Ateneo - UPO

The aim of the course is provide to the student the knowledge of the biology and functioning of the bacterial cell, its genetic and the classification.

Dehò G., Galli E. Biologia dei microrganismi. 2015. CEA Editrice
Willey M., Sherwood M., Woolverton J. Prescott. Settima edizione 2009. McGrowHill
Madigan MT, Martinki JM, Stahl DA, Clark DP. Brock-Biologia dei microrganismi . 2012 Pearson Ed.
Sherris, Microbiologia medica - EMSI

The student will receive the basic knowledge of the biology and functioning of the bacterial cell, its genetic and the classification.The student will be able to understand how to apply the theory of the lesson in a practical way.

In order to ensure the best understanding of microbiology the student should have the basc knowledge of cell biology, biochemistry and genetics

Power point slides will be used and provided to the students.
The course include 8 hours of laboratory.

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.

A written examination will be performed at the end of the lectures. The capability of the student to apply the knowledge acquired will be avluated. The examination is composed of six open questions and ten quiz. The difficulty level of the question correspondsto the programme of the course and to the book suggested in the DIR platform. Each response to the open question is evaluated with 0-4 points, except for the question on bacterial taxonomy that is evaluated with 0-5 points. Each quiz will receive from 0 to 0.5 points. The exam will be positively evaluated if 18/30 will be reached.
The student should demonstrate to have understood the more relevant concepts and be able to describe correctly these concepts.

Introduction to microbiology. Structural and functional characteristics of the microbial cells: the cell membrane, the cell wall, LPS, capsule, flagella, pili. The movement of bacterial cells: swimming, swarming, twitching motility.
Principles of microbial nutrition and growth: description of nutritional media used in bacteriology. Growth curve in batch and in open systems. Methods of bacterial growth control by chemical and physical methods. Antibiotic resistance: Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, Klebsiella pneumoniae KPC. Microbial metabolism. Replication and Transcription of DNA. Protein synthesis. Horizontal gene transfer: conjugation, transformation, trasduction. Microbial taxonomy: principles of systematics. Archaea. Alfa, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon Proteobacteria. Firmicutes Actinobacteria. For each taxa a number of bacterial species will be described for their virulence factors, their metabolit properties and environmental and clinical relevance. The microbiome. Examples of possible exploitation of microorganisms in food production.
Virus: structure and Baltimore's classification. For each group the more important virus will be described and related to their impact on humans.

Knowledge and understanding capability:
At the end of the lectures the student should have huge knowledge of microbiology and of the way to apply them. Moreover the student should use an adequate scientific language.
Knowledge and applied understanding:
capability to understand the information received during the lectures and arrive to their applicative implications.
Judgement- making autonomy: capability to critically analyze the information received during the course.
Communication skills: improvement of the scientific language and capability to clearly describe events and critical issues related to microbiology also to non expert people.
Learning capability: the student should reach the capability to learn, and to update himself by reading scientific papers.
This will allow the student to understand the applicative aspects of microbiology such as the diagnostic, food and environmental microbiology