Learning objectives
Acquisition of knowledge on principles and practice of the main methods for the laboratory diagnosis of infections due to bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses of medical interest.
Prerequisites
Getting through examinations of microbiology for the first and the second years of the course.
Course unit content
Bacteriology.
Methods for microscopic examination, cultural examination, identification, antibacterial susceptibility testing, antigen detection (agglutination test, immunochromatographic assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence test), nucleic acid detection (in situ hybridization, polymerase chain reaction, nested-PCR, real-time PCR, RFLP-PCR), antibody detection (immunoenzymatic assay - EIA; ELFA, western blotting, flocculation and agglutination tests, immunofluorescence test, immunodiffusion assay) applied to 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 examination
• Cultural examination
Procedures for identification of yeasts
Procedures for identification of moulds
• Serological procedures
• Methods for antifungal susceptibility testing of fungi
• Molecular biology approaches in medical mycology
Bibliography
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.
Other information
Teachers: Prof. Stefania Conti; Dr. Sabina Rossi
