Ateneo - UPO

1) Antiprotozal drugs
2) Antibacterial drugs
3) Antiviral drugs
4) Antifungal drugs.

G. Costantino, G. Sbardella, Chimica Farmaceutica, EdiSES
A. Gasco, F. Gualtieri, C. Melchiorre Chimica Farmaceutica Casa Editrice Ambrosiana;
W. Foye, Principi di Chimica Farmaceutica, Piccin;
Medicinal Chemistry: The Modern Drug Discovery Process, E. Stevens

The course aims at describing the main drugs used in antimicrobial therapy.
The specific objectives of the course, according to the Dublino descriptors, are the following:
1. Knowledge and understanding. At the end of the course, the student will also know and understand the main drugs used in antimicrobial therapy.
2. The student will apply the acquired knowledge and understanding in the recognition of the chemical structures, in the discussion of the chemical and chemico-physical properties, of the mechanism of action, of the structure-activity relationship, of the metabolic fate and of the plausible routes for the synthesis of drugs.
3. The student will acquire the ability to identify and use data to formulate responses to well-defined concrete and abstract problems regarding the structure-activity relationship, the metabolism, the related toxicity, the synthesis, the drug-drug interaction for specific cases of drugs. Moreover, the student will be provided with all the tools necessary for the critical analysis of texts and papers in the medicinal chemistry literature.
4. The student will learn to communicate about his/her understanding, to describe, even in an original way, a topic described during lessons, to adequately answer to questions, critiques and suggestions.
5. The student will have the learning skills to handle in a dinamic way his/her knowledge in medicinal chemistry with some autonomy.

Good knowledge in microbiology, general biology, biochemistry, general pharmacology and human physiology is strongly recommended.

The course is given with the support of slides, which are given to the students at the beginning of the lessons.
General and specific topics will be introduced, basic concepts will be provided for the understanding of each issue, and discussions with the students will be held. It will be explained how to acquire the competences needed to predict the chemical and physico-chemical properties of drugs starting from their structures, to identify the structural elements necessary for their mechanism of action and to recognize alert groups that can lead to toxicological problems. At the end of each module practical exercises will be solved in order to prepare the students to the exam.

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 consists in a written test. The student has to demonstrate to be able to recognize an antimicrobial drug from its structure, to identify the functional groups, the acid, basic and stereogenic centers, the plausible reactions of metabolism, the routes for its preparation, etc.
It will be verified that the student has achieved the objectives of knowledge and understanding of the contents of the course, the ability to communicate these concepts in a clear and correct manner and the competence to apply the acquired knowledge and skills to specific concerns regarding the medicinal chemistry of the different classes of drugs.

Review of the main concepts in microbiology and antimicrobial therapy, including resistance.
Antimalarials.
Antibacterial agents: antimicobacterial, sulfonamides, dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, quinolones, oxazolidinones, nitroderivatives, β-Lactam antibiotics, penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams, carbapenemes, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, macrolides, other drugs.
The classification and biochemistry of viruses. Nucleoside antimetabolites, agent for the treatment of HIV infection and hepatatis C.
Antifungal: most important agents.
Exercises.

At the end of the course the student is able to recognize the structure of the main antimicrobial drugs and to discuss their medicinal chemistry properties.