00714 - Microbiology

Learning outcomes

Knowledge of principles of Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology and Parassitology. Knowledge of the molecular and cellular basis of microbial pathogenicity and of the characteristics of host-microrganism interactions. Knowledge of the targets and mechanisms of action of antimicrobial and antiviral drugs. Knowledge of the principles of microbiological and virological analysis.

Course contents

Microbiology I. Background to infectious disease. Structure-function relationships in procaryotic cells. Staining techniques in bacteriology. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial architecture. Bacterial chromosome and plasmids. Cytoplasm, bacterial ribosomes. Cell wall. Peptidoglycan structure. Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane. Capsule. Flagella and pili. Energy metabolism of bacteria. Bacterial nutrition and biosynthesis. Bacterial growth. Formation and structure of bacterial spores. Pathogenic properties of bacteria. Colonization of surfaces, invasion of tissues, production of toxins. Exotoxins and endotoxins. Bacterial genetic: mutations and gene transfer. Molecular targets of antimicrobial agents.

Microbiology II. Staphylococci, Streptococci, Corynebacteria, Enterobacteria, Pseudomonas, Mycobacteria, Neisseria, Clostridium, Bacillus, Mycoplasma, Chlamidia, Vibrio, Brucella, Bordetella, Helicobacter, Campylobacter, Legionella, Haemophilus, Yersinia, Rickettsia, Coxiella, Spirochetes. Bacterial cultures. Identification of pathogenic species.

Fungi. Fungal structure and morphology. Taxonomy of fungi (Candida, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Aspergillus). Antifungal agents.

Protozoa. Cellular organization of parasitic protozoa. Classification of the parasitic protozoa (intestinal and opportunistic amoebae, Giardiasis, Trichomonads and intestinal Flagellates, Leishmaniasis, Trypanosomiasis, Toxoplasmosis, Malaria).

Virus. Morphology and structure. Taxonomy of viruses. Replication of viruses. Genetics. Bacteriophage. Propagation and identification. Cell cultures. Pathogenesis of viral infections. Virological and serological diagnosis. Antiviral chemotherapy. Poxviruses, Herpesviruses, Adenoviruses, Papillomaviruses, Parvoviruses, Influenza viruses, Enteroviruses, Rotaviruses, Hepatitis viruses, Retroviruses.

Readings/Bibliography

- N. Carlone. Microbiologia farmaceutica. Casa Editrice EdiSES, Napoli, 2010.

- G. Antonelli, M. Clementi, G. Pozzi, G.M. Rossolini. Principi di Microbiologia medica. I Edizione. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano, 2008.

- M. La Placa. Principi di Microbiologia Medica. XII edizione. Società Editrice Esculapio, Bologna, 2010

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Final oral examination

Teaching tools

PowerPoint slides

Office hours

See the website of Giovanna Angela Gentilomi