MICROBIOLOGY

General Module

Course Sheet

Course code:

OD13B

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020

Year of supply:

2021/2022

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of Single Cycle Degree 6 years in SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE

Disciplinary Sector:

Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology

Is part of:

MICROBIOLOGY AND HYGIENE

Location:

CHIETI

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

ALLOCATI Nerino

Cycle:

Single Annual Cycle

Obligatory attendance:

Yes

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

Prerequisites:

This course requires that you have taken the course in biology.

Objectives

At the end of this course students should:
- be able to describe the structure and function of microorganisms;
- be able to compare and contrast different microbial diseases, including the properties of different types of pathogens, and the mechanisms of pathogenesis;
- be able to describe in detail those classes of microorganisms of specific relevance to the common oral diseases.

Contents

The course provides learning in the basic principles of medical microbiology and infectious disease. It covers mechanisms of infectious disease transmission, principles of aseptic practice, and the role of the human body’s normal microbiota. The biology of bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens and the diseases they cause are covered. The course provides the conceptual basis for understanding pathogenic microorganisms and the mechanisms by which they cause disease in the human body. In particular, classes of microorganisms of specific relevance to the common oral diseases will be discussed in detail.

Extended Syllabus

Difference between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells.
Naming and Classifying Microorganisms.
The bacterial cell: Size, shape and arrangements of bacteria.
Structures external to the cell wall: glycocalyx, flagella, pili and fimbriae. The cell wall: composition and characteristics; cell wall and Gram stain; atypical cell walls.
Structures internal to the cell wall: the plasma membrane; the cytoplasm; the nucleoid; plasmids and resistance factors; ribosomes.
Bacterial metabolism: aerobic respiration; anaerobic respiration and fermentation.
Bacterial division and generation time.
Bacterial spore: structure, types, sporulation and germination, and their protecting role in biocide resistance.
Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenesis: entry into the human body; adhesion, colonization and invasion; pathogenic actions of bacteria (tissue destruction, toxins); mechanisms for escaping host defences. Mutations.
Genetic transfer and recombination: transformation, conjugation, and transduction.
Antibacterials and their mechanisms of action. Mechanisms of drug resistance.
Bacterial pathogens of humans: Staphylococci, Streptococci, Corynebacterium, Mycobacteria, Actinomyces, Enteric bacteria, Neisseria, Vibrio, Yersinia, Brucella, Haemophilus, Bordetella, Mycoplasmas, Campylobacter, Helicobacter, Legionella, Spirochete, Bacillus, anaerobic bacteria, Rickettsial and Chlamydial pathogens.
The microbiota: the millions of microbes that live in and on us.
Characteristics and classification of viruses.
Virus structure: non-enveloped and enveloped viruses.
Viral replication: life cycle of viruses with animal and prokaryote hosts. Mechanisms of viral pathogenesis.
Viral pathogens of humans:
DNA viruses: Herpesviruses, Papillomaviruses, HBV.
RNA viruses: Picornaviruses, hepatitis viruses, Rubellavirus, Retroviruses, Influenzaviruses, morbillivirus.
Antiviral drugs.
Prions.
Biology of Fungi: general characteristics, structure and classification. Fungal pathogenesis.
Oral fungal infections.
Antifungal drugs.
General characteristic of protozoa.
Disinfection, sterilization and asepsis.
Oral Microbiology
The mouth as a microbial habitat. The oral microbiota. Composition and characterization of the biofilm Bacterial resistance in the biofilm
Biofilm diseases
Dental plaque: microbial biofilms in the mouth; mechanism of dental plaque formation.
Bacteria prevalent in the different sites of the tooth
Oral bacterial diseases: dental caries, periodontal diseases, peri- implantitis, dental abscess, pulpitis and dental pulp necrosis.

Recommended Bibliography

Murray PR, Rosenthal KS, Pfaller MA: Microbiologia Medica 9a Ed. Edra, 2021.

Antonelli, Clementi, Pozzi, Rossolini: Principi di Microbiologia Medica, 3a Ed., 2017.

Teaching Methods

Teaching method: frontal lectures and material provided by the teacher.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The exam method is an oral test designed to verify the results of the expected learning, in accordance with the educational and specific objectives of the course. The oral examination is placed at the end of the course, after having achieved the attendance to the same, according to a schedule established and published on the University web page at the beginning of the academic year. The outcome of the test is evaluated as the result of learning the specific and training objectives, such as knowledge and understanding, capacity for logical integration and application. At the end of the test the teacher will form an opinion expressed in terms of Italian grades and their correspondent European Credit Transfer System grade (In Italian Universities grades are given on the basis of 30 points).
1) Rating 30 - 30 cum laude (corresponding to ECTS grade A): Excellent knowledge and understanding of the subjects, ability to reason and logical integration of the acquired knowledge. If the student, who has achieved this evaluation, demonstrates autonomy of judgment, high communication skills and autonomous learning skills, a laude can be added by the commision.
2) Rating 27 - 29 (corresponding to ECTS grade B): Good knowledge and understanding of the topics with some non-serious inaccuracies and with a good capacity for logical integration and judgment.
3) Rating: 23 - 26 (corresponding to ECTS grade C): Discrete knowledge and understanding of the topics and, despite some gaps in the ability to integrate and apply knowledge.
4) Rating 20 - 22 (corresponding to ECTS grade D): Knowledge and understanding of the arguments fully sufficient, although there are clear gaps, which are reflected in a reduced capacity for integration, logic and application.
5) Rating 18 - 19 (corresponding to ECTS grade E): Knowledge and understanding of the topics with serious and evident gaps, with limited integrative and applicative skills, but which also allow the passing of the exam.

N.B. For Integrated Courses (exams covering more than one module or course unit) a single exam will be held and a final grade given.

Contacts/More Information

In-Person office hours: Monday – Friday from 10:00 to 13:00.
Or by appointment: Contact the professor by email: nerino.allocati@unich.it.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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