21365 - General Microbiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will have a preparation that allows him to understand what are the micro-organisms, which ones are pathogenic for humans and their role in infectious diseases, particularly with regard to the oral cavity.

The student will be able to 1) know and use tools to prevent infectious diseases; 2) know the role of the immune response; 3) learn about the importance and use of serums and vaccines in dental practice; 4) know the structure, metabolism, reproduction and the pathogenetic mechanisms of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses pathogenic to humans; 5) learn about the various forms of resistance: bacterial spores, fungal spores, protozoan cysts, viruses with and without pericapsid; 6) know the procedures of disinfection and sterilization; 7) know the classification, cultivation and identification of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses that colonize the mucous membranes of the oral cavity; 8) known bacteria that are part of structure of biofilm.

Course contents

The bacterial cell, metabolism, cell growth and the bacterial cell cycle, bacterial genetics, mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity, antibacterial drugs, disinfection and sterilization, general principles of bacteriological diagnosis.

Bacteria of human interest (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Spirochaetes, Neisseria, Micobacteria, anaerobes, Enterobacteria)

General characteristics of fungi; fungi of human interest (Candida).

Chemical composition and structure of the viruses, the virus classification, the multiplication and cultivation of the viruses, mechanisms of viral pathogenicity, oncogenic viruses, general principles of virological diagnosis.

Viruses of human interest (HIV, herpes viruses, HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV)

Biological risk.

Readings/Bibliography

Updated teaching materials provided on Vituale platform

For consultation only: ‘Principi di Microbiologia Medica’, La Placa, Edises’

Teaching methods

Lectures with the help of a video projector and PC.

Assessment methods

Written examination with multiple choice questions

Teaching tools

slides, PDF format, provided by the teacher

Office hours

See the website of Claudio Foschi