Ateneo - UPO

The course will encompass the description of the general characteristics and clinical relevance of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

"Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology for Nurses" by Simona De Grazia (Pearson)
"Principles of Medical Microbiology" (2nd Edition) by Guido Antonelli, published by Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
"Medical Microbiology" (5th Edition) by Patrick Murray, published by EMSI
"Medical Microbiology" by Maria Pia Conte, Paola Mastromarino, published by Casa Editrice Esculapio

To build a mental model that enables understanding the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis, pharmacological therapy, and the diagnostic techniques commonly used in the microbiology laboratory.

Basic knowledge of cellular biology.

The lessons will all be in a lecture format. The lessons will be held using ppt slides. The material will be made available to students through the dedicated online platform (DIR). The material discussed in class and provided to students should be considered as supplementary to the textbook and never a substitute for it.

The written exam will be composed of 15 multiple-choice questions.

GENERAL BACTERIOLOGY.
Bacteria: structure and essential functions. Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Spores. Bacterial cultivation: growth and development of bacterial populations. Basics of bacterial genetics: mutations and genetic recombination mechanisms. Principles of pathogenicity and virulence. Bacterial toxins: exotoxins and endotoxins. Action of major antibacterial drugs. Chemotherapeutic and antibiotic resistance.

GENERAL VIROLOGY.
Characteristics and classification of viruses. Composition and architecture of viral particles. Cultivation and titration of viruses. Virus-cell interactions. Virus multiplication: replication strategies. Virus-host relationships: acute, persistent, latent, slow infections. Cell transformation by viruses: oncogenic viruses. Pathogenic mechanisms in viral infections. Overview of immunoprophylaxis and antiviral chemotherapy. Principles of virological diagnostics.

CLINICAL ASPECTS OF BACTERIAL AND VIRAL INFECTIONS
Clinical features of bacterial and viral infections divided by organ systems.
Staphylococci, Streptococci, Pneumococci, Neisseria, Gram-positive spore-forming aerobic bacilli, Enterobacteria (Escherichia and Salmonella genera), Pseudomonas, Vibrionaceae, Spirilla, Campylobacter, and Helicobacter, Haemophilus, Clostridia, Mycobacteria.
Adenoviruses, Coronaviruses, Flaviviruses, Hepadnaviruses, and other viruses causing hepatitis, Herpesviruses, Orthomyxoviruses, Paramyxoviruses, Papovaviruses, Parvoviruses, Picornaviruses, Retroviruses, Togaviruses, Rotaviruses.

FUNGI and PROTOZOA.
General features of medically important fungi. Candida albicans. General characteristics of protozoa pathogenic to humans. Giardia intestinalis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Entamoeba histolytica, Plasmodium species causing malaria, Toxoplasma gondii.

Acquisition of in-depth knowledge in microbiology and its applications in the scientific field. Acquisition of an appropriate scientific language. Ability to use the supplied material for a critical and reasoned study.