BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
cod. 15416

Academic year 2008/09
1° year of course - Second semester
Professor responsible for the course unit
BORGHETTI Angelo
integrated course unit
3 credits
hub:
course unit
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Course unit structured in the following modules:

Learning objectives

<br />The course is thought as an introduction to genetics starting from the mendelian theory of inheritance to molecular genetics. The purpose of the course is to gain understanding of the principles of heredity, the relationships between the genes and normal or disease traits and the current advances in genetics applied to humans.<br /> <br />- to know and describe the general characteristics of antigens, molecular structures (antibodies, receptors, cytokines), cells, tissues and organs of the immune system; the components and the interactions of innate and acquired immune responses. <br />- to know and understand the mechanisms of the innate and adaptive, humoral and cellular immune responses to invading microorganisms. <br />- to understand the pathogenesis of diseases caused by abnormal immune response.<br /> <br />Acquisition of the essential knowledge about the general characters of etiologic agents of infectious diseases (bacteria, fungi, helminths, protozoa, viruses), host-etiological agents interactions, prophylaxis and therapy (notes), drug-resistance mechanisms, nosocomial infections.<br /> <br /> 

Prerequisites

To pass the exams of the first semester, first year

Course unit content

<br />Genetics:<br />Mitotis, meiosis. Principles of mendelian inheritance (Mendel’s laws), physical basis of mendelian inheritance, expression and interaction of genes, crossing over and linkage, mapping, biochemical nature of genetic material, replication and repair of DNA, the genetic code, the “central dogma” of molecular genetics, mutation. Mitochondrial heredity. Polymorphisms, multiple alleles (ABO and MHC systems). Mechanisms of genetic transmission in humans. Gene structure and function. Mechanisms of gene regulation in prokaryotes (the operon model) and eukaryotes. Human cytogenetics and chromosomal abnormalities. Polygenic inheritance. Principles of population genetics. Principles of genetic manipulation and recent developments in molecular genetics diagnosis of diseases.<br /> <br />Immunology:<br />Definition of immunology. Outlines of the history of immunology.<br />Haematopoiesis: stem cells, myelopoiesis, lymphopoiesis, and erythropoiesis. Role of haematopoietic cytokines.<br />Innate immunity: self versus non-self. Physical and chemical barriers. Pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Complement, acute phase proteins, phagocytosis, NK cells, cytokines and chemokines. <br />Acquired specific immunity: lymphocyte clonal selection, specificity and immune memory. Structure of antibody, isotypes, antigens, and antibody-antigen interaction. T and B lymphocytes and their receptors. The generation of diversity for antigen recognition. The Major Histocompatibility System (MHC). Antigen processing. Activation of B and T lymphocytes. Anatomy of the immune response. Lymphocytes traffic between lymphoid tissues. Antigen Presenting Cells (APC).<br />The production of effectors of the acquired immune response: antibodies, TH1, TH2, TC lymphocytes, cytokines and chemokines. Immunity to bacteria, virus, fungi and parasitic infections. Evasion of immune mechanisms by pathogens. Passive acquired immunity and vaccination. <br />Brief outlines of immunopathology (autoimmunity, tumor immunology, transplantation, hypersensitivity, immunodeficiency).<br /> <br />Bacteriology:<br />General characters of prokaryotic cell<br />            Morphology of prokaryotic cell<br />            Prokaryotic cell structures (cell wall, cytoplasmic membrane, nucleus, flagella, pili and       fimbriae, capsule, endospores)<br />            Notes on bacterial metabolism and replication<br />Microbial pathogenicity<br />            Host-microbe interactions<br />            Normal flora of humans<br />            Microbial pathogenicity and potential virulence factors (adhesins, enzymes, bacterial        toxins)<br />Laboratory diagnosis of bacterial diseases<br />            Bacterial (components) detection and identification. Notes on laboratory methods (sample             collection and transport, microscopic examination, cultural examination, bacterial  identification, molecular biology approaches)<br />            Antibody detection (notes)<br />Antibiotics and synthetic antimicrobial agents; methods for antibacterial susceptibility testing (notes)<br />Important pathogenic bacteria (notes)<br />-         Staphylococci (S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci)<br />-         Streptococci (Group A beta-haemolitic streptococci, Pneumococci)<br />-         Neisseria meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae<br />-         Corynebacterium diphtheriae<br />-         Mycobacteria<br />-         Enteropathogenic Gram-negative bacteria: Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Campylobacter and Vibrio<br />-         Clostridia (C. tetani, C. perfringens and C. botulinum)<br />-         Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria causing nosocomial infections: Pseudomonas and S. aureus.<br /> <br />Mycology<br />General characters of fungi<br />The fungal cell, the fungal colony; Yeasts and moulds<br />Classification of mycoses; Common human mycoses<br />Antifungal agents<br /> <br />Parasitology<br />Protozoa: Lyfe cicles - notes<br />-         Intestinal parasites:<br /> Giardia intestinalis<br /> Cryptosporidium<br /> Entamoeba histolytica<br />-         Tissues and blood parasites:<br />            Toxoplasma gondii<br /> Plasmodiium<br />            Leishmania<br /> Free living amoebas (Acanthamoeba)<br />-     Uro-genital tract parasites:<br /> Trichomonas vaginali<br />Helminths: Lyfe cicles - notes<br />-     Cestodes:<br /> Taenia solium<br /> Taenia saginata<br /> Diphyllobotrium latum<br /> Echinococcus<br />-     Nematodes:<br /> Enterobius vermicularis (ossiuri)<br /> Ascaris lumbricoides<br /> Strongyloides stercoralis<br /> Trichinella spiralis<br />Arthropods: Lyfe cicles - notes<br /> Sarcoptes scabiei<br /> Pediculus humanus var. corporis and var. capitis<br /> <br />Virology<br />Biological, morphological and structural characters of viruses<br />            Definition<br />            Size and morphology<br />            Chemical composition<br />            Nucleic acids<br />Classification of viruses (notes)<br />Viral replicative cycle<br />            Attachment<br />            Entry<br />            Uncoating<br />            Genome expression and replication<br />Virus cultivation<br />            Laboratory animals, embryonated chicken eggs, cell cultures <br />            Cytopathic effects<br />Laboratory diagnosis of viral infection<br />            Clinical samples (collection, transport and storage criteria)<br />            Virus (components) detection (cytologic evaluation, viral culture, rapid antigen detection, gene amplification)<br />            Antibody detection techniques<br />Common human viral diseases<br /> 

Full programme

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Bibliography

<br />Campbell NA, Reece JB, Biologia, Genetica Zanichelli Ed)<br />Novelli G - Giardina E : Genetica medica pratica, Aracne editrice, Roma<br /> <br />Abbas & Lichtman: BASIC IMMUNOLOGY: Functions and disorders of the immune system. 2nd edition 2006 - Saunders<br />Parham: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. 2nd edition  2005 - Garland<br /> <br />Bendinelli, Chezzi, Fumarola, Pitzurra: Microbiologia Medica, Monduzzi Editore<br />La Placa: Principi di Microbiologia Medica, Società Editrice Esculapio.<br />“Microbiologia Medica/Micologia. Gli agenti infettivi dell’uomo: biologia, azione patogena, laboratorio”. Monduzzi Editore.<br />I.De Carneri-Parassitologia Generale ed Umana, Casa editrice Ambrosiana, Milano. <br /><br /> 

Teaching methods

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Assessment methods and criteria

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Other information

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