MICROBIOLOGY
Learning outcomes of the course unit
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.
Prerequisites
To pass the exams of the first semester, first year.
Course contents summary
Bacteriology
General characters of prokaryotic cell
Morphology of prokaryotic cell
Prokaryotic cell structures (cell wall, cytoplasmic membrane, nucleus, flagella, pili and fimbriae, capsule, endospores)
Notes on bacterial metabolism and replication
Microbial pathogenicity
Host-microbe interactions
Normal flora of humans
Microbial pathogenicity and potential virulence factors (adhesins, enzymes, bacterial toxins)
Laboratory diagnosis of bacterial diseases
Bacterial (components) detection and identification. Notes on laboratory methods (sample collection and transport, microscopic examination, cultural examination, bacterial identification, molecular biology approaches)
Antibody detection (notes)
Antibiotics and synthetic antimicrobial agents; methods for antibacterial susceptibility testing (notes)
Important pathogenic bacteria (notes)
- Staphylococci (S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci)
- Streptococci (Group A beta-haemolitic streptococci, Pneumococci)
- Neisseria meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae
- Corynebacterium diphtheriae
- Mycobacteria
- Enteropathogenic Gram-negative bacteria: Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Campylobacter and Vibrio
- Clostridia (C. tetani, C. perfringens and C. botulinum)
- Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria causing nosocomial infections: Pseudomonas and S. aureus.
Mycology
General characters of fungi
The fungal cell, the fungal colony; Yeasts and moulds
Classification of mycoses; Common human mycoses
Antifungal agents
Parasitology
Protozoa: Lyfe cicles - notes
-Intestinal parasites:
Giardia intestinalis
Cryptosporidium
Entamoeba histolytica
-Tissues and blood parasites:
Toxoplasma gondii
Plasmodium
Leishmania
Free living amebas (Acanthamoeba)
- Uro-genital tract parasites:
Trichomonas vaginalis
Helminths: Lyfe cicles - notes
- Cestodes:
Taenia solium
Taenia saginata
Diphyllobotrium latum
Echinococcus
- Nematodes:
Enterobius vermicularis
Ascaris lumbricoides
Strongyloides stercoralis
Trichinella spiralis
Arthropods: Lyfe cicles - notes
Sarcoptes scabiei
Pediculus humanus var. corporis and var. capitis
Virology
Morphological and structural characteristics of viruses
Definition
Size and morphology
Chemical composition
&nbs
Recommended readings
- M. Bendinelli, C. Chezzi, G. Dettori, N. Manca, G. Morace, L. Polonelli, M.A. Tufano -
"MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA: BATTERIOLOGIA, MICOLOGIA, VIROLOGIA. Gli agenti infettivi dell'uomo: biologia, azione patogena, laboratorio. " Monduzzi Editore
- I. De Carneri - Parassitologia Generale ed Umana, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano.
Teaching methods
Teacher: Prof. Giuseppe Dettori.