Student Group Details

Laboratorio di microbiologia - Gruppo B

MS2966

Course
Laboratorio di microbiologia - Gruppo B
Code
MS2966
Academic Year
2026/2027
Curriculum Year
2025/2026
Degree Programme
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Curriculum
A001 - GENERICO
Course coordinator
Barbara AZZIMONTI
Lecturers
Barbara AZZIMONTI
Credits
2
Lecture Hours
0
Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)
MED/07 - Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology
Course Type
Single-subject learning activity
Course Delivery
OBB - Obbligatoria
Year
2
Teaching period
Secondo Semestre
Campus
NOVARA
Teaching language
Italian
Course Contents
Laboratory Theory
DIRECT ANALYSIS
Bacterial Infections
Laboratory diagnostic techniques:
Culture isolation (selective (S), differential (D), and selective-differential (S/D) media; plating techniques; Gram, Ziehl–Neelsen, and Kinyoun staining).
Microscopic analysis (bright-field, dark-field, phase-contrast, and fluorescence microscopy).
Microbial identification.
Evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility: antibiogram (antimicrobial susceptibility testing).
Viability assays: XTT, MTT, Live/Dead assays, and calculation of colony-forming units (CFU).
Biochemical tests: catalase, oxidase, and general enzymatic assays.
Biofilm identification techniques.
Gene transfer techniques (bacterial transformation).
Viral Infections
Culture isolation (susceptible and permissive eukaryotic cells).
Microscopic analysis (light and electron microscopy).
Virus identification.
Virus titration.
Plaque assay.

RAPID DIRECT ANALYSIS
Bacterial and Viral Infections

Molecular tests
Detection and quantification of gene sequences: PCR, PCR variants, and hybridization with specific probes.
Genome detection by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH).
Antigen detection: agglutination, hemagglutination, capsular swelling (Quellung reaction), immunofluorescence (IF), ELISA, and Western blot (WB).

INDIRECT ANALYSIS
Complement fixation test.
Agglutination test.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Immunofluorescence assay (IF).
Methodologies for the Study of the Human Microbiota and Microbiome

Laboratory Practical Activities
Indirect viability assay: Alamar Blue assay.
Determination of colony-forming units (CFU).
Antibiotic susceptibility testing (antibiogram).
Plating on selective and/or differential media.
Gram staining.
Catalase test.
API identification test.
Reference Texts

Recommended Textbooks


Antonelli G., Clementi M., Pozzi G., Rossolini G.M. – Principi di Microbiologia medica, 4th edition, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2022. Bibliographic details: Edition: 4th Year: 2022 ISBN: 978-88-08-69981-7 Pages: 864 Format: single-volume textbook with e-book.


Pearson - Murray P.R., Rosenthal K.S., Pfaller M.A. – Microbiologia medica (Italian edition published by Pearson, translation of Medical Microbiology).


Carroll K.C., Morse S.A., Mietzner T.A., Miller S. et al. – Microbiologia medica. Jawetz, Melnick & Adelberg’s. Casa Editrice Piccin, 27th edition, 2017.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the Microbiology Laboratory course, students should be able to achieve specific and measurable learning outcomes within the expected timeframe.

Microbiology is a continuously evolving discipline and an interdisciplinary science that integrates knowledge from molecular biology, chemistry and biochemistry, genetics, and other related fields.

The theoretical and practical Microbiology Laboratory course, which follows the Medical Microbiology course, is designed to enable students to establish connections among these disciplines and acquire the knowledge necessary to understand the biology of the major groups of microorganisms and their microbial habitats.

In particular, the course provides students with:



an in-depth understanding of the microbial world, enabling them to appreciate both the beneficial and harmful interactions between microorganisms and humans;
knowledge of the principal diagnostic techniques routinely used in microbiology laboratories for the identification of major human pathogens;
the theoretical and practical skills required to independently select and apply appropriate analytical methods for the diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites and Admission Requirements

To understand the theoretical and practical topics covered in the laboratory course, enrolled students are expected to possess basic knowledge of the fundamental principles of cell biology, chemistry, genetics, immunology, and microbiology (minimum required knowledge). Students are also expected to have English language proficiency at B1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Requirements for Admission to the Final Examination

(Medical Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory)

To be eligible to take the final examination, students must:

have completed and passed the mandatory laboratory safety training courses;
have successfully passed the examination in General and Inorganic Chemistry;
have completed the course evaluation questionnaires relating to the instructor and the course;
have attended at least 75% of the scheduled Medical Microbiology laboratory activities;
be in good standing with university tuition and fee payments.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Materials and Teaching Methods

All teaching materials are available on the instructor’s webpage:

DIR – University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO) Faculty Page

The teaching methods adopted for the theoretical and practical Microbiology laboratory course include:

MS PowerPoint presentations.
Screening and discussion of peer-reviewed scientific video journals (JoVE – Journal of Visualized Experiments).
Use of the Kahoot! learning platform, a fast and engaging tool for ongoing assessment of student learning.
Theoretical and practical laboratory activities designed to encourage students to actively participate in the learning process.
Organization of the Theoretical and Practical Laboratory Course

The theoretical and practical Microbiology laboratory course, carried out after the lectures of the Medical Microbiology course, consists of a total of 12 hours.

The course includes:

4 hours of classroom-based theoretical lectures, delivered through PowerPoint presentations, traditional whiteboard activities, and the Kahoot! learning platform. These sessions provide the theoretical background and methodological preparation required for the subsequent practical laboratory activities.
8 hours of practical teaching laboratory activities, repeated in groups of approximately 20–25 students each.
These practical sessions allow students to apply and gain hands-on experience with the main microbiological concepts and methodologies presented during the lectures.
Additional Information

Contact Information

Instructor email:

barbara.azzimonti@uniupo.it

Additional Resources

At the end of the lectures/laboratory sessions, or by prior email appointment, the instructor is available to discuss any questions regarding the course and laboratory topics or the examination procedures.

Students may meet with the instructor by appointment at her office located at the CAAD, Department of Health Sciences, Corso Trieste 15a, 28100 Novara, Italy.

A simulation of the final examination will be carried out at the end of the Medical Microbiology course.

Assessment Methods
Admission Requirements for the Final Examination

To be eligible to take the final examination, students must:

have completed and passed the mandatory laboratory safety training courses;
have successfully passed the examination in General and Inorganic Chemistry;
have completed the course evaluation questionnaires relating to the instructor and the course;
have attended at least 75% of the scheduled Microbiology Laboratory activities;
be in good standing with university tuition and fee payments.
Assessment Methods

The final assessment consists of a written examination in Italian, held on the scheduled examination dates. The examination consists of 64 multiple-choice questions, each with one correct answer.

Of the 64 questions:

60 questions concern the topics covered during the Medical Microbiology course;
4 questions concern the topics covered during the Microbiology Laboratory course.
By answering all questions correctly, students can achieve a maximum score of 32 points, corresponding to 30/30 with Honors (cum laude) (0.5 points per question).

Students who wish to improve their grade (minimum required grade: 18/30) or obtain cum laude may take a short oral examination in either Italian or English.

The purpose of the examination is to assess the achievement of the previously defined learning outcomes, as well as students’ ability to communicate and critically elaborate the acquired knowledge in written Italian, using appropriate scientific and technical terminology.

The examination also aims to evaluate:

the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of the course contents;
the ability to organize structured and clear responses;
synthesis skills and appropriate scientific language use;
the student’s analytical and critical approach to the concepts addressed throughout the course.
A dedicated review session will be organized after the examination, during which each student will have the opportunity to identify the mistakes made and discuss the correct answers.
Detailed Syllabus

Laboratory Theory

DIRECT ANALYSIS

Bacterial Infections

Laboratory diagnostic techniques:

Culture isolation (selective (S), differential (D), and selective-differential (S/D) media; plating techniques; Gram, Ziehl–Neelsen, and Kinyoun staining).

Microscopic analysis (bright-field, dark-field, phase-contrast, and fluorescence microscopy).

Microbial identification.

Evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility: antibiogram (antimicrobial susceptibility testing).

Viability assays: XTT, MTT, Live/Dead assays, and calculation of colony-forming units (CFU).

Biochemical tests: catalase, oxidase, and general enzymatic assays.

Biofilm identification techniques.

Gene transfer techniques (bacterial transformation).

Viral Infections

Culture isolation (susceptible and permissive eukaryotic cells).

Microscopic analysis (light and electron microscopy).

Virus identification.

Virus titration.

Plaque assay.


RAPID DIRECT ANALYSIS

Bacterial and Viral Infections


Molecular tests

Detection and quantification of gene sequences: PCR, PCR variants, and hybridization with specific probes.

Genome detection by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH).

Antigen detection: agglutination, hemagglutination, capsular swelling (Quellung reaction), immunofluorescence (IF), ELISA, and Western blot (WB).


INDIRECT ANALYSIS

Complement fixation test.

Agglutination test.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Immunofluorescence assay (IF).

Methodologies for the Study of the Human Microbiota and Microbiome


Laboratory Practical Activities

Indirect viability assay: Alamar Blue assay.

Determination of colony-forming units (CFU).

Antibiotic susceptibility testing (antibiogram).

Plating on selective and/or differential media.

Gram staining.

Catalase test.

API identification test.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the Microbiology Laboratory course, students should be able to demonstrate:


  • knowledge of the structure, ultrastructure, and biological properties of bacteria, viruses, and fungi;
  • an understanding of the major mechanisms underlying infectious processes responsible for human diseases, achieved within the timeframe established by the course;
  • knowledge of the principal techniques used in bacteriological and virological diagnostics.


Applying Knowledge and Understanding

Students should have acquired practical skills in Medical Microbiology that enable them to independently apply microbiological methods and procedures in a laboratory setting.


Transferable Skills

Students should be able to demonstrate independent judgment in the analysis and interpretation of microbiological findings and experimental results. They should also be capable of effectively communicating and justifying, both in written and practical contexts, the rationale underlying their procedural and experimental choices.

Last update:21-09-2026 00:13:16