MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY II
cod. 1007370

Academic year 2020/21
2° year of course - First semester
Professor responsible for the course unit
ARCANGELETTI Maria Cristina
integrated course unit
5 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN

Learning objectives

Students have to know life cycles, pathogenic factors epidemiology and techniques for laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by relevant bacteria, fungi, and DNA viruses of medical interest. In addition, they must be able to apply this knowledge in the workplace.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of microbiology, biochemistry and physiology are requested to understand the course topics successfully. In particular, students must have to passed the exam of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology I during the first year of the bachelor course in TLB.

Course unit content

Module: MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY B
The course is based on lessons related to life cycles, pathogenicity factors and epidemiology of infections caused by the main groups of bacteria, fungi and DNA viruses of medical interest.

Module: DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY B
The course will deal with: the principles of laboratory diagnosis of bacterial and fungal infections; conventional diagnostic techniques and rapid methods for the diagnosis of the most important and frequent bacterial and fungal infections; collection, transport, and preparation of biological samples for laboratory diagnosis of bacterial and fungal infections; n vitro antibacterial and antifungal susceptibility testing.

Full programme

Module: MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY B

BACTERIOLOGY
General characteristics, pathogenicity factors, epidemiology of the main groups of bacteria of medical interest.
Staphylococci: S. aureus e Staphylococcus spp.
Streptococci: S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae, S. pneumoniae
Enterococci
Neisseriae: N. meningitidis e N. gonorrhoeae.
Enterobacteriaceae
Vibrio cholerae
Campylobacter
Helicobacter pylori
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Haemophilus influenzae
Legionella pneumophila
anaerobic bacteria
chlamydia
mycobacteria
corynebacteria
pathogenic spirochetes

M I C O L O GY
Main fungi of medical interest.

V I R O L O G Y
General characteristics, replication, epidemiology of infections caused by the main DNA viruses of medical interest.
DNA viruses: Poxviridae, Herpesviridae, Adenoviridae, Polyomaviridae, Papillomaviridae, Hepadnaviridae, Parvoviridae.

Module: DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY B
BACTERIOLOGY: Biological specimens and laboratory diagnostic techniques for the detection and identification of specific Gram+ bacteria (staphylococci, streptococci, enterococci, Corynebacterium spp.) and Gram- bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae, Neisseria spp., Haemophilus spp., Legionella pneumophyla, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), bacterial antigen detection tests (agglutination, immunochromatographic, immunoenzymatic, immunofluorescence assays), nucleic acid detection tests (Real-time PCR, Film-Array, in situ hybridization [PNA-FISH]). Methods for laboratory diagnosis of mycobacterial infection. In vitro sensitivity assays to anti-bacterial drugs (manual and automated assays). Methods for the indirect diagnosis of bacterial infections: detection of antibodies by enzyme immunoassay, flocculation, agglutination, immunofluorescence, western blotting (with examples of applications).

MICOLOGY: Identification techniques of yeasts and filamentous fungi. In vitro sensitivity assays to anti-fungal drugs. Fungal antigens detection. Detection of anti-fungal antibodies.

Bibliography

M. Bendinelli, C. Chezzi, G. Dettori, N. Manca, G. Morace, L. Polonelli, M.A T u f a n o.
Microbiologia Medica. Batteriologia. Micologia. Virologia. Monduzzi Editore

Teaching methods

Lectures accompanied by visual aids will be used to convey critical information on the topics relating to the course content. Lessons will be carried out with the help of slides elaborated by the teacher; lessons will be open to wide discussion with the participation of the students. Lessons will be carried out with the help of slides elaborated by the teacher. According to the regulation of the Italian Government and the University of Parma about the COVID-19 pandemics, the present course is realized with frontal lessons via mixed in-presence and at distance modality. In particular, the teacher takes lessons in the classroom with the help of PC (Powerpoint slides); simultaneous connection of the PC to the Teams platform in streaming modality ensures connection with students not present in the classroom. Each lesson is registered and loaded in the Elly portal of the course, together with the slides. The teacher is available for further explanations in office or by distance via Teams after e-mail appointment, or via chat on Elly platform.

Assessment methods and criteria

Learning outcomes will be verified through an oral examination. The examination can be addressed, upon registration online, based on the official exams calendar of the Department. By questions regarding the course content it will be ascertained whether the student has achieved the objective of knowledge and understanding of the scientific discipline and is able to properly use the technical-scientific language and apply the knowledge acquired in occupational contexts. The ascertained inability to answer a question or to prove at least a basic knowledge of the subject will prevent the successful completion of the exam. In case of passing the exam, the attribution of the vote, expressed in thirtieths, will be carried out according to the degree of achievement of the objectives (excellent, good, fair, fully sufficient, barely sufficient). The final vote of the integrated course of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology II will result from the average of the notes obtained in the two modules. Full marks with laude will be reserved to students who have demonstrated particular communication and autonomous learning skills. The result of the examination is communicated immediately to the student, and, after acceptance, it will be published on the ESSE3 portal (https://unipr.esse3.cineca.it/Home.do).
In case the COVID-related sanitary emergence continues, the examination will proceed on the Teams platform (see the guidelines at the address: http://selma.unipr.it/).

Other information

The program of the course of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology II, that includes two modules, Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology B and Diagnostic Techniques of Clinical Microbiology B could be divided/reorganized between the two modules, in full compliance with the program itself and with the assigned teaching commitment.