00714 - Microbiology

Learning outcomes

Knowledge of principles of Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology. Knowledge of the molecular and cellular basis of microbial pathogenicity and of the characteristics of host-microrganism interactions.

Course contents

Bacteria

Structure of the prokaryotic cell: general characteristics, study techniques, shape and arrangments, genome, cytoplasm, plasma membrane, cell wall (organisation and structure of peptoglycan and of the cell wall in Gram+, Gram-), external membrane, external structure (capsule, pili, flagelli)

Bacterial reproduction, bacterial sporae

Bacterial metabolism: general characteristics; mechanisms of phosphorilation, energetic metabolism (fermentation, respiration, aerobiosis and anaerobiosis); macromolecular synthesis (DNA, RNA, proteins, peptoglycan)

Bacterial genetics: bacterial chromosome, accessorial genetic elements (plasmid, insertion sequences, trasposons); evolution of bacterial genomes: mutations, ricombination, transmission of genetic materials (transformation, conjugation, transduction)

Bacterial pathogenesis: exogenous and endogenous infections, mechanisms of host colonisation; mechanisms of pathogenesis, bacterial exotoxins and endotoxin; immunity and infectious processes

Bacterial cultivation: culture media, bacterial growth, isolating and maintenance cultures, bacterial counts, antibacterial drug susceptibility testing

Bacteria of medical relevance: staphylococci, streptococci, enterococci, bacilli, clostrida, enterobacteria, listeria monocytogenes, vibrio, campylobacter, pseudomonas

Viruses

Viral Structure: characteristics of viral genomes and virion structure (genome, capsid, pericapsid)

Viral Replication: general characteristics; phases of the viral replicative cycle (attachment, penetration, uncoating, macromolecular synthesis: viral replicative strategies, assembly)

Bacteriophages: structure and viral replicative cycle

Viral Pathogenesis: virus-cell interaction; kind of infection (cytocidal, persistent, latent, transforming); dynamics of the infectious process (penetration, localization and viral multiplication, viral transmission)

Viral Cultivation: cell cultures, virus isolation and titration, virus identification
 
Fungi

General biological characteristics, mechanisms of replication and pathogenesis; cultivation and counts, mycotoxins

Readings/Bibliography

Eudes Lanciotti
Principi di Microbiologia
Zanichelli Ed. Bologna, 2008

Brock. Biologia dei microrganismi
Microbiologia generale, volume 1
di Madigan Michael T., Martinko John M.
Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

Michele La Placa
Principi di Microbiologia Medica
Società Editrice Esculapio, 11a edizione (2008)

Teaching methods

Lecture

Assessment methods

Oral examination

Teaching tools

Powerpoint slides

Office hours

See the website of Elisabetta Manaresi