Frontal lessons

The origin of life and microbial evolution.

Bacterial cell structure and function: cell wall (organization and structure of peptidoglycan, the cell wall of Gram-positive and negative-bacteria), cytoplasmic membrane (structure, functions and mechanisms of translocation across membrane ),cytoplasm, bacterial ribosomes and translation, DNA (structure, replication and transcription).
Surface structures (capsula, pili and flagella).

Bacterial cell division.
Microbial growth and nutrition: microbial growth slopes, culture media, physical and environmental factors that affect microbial growth.
Metabolic pathways.
Methods for detection, identification and characterization of microbes.

Microbial survival strategies: bacterial spore, L-phase, Viable But Nonculturable (VBNC) bacteria, biofilm.

Host-microbe interaction.
The human microbiota, probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics and post-biotics.
Bacterial pathogenesis and microbial epidemiology, virulence mechanisms of bacterial pathogens.
Opportunistic pathogens and hospital-acquired infections.

Bacterial molecular genetics.
Accessory genetic elements: insertion sequences, transposons, plasmids, integrons.
Mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer: transformation, conjugation and transduction.
Lysogenic conversion.

Sterilization and disinfection.
Role of microbiology in the cosmetic field.

Microbiological aspects of pharmaceutical production.
Passive air sampling: determination of the Index of Microbial Air contamination (IMA)

Antibiotics and synthetic antibacterial agents.
Classifications and structure-activity relationship.
Clinical use of antibiotics.
General considerations on susceptibility test methods.
Development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Pathogens, clinical outcome, laboratory diagnosis, management and clinical surveillance of: Gram-positive and Gram-negative cocci as well as Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacilli and acid-resistant bacteria.
Overview of Helicobacter pylori: a fickle germ; microbiological characterization, pathogenesis, transmission routes, therapy.

Viruses structure and classification.
Viral replication.
Host-virus interaction.
The bacteriophages.
Overview of some human pathogen viruses: Herpesvirus, Papillomavirus, Retrovirus, Coronavirus and Orthomyxovirus.

Structure, characteristics and reproduction of molds t and yeast.
Fungi of medical interest: Candida, Penicillium, Aspergillus.

Practical classes

Study of Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms by using microscopic observation and cultural methods.
In particular, the students that will attend practical classes will learn:
- to prepare a broth culture and to spread bacteria on different agar media.
- to analyze and count the Colony Forming Units (CFUs)
- to prepare an antibiogram and analyze the results obtained.
- to evaluate the microbial growth on liquid and solid media.