OVERVIEW

Clinical Microbiology concerns humans and microorganisms relationships. 
Some thousands of microbial species, collectively known as microbiota, live in our body and plays useful functions, while other species, pathogens, may cause morbidity. Upon the completion of this course the students should know the biology of the microorganisms and their strategies to cause diseases in humans  as well as diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the Clinical Microbiology course is to introduce basic principles of humans and microorganism relationship with a special focus on human microbiome and its modifications. The aim of the course is also to  provide the basis for understanding  mechanisms of microorganisms pathogenicity. It will also provide opportunities for a student to develop skills in diagnostic microbiology.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course,  students should know the different types of host-microbe interactions, the role of microbiota/ microbiome and the main characteristics of pathogens.

In addition, the students should know how the microbiome can change along life, factors influencing the microbiome and its differences in healthy and morbidity status and the most commonly used method  in microbiome analysis and therapeutic strategies (i.e.microbiome transplantation). At the end of the course, the student should have a deep knowledge of the main clinical pathogens and  diagnostic strategies.

In detail, studensts must be able to distinguish the various diagnostic strategies, evaluate their usefulness and identify the most correct diagnostic flow-chart for each different types of infection.

PREREQUISITES

The student has to know the main characteristics of prokaryotes, viruses and fungi, their structure, classification genetics, growth and human strategies to inhibit pathogens growth.

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons in classroom

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, could find information at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa. In additon, the could speak with Professor  Cristina Carbone (cristina.carbone@unige.it), the DISTAV Department’s disability liaison

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

- Host-microbe interactions (symbiosis, parasitism, opportunism, colonization, infection, disease).

-Human microbiome characteristics, changes along life, factors influencing the microbiome and its differences in healthy and morbidity status. Methods  in microbiome analysis. Microbiome transplantation.

-Bacterial pathogenicity and virulence factors (input, adherence to host tissue, invasion, permanence, exotoxins and endotoxins, hydrolytic enzymes, antiphagocytic mechanisms),

intracellular parasites and antigen heterogenicity

-Main characteristics of the major classes of chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics (spectrum of action, target, pharmacokinetics and mechanisms of drug resistance). Susceptibility and antimicrobial resistance  and quantitative and qualitative determination of antibiotic in vitro activity. 

- Characteristics and mechanisms of pathogenicity   of the following microorganisms: Staphylococci, Streptococci, Pneumococci, Enterococci, Enterobacteriales, Pseudomonas,
, Hemophilus, Neisseria,  Moraxella, Clostridia, H. pylori, V. cholerae, atypical pathogens, Mycobacteria. Herpesvirus, HIV, Hepatitis, Orthomyxovirus, HPV, and Coronavirus.
-Mechanism of viral transmission,  penetration into the host and  spreading, tissue tropism, virulence and cytopathic effects, persistence, latency, reactivation). Antiviral drugs .

-Microbiological diagnosis (direct-indirect techniques)

-Microbiological diagnosis of respiratory, uro-genital, cardio-circulatory infections (blood culture and endotoxin test), gastro-enteric, central nervous system

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Principi di Microbiologia di Antonelli et al., Casa Editrice Zanichelli

 Brock Microbiologia Biomedica Pearson 2

Wessner et al Microbiologia  CEA 

The course slides can be downloaded from  Aula WEB.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

For lessons start and timetable go to the link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

 

 

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The evaluation is carried out through a final exam which seeks to ascertain the actual acquisition by the student of the expected learning results.

A minimum mark of 18/30 is required to pass the module. The mark 30/30 with any honors will correspond to an excellent knowledge of all argoments.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

oral test

The exam will verify the achievement of the educational objectives through questions that will concern the possible relationships between microorganisms and humans in health and pathology, the main characteristics and virulence factors of the main pathogens and the laboratory strategies for diagnosing infectious diseases.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule