Ateneo - UPO

The course aims to provide students with the basic technical skills related to microbiology: basic knowledge of the biology and functioning of the bacterial cell, genetics and microbial taxonomy. In particular, basic notions of work organization will be provided in a Microbiology laboratory, sterilization methods, preparation of culture media, isolation techniques, identification and for the evaluation of microbial development, microorganism conservation, observation of physiological and metabolic characters in microbial cultures and for the determination of sensitivity to antimicrobial agents. Information will be provided on the functioning of the main antimicrobial molecules. Information will be provided on the communication and organization of microbial populations. Information will be provided on the biotechnological exploitation of bacterial activity with applications in the food, agricultural, pharmaceutical and environmental fields. Information will be provided on the processes and management of water purification plants and soil bioremediation. Finally, information will be provided on microbiological techniques applied to the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage.

Tortora G.J., Case C.L., Bair W.B. III, Weber D., Funke B.R. Microbiology: An Introduction, Global Edition, 14th edition. Pearson, 2025.Willey J.M., Sandman K.M., Wood D.H. Prescott’s Microbiology, 12th edition / 2026 release. McGraw Hill.Doyle M.P., Diez-Gonzalez F., Hill C., editors. Food Microbiology: Fundamentals and Frontiers, 5th edition. ASM Press/Wiley, 2019. Course materialsSlides, laboratory protocols, scientific articles, guidelines, interpretative tables, and additional teaching materials will be made available through the University learning platform. These materials are intended to support the study of the topics covered during lectures and laboratory activities.

The course aims to provide the basic theoretical skills related to microbiology and its applications in the environmental, agricultural, food, pharmaceutical and clinical fields. The student acquires the basic principles for isolating, characterizing, storing and manipulating bacteria. The course aims to provide the methods of analysis of the main clinical, food and environmental matrices as well as the competences for the interpretation of the results. The course aims to provide the concepts related to the bacterial taxonomy and the characteristics of the main bacterial jams. The concepts concerning the biology of microorganisms that colonize extreme environments are provided (for example, environments with extremely high or low temperatures, hypersaline environments). The course aims to provide the basic knowledge of the biology of microbial communities and their possible exploitation. The course aims to provide the basic knowledge for the management of water purification plants and for the bioremediation of contaminated soils exploiting particular metabolic characteristics of the bacteria. The course aims to provide the basic knowledge of the methods that can be applied for the management of conservation and restoration of works of art.

The student must possess basic knowledge of biology and, in particular, of the morphology and physiology of the eukaryotic cell. Basic knowledge of biological macromolecules, notions of organic chemistry, general and physical chemistry.It must also possess an adequate property of language and scientific mastery.

The course integrates classroom lectures, interactive activities, discussion of scientific materials, and practical laboratory exercises, with the aim of progressively developing theoretical knowledge, methodological skills, and applied abilities in the field of microbiology.
Classroom lectures will be delivered with the support of presentations, slides, images, summary diagrams, multimedia materials, and applied case studies. These activities will introduce and explore the main topics of the course, providing students with the tools needed to understand microbiological processes, laboratory methods, and their applications.
Seminars may be delivered by experts on specific topics of particular scientific, technical, or applied relevance. These seminars will complement the contents covered during the lectures, promoting connections between theoretical knowledge, research activities, and possible professional applications.
Part of the teaching activity will be devoted to the reading, analysis, discussion, and presentation of scientific articles. Students will be guided in understanding the structure of a scientific article, identifying the study objectives, critically analyzing methods and results, and discussing conclusions. This activity will contribute to the development of independent judgment, learning skills, communication skills, and the appropriate use of scientific terminology.
Practical laboratory exercises are planned, during which students will apply the knowledge acquired during the theoretical lectures. Practical activities will be aimed at learning the main basic microbiological procedures, correctly using laboratory equipment, observing and interpreting experimental results, and recognizing the main technical and methodological critical issues.
Laboratory exercises may include individual or group activities and will be accompanied by guided discussion of the results obtained, in order to strengthen the connection between theory and practice, stimulate critical reasoning, and develop the ability to describe procedures, observations, and results clearly and scientifically.
Teaching materials, such as slides, laboratory protocols, scientific articles, guidelines, summary diagrams, and any additional study materials, will be made available through the University learning platform.
Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders, SLD, or Special Educational Needs, SEN, may request dedicated services and specific support tools by contacting the Student Career Development and Coordination Services Office and by consulting the dedicated page on the University website. After contacting the University Office, students may contact the course instructor to agree on any teaching support measures and adaptations to the assessment methods, in compliance with current regulations and in line with the course learning objectives and expected learning outcomes.

The control of learning, in itinere, will be carried out with classroom and collegial discussion of the topics dealt with. In particular, the different types of possible problems and potential variables will be evaluated in order to stimulate the acquisition of critical skills in tackling scientific work and in interpreting results. 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 examination consists of an oral assessment based on the presentation and discussion of a written assignment concerning the data obtained during the activities included in the course. The presentation may be supported by slides or other appropriate materials and must demonstrate the student’s ability to process the data, organize them clearly, interpret them critically, and compare them with the relevant scientific literature.
The oral examination aims to assess the achievement of the educational objectives and expected learning outcomes, with particular reference to:
knowledge and understanding of microbial biology;
the ability to process, present, and discuss microbiological data;
the ability to relate the results obtained to the principles of microbial morphology, physiology, genetics, taxonomy, and metabolism;
the ability to compare the data with evidence from the scientific literature;
independent judgment in the interpretation of results;
the ability to present information in a clear, logical, and scientifically appropriate manner.
During the presentation, the student must demonstrate the ability to describe the analytical approach used for data analysis, justify the choices made, recognize any methodological or interpretative critical issues, and discuss the biological significance of the results obtained. The student must also demonstrate knowledge of the main aspects of microbial biology underlying the data presented, with reference to bacterial cell structure and physiology, microbial genetics, taxonomy, the biology of microbial communities, and the main applications of microbiology in the food, agricultural, pharmaceutical, industrial, and clinical fields.
To pass the examination, the student must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of at least the fundamental concepts of microbiology, be able to organize the data in an essential but correct manner, interpret them in relation to the theoretical knowledge acquired, and present the topics using appropriate terminology. When prompted by the instructor, the student must also be able to recognize any errors or limitations in the proposed interpretation and identify possible ways to correct or further investigate them.
A grade above the minimum passing level will be awarded when the student demonstrates more complete and integrated knowledge of the topics, the ability to connect experimental data, microbial biology, and scientific literature, as well as autonomy in identifying critical issues and interpreting results.
To achieve a high grade, the student must demonstrate full mastery of the course contents, critical thinking, independent judgment, good synthesis skills, and the ability to discuss the data in depth, formulating clear, logical, and scientifically grounded conclusions.
The final grade is expressed out of thirty. The minimum passing grade is 18/30.

The course covers the fundamental principles of basic microbiology and the main techniques used for the isolation, characterization, identification, and preservation of bacteria. The teaching activity integrates theoretical aspects and practical laboratory activities aimed at producing, organizing, and interpreting microbiological data, which will subsequently be discussed and compared with the scientific literature for the preparation of the presentation required for the final examination.1. Introduction to basic microbiologyThe course will introduce the fundamental concepts of microbial biology, with particular reference to the bacterial cell. Topics will include the structure and organization of the prokaryotic cell, bacterial morphology, the cell wall, the cytoplasmic membrane, accessory structures, microbial metabolism, bacterial growth, and the main factors influencing microbial development. General concepts of microbial diversity, bacterial taxonomy, the ecological role of microorganisms, and the main applications of microbiology in clinical, food, environmental, agricultural, and biotechnological fields will also be addressed.2. Cultivation of microorganisms and culture mediaThe course will provide the theoretical and practical foundations for bacterial cultivation in the laboratory. The main types of culture media will be described, including solid, liquid, selective, differential, and enriched media. The criteria for selecting the appropriate medium according to the microorganism to be isolated and the objective of the microbiological analysis will also be discussed. Particular attention will be paid to incubation conditions, temperature, growth time, oxygen availability, and other parameters that may influence microbial development.3. Bacterial inoculation and isolation techniquesThe main inoculation techniques used in microbiology will be illustrated and applied, with particular reference to streak plating, pour plating, spread plating, and inoculation in liquid medium. Practical activities will aim to develop the skills required to obtain isolated colonies, assess colony morphology, and recognize possible contamination. The principles of asepsis, correct sample handling, and prevention of contamination during laboratory procedures will also be discussed.4. Macroscopic and microscopic observation of bacterial culturesStudents will be guided in observing the macroscopic characteristics of bacterial colonies, such as shape, margin, color, size, elevation, consistency, and surface features. These observations will be integrated with microscopic analysis in order to relate the characteristics observed in culture to cell morphology and to the biological properties of microorganisms.5. Gram stainingA specific part of the course will be devoted to Gram staining, from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The principle of the method, the operational steps, the role of the different reagents, and the biological significance of the distinction between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria will be described. During laboratory sessions, students will perform Gram staining on bacterial cultures, observe the preparations under the optical microscope, and interpret the results in relation to cell morphology, cell arrangement, and bacterial cell wall characteristics.6. Bacterial identification using MALDI-TOF technologyThe course will introduce the principles of bacterial identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The principle of the technique, sample preparation, the role of the matrix, acquisition of the protein spectrum, and comparison with reference databases will be described. The advantages, limitations, and main applications of MALDI-TOF technology in bacterial identification will also be discussed. Students will be guided in reading and interpreting the results obtained, with particular attention to spectrum quality, the reliability level of identification, and consistency with previously collected morphological and microscopic data.7. Preservation and freezing of bacterial strainsThe main strategies for preserving microorganisms in the laboratory will be addressed, with particular reference to short-, medium-, and long-term preservation. The principles of bacterial strain freezing, the use of cryoprotectants, low-temperature storage conditions, and procedures for recovering preserved strains will be described. Aspects related to traceability, labeling, management of microbial collections, and maintenance of the viability and stability of bacterial strains over time will also be discussed.8. Production, organization, and interpretation of microbiological dataThe practical component of the course, carried out progressively throughout the entire teaching period, will be aimed at producing microbiological data derived from inoculation, isolation, macroscopic observation, Gram staining, MALDI-TOF identification, and strain preservation activities. Students will be guided in organizing the data obtained, presenting them clearly, and assessing the consistency between the different experimental observations.9. Discussion of results and comparison with the scientific literatureThe data produced during the practical activities will be discussed collectively and compared with information available in the scientific literature. This part of the course will aim to develop the ability to critically interpret results, recognize possible methodological limitations, connect experimental observations with microbial biology, and formulate coherent conclusions. The material collected and analyzed during the course will form the basis for the preparation of the presentation required for the final examination, in which students will have to demonstrate their ability to process the data obtained, organize them, interpret them, and discuss them in light of theoretical knowledge and the relevant literature.

Acquisition of mastery of basic theoretical knowledge related to microbiology and its applications in the environmental, agricultural, food, pharmaceutical and clinical fields. Acquisition of the fundamental principles to isolate, characterize, conserve and manipulate bacteria. Acquisition of the mastery of the methods of analysis of the main clinical, food and environmental matrices as well as the skills for the interpretation of the results. Acquisition of the mastery of the notions inherent to the bacterial taxonomy and the characteristics of the main bacterial jambs. Acquisition of mastery of basic knowledge of the biology of microbial communities and their possible exploitation.Acquisition of appropriate scientific language. In particular:"Knowledge and understanding": Acquisition of in-depth knowledge on bacteriology concepts and methodologies, knowledge of microbiology concepts and applications related to infectious problems, acquisition of appropriate scientific language."Applied knowledge and understanding": knowing how to identify the data necessary to provide information regarding the presence and type of microorganisms linked to infectious problems and to have tools to find them in reliable locations; ability to interpret the cultural results obtained, ability to apply appropriate techniques aimed at the isolation and identification of microorganisms."Making judgments": ability to critically analyze the elements related to the spread of infectious agents, autonomy of judgment in the evaluation of experimental data."Communication skills": perfecting the disciplinary vocabulary in the field of microbiology and bacteriology, as well as describing in a clear and concise way phenomena and problems related to infections even to non-workers. Ability to report on the pathological characteristics of important microorganisms in infections with an appropriate scientific language, both in oral and written form."Learning skills": acquisition of the ability to acquire, deepen and update independently, by reading texts and scientific articles.Ability to use teaching material for a critical and reasoned study.