The course is divided in two parts: the Molecular Microbiology part (6 CFU) and the Biotechnology part (6CFU).
It will be mostly done through frontal lessons and thematic seminars.
The exams will be held as oral interviews.
The course of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology has the aim to instruct the students on the modern knowledge of Microbiology and Molecular Biology. The skills adquired during the course will enable the students to develop the appropriate theoretical and practical instruments to address the biotechnological modern challenges in the biomedical and industrial fields.
In the "Molecular Microbiology" part, the themes of the biology and genetics of microorganisms (i.e. the organization, replication, evolution of microbial genomes, regulatory mechanisms and molecular bases of microbial interactions and pathogenicity) will be discussed.
In the "Biotechnology" part the themes treated will be the genetically modified microorganisms and animal production techniques, recombinant protein production techniques in yeast and bacteria, the use of stem cells in cell therapies and tissue engineering and the gene therapy approach to genetically derived diseases both due to somatic and inhereted mutations.
There will be mainly frontal theoretical lessons accompanied by seminars from experts of various fields and a couple of visits to research centers/biotechnological industries in the Ligurian and Piedmont territory.
For the Biotechnology part of the course the topics will be:
Production of genetically modified unicellular organisms, techniques and employments.
Production of recombinant proteins in bacteria, yeasts and plant cells.
Trangenic animals, biotechnological techniques from Invertebratesi (C. Elegans, D. melanogaster) to Mammals (M. musculus).
cell therapies through the use of adult stem cells: HSC and MSC
The iPSC discovery and its possible use in the biomedical field
Gene therapy: introduction to the technique, viral and non viral transfection methods,gene therapy protocols from 1990 until now.
Ricevimento: Students may ask for explanations whenever the deem it necessary. They may write an email to soniscarfi@unige.it or by phone: 010 35338227. Scarfì's office it's located in Via A. Pastore 3, first floor ( in front of Bar Europeo, fire escape).
MARCO GIOVINE (President)
CARLA PRUZZO (President)
LUIGI VEZZULLI (President)
SONIA SCARFI'
The frontal lessons will start on the 5th of march 2018.
Oral interview for both parts of the course assessing the knowledge and the skills acquired by the student during the course.
During the oral interview the student knowledge on the topics treated in the course will be verified, each professor for his/her part ofthe course.
