenoviridae, Parvovirus B19, Paramyxoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Toscana virus, rabies virus, Ebola virus, norovirus, rotavirus, hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D and E), Retroviridae, Picornaviridae

Protozoa: Intestinal (Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica, and genital (Trichomonas vaginalis) protozoa. Blood and tissue protozoa including Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania spp., Plasmodium spp., Toxoplasma gondi.

Fungi: Yeast (Cryptococcus neoformans), Candida spp. and dimorphic fungi (histoplasmosis). Molds: Aspergillus spp. and cutaneous moulds (dermatophytes).

Helminths: Nematoda (intestinal helminths and other foodborne in infections), Cestoda (Taenia, Echinococcus), Trematoda (Schistosoma spp.)

Readings/Bibliography

Patrick Murray. Basic Medical Microbiology, 1^st Edition, 2017. Elsevier

Patrick Murray, Ken S. Rosenthal, and Michael A. Pfaller. Medical Microbiology, 8th Edition, 2016. Elsevier

Teaching methods

In-class lectures.

Attendance to learning activities is mandatory; the minimum attendance requirement to be admitted to the final exam is 66% of lessons.

Assessment methods

The examination will evaluate whether the student has mastered the above listed skills and has reached the teaching objectives.

The final exam consists of a questionnaire with multiple choice questions.

The questionnaire, for a total of 33 questions, must be completed within one hour of time. The questions will have as their object topics related to the course. For each question, the student will have to specify only one answer considered correct.

The final vote, out of thirty, is given by the number of correct answers. Students that want to ameliorate the grades obtained by written exam can choose to will be given additional oral examination.

Teaching tools

In-class lectures will be supported by Power Point slides. Slides will be online available at the end of each lecture. The teaching material is available at https://iol.unibo.it/ by using student's username and password

Office hours

See the website of Stefania Varani