OVERVIEW

The course provides the basis for analyzing plant metabolites, with an emphasis on natural variability in their biosynthesis, the discovery of new natural compounds, and the quality of phytotherapeutic products.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

During the course students will acquire the basic principles governing the biosynthesis of plant metabolites in response to environmental factors. Particular attention will be given to the role of metabolomics in delineating the specialized metabolites of plant species. By the end of the course, students will have gained the general knowledge necessary to describe the main analytical techniques applicable to metabolomic studies of species of health interest. The course will also include an introduction to the principles of molecular diagnostics for identifying and characterizing plant pathogens.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and active participation in lectures, laboratory activities, and educational visits, combined with individual study, will enable students to acquire a basic understanding of the metabolomic profile of plant species of pharmaceutical interest. Fundamental concepts will be provided regarding the application of NMR spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry, and molecular techniques (PCR, sequencing, etc.). Additionally, essential principles for the use of bioinformatics and statistical tools for data processing will be introduced. Finally, case studies will be proposed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the metabolomic approach in assessing the quality of health products.

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific requirements.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of lectures and educational visits to CeRSAA (Center for Agricultural Experimentation and Assistance, Albenga, SV). At this center, students will have the opportunity to visit the setup of experimental trials related to medicinal plants of interest for the course, such as rosemary and basil, and participate in experimental activities. These activities will include learning techniques for monitoring, visual or instrumental surveying of plant diseases, and sampling techniques.

The illustrated teaching materials (slides) will be provided to students at the beginning of the lessons via Aulaweb. Students are encouraged to download the teaching materials from the start of the course to have a reference during the lessons where they can add notes, comments, etc. Learning assessments are planned.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs that have been duly submitted to the university are invited to contact the professor and the disability coordinator of the School/Department at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods that, while respecting the course objectives, take into account individual learning styles. IMPORTANT: Requests for accommodations during in-progress tests MUST be made at least 10 working days before the scheduled date of the test, following the instructions carefully on the page https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/comunicazioni

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Part 1: Introduction to metabolomics

- Definition, background, and goals of metabolomics: Overview of “omics” sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics).

- Role of metabolomics in the study of plant species.

Part 2: Factors influencing plant metabolism.

- Analysis of the influence of environmental, genetic, and agronomic factors on the metabolic profile of plants.

- Metabolomics as a tool for understanding plant-environment interactions.

Part 3: Analytical techniques for metabolomics

- Preparation of plant sample for metabolomics analysis: collection, storage, extraction methods

- Fractionation techniques of specialized metabolites extracted from plant matrices.

- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy: Physical principles and instrumentation.

- Gas and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS, LC-MS): Physical principles and instrumentation.

- Hints at Other Techniques: medium-pressure liquid chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and UV-Vis spectroscopy

Part 4: Molecular diagnostics.

- Molecular diagnostic techniques applicable for determining and characterizing plant pathogenic microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, phytoplasmas, mites, and insects.

Part 5: Data processing and interpretation.

- Statistical and multivariate approaches

- Main bioinformatics tools

Part 6: Applications in biotechnology.

- Correlation between the metabolic profile and biological activity of active compounds extracted from plants.

Part 7: Practical aspects and case studies.

- Analysis of case studies on plants of phytotherapeutic interest.

- Field and laboratory activities.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

To facilitate studying, students will have access to all presentations shown during lectures and additional supporting materials via the Aulaweb platform. Generally, a combination of personal notes taken during class and the online materials available is sufficient to prepare for the exam. Any necessary texts for further study will be suggested during the lessons.

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The earliest possible date after the start of classes for the course of study.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination is held in presence in a dedicated classroom. Each student has a personal computer, on which he/she accesses the exam session (“Aulaweb exams”). The test consists of a quiz composed of 15 questions, which will cover all topics covered in the course. The student will have only one attempt to complete the quiz. The maximum time for completion is 15 minutes from the time he/she will have clicked on the START THE TRIAL button. The exam will be considered passed only upon achieving a score of 18 points or higher.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs regularly submitted to the University are encouraged to contact the faculty member and the School/Department's disability liaison to take advantage of the additional time provided by current regulations. IMPORTANT: Requests for exam adaptations MUST be made strictly at least 10 working days prior to the scheduled exam date by carefully following the instructions in the link at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/comunicazioni

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details regarding exam preparation methods and the depth of each topic will be provided during the lessons. The written exam will assess the actual acquisition of fundamental knowledge related to the role of metabolomics in characterizing the metabolic profile of pharmaceutical-interest plants.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact the professor for any additional information not included in the course syllabus.