OVERVIEW

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

General Microbiology: to know the main characteristics of prokaryotes, eukaryotes and viruses and their classification. The host-microbe interactions (symbiosis, parasitism, opportunism, colonization, infection, disease).

General Bacteriology: to know the characteristics of bacteria (bacterial structure, growth and microbial metabolism, overview of bacterial genetics). To understand the bacterial pathogenicity and virulence factors (input, adherence to host tissue, invasion, permanence, exotoxins and endotoxins, hydrolytic enzymes, antiphagocytic mechanisms), intracellular parasites and antigen features. 

Systematic Bacteriology: Virulence factors and mechanisms of pathogenicity of the following microorganisms: Clostridium spp. Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Mycobacterium spp., Enterobacterales, non-fermenting Gram-negatives, V. cholerae, Neisseria spp., Mycoplasma spp., Moraxella spp., Haemophilus spp., Legionella spp., Chlamydia spp., Rickettsia spp. L. monocytogenes, H. pylori.

To know the major classes of chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics (beta-lactams, fosfomycin, glycopeptides, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, quinolones, chloramphenicol, macrolides, clindamycin, oxazolidinones, streptogramins, nitroimidazoles, rifampin) and their main characteristics (spectrum of action, target, mechanisms of drug resistance). Susceptibility, antimicrobial resistance and in vitro antibiotic susceptibility testing.

General Virology: to know the general structural characteristics and the different families of animal viruses and their classification. To know viral replication in general and the different replicative classes, hints at viral genetics). To understand the different mechanisms of viral pathogenicity, direct and immune-mediated, and the stages of pathogenesis of viral infections 

Systematic Virology: to know the structural and replicative characteristics and mechanisms of pathogenicity of the main human viruses: herpesvirus, primary hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, E), HIV, HPV, Orthomyxovirus, Paramyxovirus

Mycology and parasitology: to know the general characteristics of mycetes, protozoa and helminths

At the end of the course the student will be able:

• to gain a deep knowledge about the different pathogenic microorganisms and their relationship with the host;
• to comprehend pathogenic mechanisms and virulence factors of bacteria;
• to know the main classes of chemotherapy agents and antibiotics;
• to comprehend pathogenic mechanisms of viruses and to know the main antiviral drugs;
• to know the main features of mycetes, protozoa and helminths

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching methods include: lectures (30 total hours)

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

• Introduction to Medical Microbiology
• General Bacteriology

1. Bacterial cell structure
2. Genetic material exchange, biofilm
3. Bacterial metabolism 
4. Spore 
5. Host-microorganism interactions, microbiota
6. Mechanisms of virulence and direct and indirect bacterial pathogenicity
7. Toxins 
8. Antibiotics (generalities, mechanisms of action and resistance of the main groups)

• Systematica bacteriology

1. Clostridia 
2. Mycobacteria
3. Streptococci
4. Staphylococci
5. Enterobacteria
6. Gram-negative non-fermenting bacteria
7. Neisseria
8. Haemophils
9. Moraxelle
10. Chlamydiae
11. Rickettsie
12. Listeria monocytogenes
13. Legionellae
14. Mycoplasmas
15. H. pylori

• Microbial and viral ecology
• General virology

1. Structure of animal viruses
2. Viral replication
3. Viral replicative classes
4. Viral pathogenicity

• Systematic virology

1. Orthomyxovirus (influenza virus)
2. Paramyxovirus
3. Primary hepatitis viruses (A, E, B, C)
4. HIV
5. HPV
6. Herpesvirus 

• General mycology

1. Fungal cell structure
2. Antifungal drugs (generalities, mechanisms of action and resistance)

• Microbiological diagnostics (direct, indirect, antibiogram, MIC)
• Hints on vaccines

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Antonelli et al. Principi di Microbiologia Medica II ed. CEA 2022
• La Placa Microbiologia Medica. Edises 2014
• Murray et al. Microbiologia Medica EMSI

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

WILLIAM BRUNO (President)

VINCENZO DI PILATO (President)

CINZIA MARIA DOMENICOTTI (President)

GUIDO FERLAZZO (President)

PAOLA GHIORZO (President)

GABRIELLA PIETRA (President)

ALDAMARIA PULITI (President)

SONIA SCARFI' (President)

ANNA MARCHESE

GABRIELLA PIATTI

CLAUDIA CANTONI (President and Coordinator of Integrated Course)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Second semester (March 2025)

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The oral examination is in conjunction with the General Pathology exam. The student should demonstrate the ability to critically discuss all the questions concerning the microbiology course.

At the end of the course, in the first week of June, approximately, a pre-exam for the Microbiology Module will be scheduled, and both students of the current AY and students of the previous years will have access to. Students are allowed to attend it even without the evaluation of Etiology and Pathogenesis of Diseases 1. This opportunity is available only for this pre-exam: for the ordinary sessions, students must have passed the Etiology and Pathogenesis of Diseases 1 exam. The Microbiology mark obtained in the pre-exam will be valid for the next exam sessions planned in June, July, and September of the same AY. If the General Pathology Module is not passed, the Microbiology mark obtained in the pre-exam will still be valid until the mark expiry date. Students who do not pass the Microbiology pre-exam will have the opportunity to take the exam, in the usual manner, according to the programmed schedule.

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

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The evaluation is carried out through an exam which seeks to ascertain the actual acquisition of the expected learning resultsby the student. To demonstrate their knowledge, the students should prove to know:

• the main characteristics of prokaryotes, eukaryotes and viruses and their classification.
• the host-microbe interactions (symbiosis, parasitism, opportunism, colonization, infection, disease);
• the characteristics of bacteria (bacterial structure, growth and microbial metabolism, overview of bacterial genetics);
• the bacterial pathogenicity and virulence factors (entry, adherence to host tissue, invasion, permanence, exotoxins and endotoxins, hydrolytic enzymes, antiphagocytic mechanisms), intracellular parasites and antigenic features;
• the major classes of chemotherapeutic agents and antibiotics (beta-lactams, glycopeptides, fosfomycin aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, quinolones, chloramphenicol, macrolides, clindamycin, oxazolidinones, streptogramins, nitroimidazoles, rifampin) and their main characteristics (spectrum of action, target, mechanisms of drug resistance); susceptibility and antimicrobial resistance and quantitative and qualitative determination of antibiotic activity;
• the virulence factors and pathogenicity mechanisms of the main pathogenic species for humans: Clostridium spp. Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp, Mycobacterium spp. Enterobacterales, non-fermenting Gram-negatives, Neisseria spp., Mycoplasma spp., Moraxella spp., Haemophilus spp., Legionella spp., Chlamydia spp., Rickettsia spp. L. monocytogenes, H. pylori, V. cholerae
• the general characteristics of the viruses (structure and composition, viral classification, viral replication, viral genetics overview);
• the mechanisms of pathogenesis of viral infections (transmission and penetration of the virus in the host, dissemination, tropism, virulence and cytopathogenicity, persistence, latency, reactivation)
• the mechanisms of pathogenicity of the main human viruses: herpesvirus, hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, E), HIV, HPV, Orthomyxovirus, Paramyxovirus
• the general characteristics of mycetes, protozoa and helminths.

Exam schedule