Learning objectives
The objectives of the course are to enable the acquisition of knowledge and understanding about the principles and practice of the main methods for the laboratory diagnosis of infections due to bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses of medical interest, and provide the ability to apply in occupational contexts the knowledge and understanding acquired in the specific field.
Prerequisites
Getting through examinations of microbiology for the first and the second
years of the course.
Course unit content
Bacteriology
Techniques for microscopic examination, cultural examination, identification, antibacterial susceptibility testing, antigen detection (agglutination, immunochromatographic, enzyme-linked immunosorbent, immunofluorescence assays), nucleic acid detection (in situ hybridization, PCR, nPCR, real-time PCR, RFLP-PCR), antibody detection (immunoenzymatic – EIA, enzyme linked fluorescent assay -E.L.F.A, western blotting, flocculation, agglutination, immunofluorescence, immunodiffusion assays) for the diagnosis of infections due to: Anaerobic bacteria (Clostridium, Bacteroides), Spirochetes (Borrelia, Brachyspira, Leptospira, Treponema), Gram-negative rods (Enterobacteriaceae, Vibrionaceae, Campylobacter, Helicobacter, Haemophilus, Bordetella, Legionella, Pseudomonas), Gram-negative cocci (Brucella, Neisseria), Gram-positive rods, Gram-positive cocci, Mycobacteria, Chlamydiae, Rickettsiae, Mycoplasma.
Mycology
Laboratory diagnosis of mycoses: microscopic and cultural examinations. Procedures for identification of yeasts and moulds. Molecular biology approaches. Serological procedures.
Methods for antifungal susceptibility testing.
Parasitology
Techniques for the treatment of the biological samples for parasitologic examination
Faecal samples
Techniques for direct microscopic examination and after concentration, the trichromic staining and Ziehl-Neelsen staining; cultivation of intestinal protozoan parasites and parasitic intestinal nematodes (culture-concentration); detection of antigens and nucleic acids of intestinal protozoan parasites.
Blood samples
Techniques for direct microscopic examination and Giemsa staining, cultivation of blood and tissue protozoan parasites, detection of antigens of blood and tissue protozoan parasites and helmints (microfilariae), and nucleic acids of blood and tissue protozoan parasites.
Urine samples
Techniques for direct microscopic examination and after concentration and for cultivation of the protozoan parasites of the genitourinary tract.
Serum samples
Techniques for antibody detection: immunoenzymatic, passive haemoagglutination and western blotting assays.
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 -E.I.A., E.L.F.A, immunofluorescence) nucleic acid detection (PCR, nPCR and real time PCR), antibody detection (E.I.A., E.L.F.A., emoagglutination, immunofluorescence, western blotting, immunoblotting) for the laboratory diagnosis of the major viral infections of enteric tract (due to rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus, enterovirus), respiratory tract (due to influenza, parainfluenza, respiratory sincytial viruses, adenovirus, bocavirus, metapneumovirus, cytomegalovirus), uro-genital tract (due to adenovirus, BK virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, papillomavirus), skin and mucous membranes (due to enterovirus, herpes simplex virus, human herpesvirus 6, human herpesvirus 8, measles virus, papillomavirus, parvovirus B19, rubella virus, varicella/zoster virus), liver (due to hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses), eyes (due to adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, varicella/zoster virus), lymphoid and hematopoietic systems (due to adenovirus, BK virus, herpesviruses, human immunodeficiency virus, JC virus, parvovirus B19), nervous system (due to adenovirus, enterovirus, herpesviruses, JC virus, measles virus, rubella virus, parvovirus B19, Toscana virus)and of congenital, connatal and perinatal infections (due to cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, varicella/zoster virus, parvovirus, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, papillomavirus, enterovirus) and arbovirus infections (due to Chikungunya, Dengue, West Nile, Toscana viruses).
Bibliography
Visual aids made available online;
MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA – Gli agenti infettivi dell’uomo: biologia, azione patogena, laboratorio. BATTERIOLOGIA. M. Bendinelli, C. Chezzi, G. Dettori, N. Manca, G. Morace, L. Polonelli, M.A. Tufano. MONDUZZI EDITORIALE. Anno 2006.
MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA – Gli agenti infettivi dell’uomo: biologia, azione patogena, laboratorio. MICOLOGIA. M. Bendinelli, C. Chezzi, G. Dettori, N. Manca, G. Morace, L. Polonelli, M.A. Tufano. MONDUZZI EDITORIALE. Anno 2005.
MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA – Gli agenti infettivi dell’uomo: biologia, azione patogena, laboratorio.. PARASSITOLOGIA .M. Bendinelli, A. Calderaro, C. Chezzi, G. Dettori, N. Manca, G. Morace, L. Polonelli, M.A. Tufano. MONDUZZI EDITORIALE. Anno 2012.
MICROBIOLOGIA MEDICA – Gli agenti infettivi dell’uomo: biologia, azione patogena, laboratorio. VIROLOGIA. M. Bendinelli, C. Chezzi, G. Dettori, N. Manca, G. Morace, L. Polonelli, M.A. Tufano. MONDUZZI EDITORIALE. Anno 2007.
Teaching methods
Lectures accompanied by visual aids will be used to convey critical information on the topics relating to the course content.
Assessment methods and criteria
Learning outcomes will be verified through an oral examination. Questions on the topics relating to the course content will be used to test the student’s knowledge and understanding in the field, and her/his ability to apply the knowledge and understanding in occupational contexts.
