88101 - Microbial Biotechnologies In Agroforestry

Learning outcomes

From this course the student will acquire knowledge on the microbial adaptation to the natural envíronments, on the methods for the microbial characterization, on the role of microorganisms on the bioremediation of the agro- forestry environmental, on the new frontiera of microbial genetic and will learn the potential applications of GM microorganisms.

Course contents

• Introduction
• Microbial nutrition and nutritional groups
• Metabolic diversity in microorganisms (carbohydrates catabolism, pyruvate fermentation)
• Effects of the environment on growth
• Microbial associations (classification of interactions)
• Microbiology of extreme environments
• Microbial growth in laboratory and in nature (growth kinetics)
• Dynamics of microbial communities
• Preservation of microbial culture
• The soil: an environment for microorganisms
• Microbial ecology of forest soil
• Degradation of plant residues
• Techniques for the study of environmental microbiota
• Factors which affect the degradation of an organic compound
• Strategies of Bioremediation
• Treatment of contaminated soils in situ
• Treatment of contaminated soils ex situ
• Metals and Their Biological Role
• Genetics and Biochemistry of Metal Resistance
• The role of microorganisms in bio absorption of metals
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Bioremediation
• Biological treatment of Wastewater
• Bacterial genetic: principles
• Plasmids, Transfer of plasmids, Properties of plasmids, Plasmids of Resistance, Plasmids of Virulence
• Transposable elements
• Organization of a genome: Chromosome Map of E. coli
• Replication Transcription and Translation
• Gene regulation
• Horizontal gene transfer in nature
• Microbial biotechnology and the legislative aspects related to the use of GMM (Genetically Modified Microorganisms)
• Recombinant DNA technology and cloning vectors
• Expression vectors
• Metagenomics
• Use of GMM in the industrial field
• GMM in the food and pharmaceutical industry
• GMM for bioremediation
• Microbial Biotechnology in Agriculture

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes: English and Italian version

Additional suggested books are:

• J Willey, L Sherwood, CJ Woolverton (tenth edition 2017) Prescott's Microbiology Published by McGraw-Hill Education.
• JK Patra, CN Vishnuprasad, G Das (2018) Microbial Biotechnology: Applications in Agriculture and Environment Springer.

Teaching methods

For the theoretical part, the teaching method will rely on power point presentations and open discussions. The total amount of hours will be divided in: lectures 60% and complementary activities 40% (laboratory experiences, videos, seminars etc.). The aim of the complementary activities is to connect the theoretical part of the course with the practical aspects

Assessment methods

The final exam will be oral (about 30 min). Students wishing to take the examination in Italian are allowed

Teaching tools

For the lectures PC, projector and blackboard are available. For complementary activities teaching laboratories and labs of the microbiology area will be used

Office hours

See the website of Loredana Baffoni