Ateneo - UPO

The course will deal with the description of the general characteristics and clinical importance of bacteria, viruses and protozoa.

-Patrick R. Murray, Ken S. Rosenthal. “Medical Microbiology” 8th edition
-Kenneth J. Ryan, C. George Ray. “Sherris.Medical Microbiology” 7th edition
- Guido Antonelli Principi di Microbiologia Medica (III Edizione) Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
-David M. Knipe, Peter Howley. “Fields Virology” 6th edition

Building a mental model that allows understanding, having acquired the morphological, structural, biochemical and pathogenic characteristics of the viruses, the mechanisms of action underlying the pathogenesis and the identification techniques currently used in the microbiology laboratory.

The student should have knowledge of cell biology and immunology.

The course comprises 40h of frontal lessons and 22,5 h of online lessons . All the slides of each lesson will be available to the students on the DIR platform. This material is to be considered integrative of the textbook and never its substitute.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities

Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam is a written test, where the knowledge acquired by the student is evaluated. The level of difficulty of the questions corresponds to the program carried out (slides of the lessons published on DIR) and to the reference texts indicated on the Syllabus. The exam consists of 6 open questions .
5.5 points are assigned to each question; the written test is considered passed if the overall score is not less than 18 points. The score will be numerical and will progressively go to a maximum of 30 Laude (33 points), depending on the knowledge level of the student. During the written test it is not allowed to consult any microbiology texts.

GENERAL BACTERIOLOGY
Bacteria taxonomy and classification. The bacterial cell: structure and essential functions. The bacterial spore. Gram negative and Gram positive. Cultivation of bacteria: growth and development of bacterial populations. Physiology and metabolism of bacteria. Elements of bacterial genetics: mutations and mechanisms of genetic recombination; bacteriophages and lysogeny; hints of genetic engineering. Principles of pathogenicity and virulence. Bacterial toxins: exotoxins and endotoxins. Laboratory diagnosis of bacterial diseases. Serodiagnostic techniques. Mode of action of the main antibacterial drugs. Resistance to chemotherapy and antibiotics.
- SPECIAL BACTERIOLOGY
Staphylococci. Streptococci and Enterococci. Pneumococci. Aerobic Gram positive spore-forming bacilli. Corinebacteria. Mycobacteria. Actinomycetes. Neisserie; Enterobacteria. Pseudomonas and other oxidase-positive bacteria. Vibrions, Spirilli, Campylobacter, Helicobacteria. Yersinie. Francisella Tularensis. Pasteurelle. Brucelle. Hemophiles. Bordetelle. Anaerobic bacteria: Clostridia. Spirochetes. Legionella. Rickettsia. Chlamydiae. Mycoplasma
-MYCOLOGY
General characteristics and classification of fungi. Cultivation of fungi. Fungal physiology and metabolism. Pathogenic mechanisms of fungi. Mycotoxins. Antifungal immunity. Primitive and opportunistic mycoses. Superficial, deep and systemic mycoses. Principles and methods of laboratory diagnosis of fungal diseases. Antifungal drugs and their mode of action. Yeast-like fungi, filamentous fungi (molds) and dimorphic fungi.
-PROTOZOOLOGY
General characteristics of human pathogenic protozoa. Giardia intestinalis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Trypanosomes, Leishmania, Entamoeba histolytica, Plasmodia of malaria, Toxoplasma gondii, Pneumocystis carinii.
- GENERAL VIROLOGY
Classification of viruses. Composition and architecture of the viral particle. Virus cultivation and titration. Virus-cell relationships. Replication strategies. Genetics of viruses: genetic and non-genetic interactions. Virus-host relationship; acute, persistent, latent, slow infections. Oncogenic viruses. Pathogenetic mechanisms in viral infections. Antiviral defenses: role of humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Viral interference and interferon. Antiviral immunoprophylaxis; antiviral vaccines. Principles of virological diagnostics. Antiviral chemotherapy.
- SPECIAL VIROLOGY
Adenovirus. Arbovirus. Arenavirus. Bunyavirus. Coronavirus. Filovirus. Flavivirus. Hepadnaviruses and other viruses that cause hepatitis. Herpesvirus. Orthomyxovirus. Papovavirus. Paramyxovirus. Parvovirus. Picornavirus. Poxvirus. Reovirus and Rotavirus. Retrovirus. Rhabdovirus. Togavirus.

Acquisition of in-depth knowledge in general virology 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.