MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY III
cod. 1007399

Academic year 2023/24
3° year of course - Second 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 general characteristics, life cycles, pathogenicity factors, principles and practice of the main methods for the laboratory diagnosis of infections due to viruses and infestations due to Elminta 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 exams of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology I and II during the first and second year of the bachelor course in TLB.

Course unit content

MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY C
General characteristics, life cycles, pathogenicity factors of infections caused by the main groups of viruses and infestation by Elminta of medical interest.

DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES OF MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY C
The course deals with the principles of the laboratory diagnosis of infections by parasites and viruses, and the subdivision of diagnostic methods in relation to the detection target, the running time or investigation completion.
The lessons are directed to the processing of the biological sample: transport, storage and preparation for the different laboratory investigations, and to the detailed description of conventional and rapid techniques for the direct and indirect laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by parasites and viruses.

Full programme

MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY C
VIROLOGY
General characteristics, replication, epidemiology of the main RNA viruses of medical interest.
RNA viruses: Picornaviridae, Astroviridae (notes), Caliciviridae, Togaviridae, Flaviviridae, Coronaviridae, Filoviridae (notes), Paramyxoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Bunyaviridae (notes), Arenaviridae (notes), Reoviridae, Retroviridae.

PARASITOLOGY
Principles of laboratory diagnosis of infestation caused by:
Cestodes (Diphyllobothrium latum, Taenia solium, Taenia saginata, Echinococcus). Trematodes (Schistosomes).
Nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Enterobius vermicularis, Trichinella spiralis).

DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES OF MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY C
VIROLOGY
- Techniques for preparing clinical samples for virological investigations.
- Techniques for electron microscopy, cell culture (rapid and
conventional methods), identification of cytopathogenic agents, antigen
detection (agglutination test, immunochromatographic, enzyme
immunoassay, immunofluorescence) nucleic acid detection (PCR, nPCR and real time PCR), antibody detection (enzyme immunoassay, immunofluorescence, western blotting, immunoblotting) for the laboratory diagnosis of the most relevant viral infections
of the respiratory , enteric, urogenital tracts, skin and mucous membranes, liver, eyes, lymphoid and hematopoietic systems, nervous system, congenital, connatal and perinatal infections and arbovirus infections.

PARASITOLOGY
- Principles of laboratory diagnosis of infestation:
Cestodes (Diphyllobothrium latum, Taenia solium, Taenia saginata,
Echinococcus). Trematodes (Schistosomes).
Nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Enterobius vermicularis, Trichinella spiralis).

Bibliography

MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA. BATTERIOLOGIA E VIROLOGIA (ed. 2019)
Maria Pia Conte, Paola Mastromarino
Società editrice Esculapio

MICROBIOLOGIA E MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
Per le Professioni Sanitarie e Odontoiatria (Terza Edizione)
Simona De Grazia, Donatella Ferraro, Giovanni Giammanco
Pearson Editore

MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
(Quinta Edizione)
Eudes Lanciotti
Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

LE BASI DELLA MICROBIOLOGIA (con approfondimenti clinici)
Harvey R. A., Champe P. C., Fisher B. D.
Zanichelli Editore

DE CARNERI PARASSITOLOGIA GENERALE E UMANA
A cura di Fabrizio Bruschi Edoardo Pozio (Quattordicesima edizione)
Zanichelli Editore

Iconographic material used is available on the Elly site, on the course page.

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. In particular, the teacher takes lessons in the classroom with the support of Powerpoint slides; the latter will be loaded in the Elly portal of the course. 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 III 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 the event of a new health emergency, if it will be necessary to carry out the exams in distance mode, we will proceed by the Teams platform. For distance exam modes, please refer to the University guidelines at http://selma.unipr.it/.

Other information

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