Microbiology is a science that studies microorganisms, microscopic organisms having an extraordinary impact on the entire life and the composition of our planet. Microorganisms and humans have a very close relationship.Some thousands of microbial species, collectively known as microbiota, live in our body and plays useful functions, instead other species, pathogens, may cause morbidity.The students should know the biology of the microorganisms and their strategies to cause diseases in humans.
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:
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.
Bacterial cell structure Genetic material exchange, biofilm Bacterial metabolism Spore Host-microorganism interactions, microbiota Mechanisms of virulence and direct and indirect bacterial pathogenicity Toxins Antibiotics (generalities, mechanisms of action and resistance of the main groups)
Clostridia Mycobacteria Streptococci Staphylococci Enterobacteria Gram-negative non-fermenting bacteria Neisseria Haemophils Moraxelle Chlamydiae Rickettsie Listeria monocytogenes Legionellae Mycoplasmas H. pylori
Structure of animal viruses Viral replication Viral replicative classes Viral pathogenicity
Orthomyxovirus (influenza virus) Paramyxovirus Primary hepatitis viruses (A, E, B, C) HIV HPV Herpesvirus
Fungal cell structure Antifungal drugs (generalities, mechanisms of action and resistance)
Ricevimento: Mail contact: vincenzo@dipilato@unige.it
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)
Second semester (March 2025)
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.
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:
