OVERVIEW

The course aims to introduce and understand the basic principles of medical microbiology as a diagnostic discipline through the study of peculiar characters and functions of microorganisms and viruses. Microbiology explains microbial interactions with multicellular organisms, the damage that can result, the diagnostic methods and therapeutic specific and targeted opportunities.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

-Acquisition of the specific language of the disciplines of Biology, Genetics and Microbiology -Know and understand the fundamental biological organization and the basic biochemical and cellular processes -Know the general laws of inheritance of characters in living organisms and understand their transmission -Know the main transmission mechanisms and the laws of heredity applied to human pathology - Ability to explain, in a simple way, the biological processes that underlie living organisms, and the basic principles of Microbiology and Bacterial Genetics. - Awareness of the biological diversity of human pathogenic microorganisms.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge of fundamental and additional structures, peculiar of bacteria, as extrinsic cause of disease in general, infectious in particular. Knowledge how bacteria cause to cells and human organism damage, toxic, inflammatory and inhibiting immune surveillance. Knowledge of structure of human viruses and their pathogenicity. Knowledge of antibacterial drugs. Knowledge of the main lines of microbiological diagnostics, direct and indirect.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge acquired with the frequency of the lessons of the courses included in the study plan.
The study plan is structured so as to allow a gradual acquisition of knowledge and skills in the main subjects under study.

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of 10 hours of classroom lessons on all topics of the program.
The lessons are delivered with Power Point presentations

Any Student with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department before class begins, in order to liase and arrange the specific teaching methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1) fundamental differences between multicellular organisms and microorganisms and between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell, fundamental and accessory structures of bacterial cells
2) peculiar genetic and metabolism of the bacterial cell, bacterial spores in general and spore-forming bacteria as cause of human diseases
3) the difference between saprophytic bacteria and parasites, exogenous and endogenous infections, direct and indirect mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity
4) general microbiological diagnosis, direct and indirect (serology), bacteriological diagnosis, antibacterial drugs, bacterial resistance to drugs, genetic mechanisms of onset of resistance and phenotypes
5) structure of viruses in general and DNA and RNA viruses in particular, viral replication and pathogenesis, virology diagnosis, direct and indirect.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All the topics covered in class can be found in the ”aula web” With digital support, students are given by slides shown in class and handouts prepared by the teacher, summary of lessons provided and available in Aula Web (https://www.aulaweb.unige.it)

Any other more in-depth material is mentioned at the end of the lesson in the “aula web” slides and described in the following textbook

Microbiologia: P. Cipriani, G. Dicuonzo

 “Elementi di Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica” McGraw-Hill Editore

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination for the integrated course  is made up of a single written exam for the 4 sub-sections(10 multiple choice questions per each module). In order to pass the examination athe student has to reach a mark of at least 24/40 (18/30).

The total amount of time allowed for the examination is 60 minutes, 15 minutes for sub-section.
Students enrolled in other universities or other degree courses who are only required to sit for some of the sub-sections  must achieve an average mark of at least 6, 12 or 18, depending on the number of modules

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Students are assessed ­by a final exam alone which aims to ensure that they have actually reached the required level of knowledge.

In order to pass the examination and to reach a mark of at least 18/30, the students must prove their knowledge on :

 -general basis of microorganisms and viruses
- pathogenic mechanisms of bacteria and viruses
- general and specific methods of microbiological diagnosis
- basis of anti -bacterial drugs in human medicine

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

 Contact by e-mail : piatti@unige.it