Learning objectives
Knowledge and ability to understand
During the course, the student will have to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the basic concepts of toxicokinetics and of toxicodynamics, of experimental toxicology methods that can offer the evaluation cues related to the risk-benefit bases in exposure to xenobiotics in general and to food components in particular. The student must acquire the ability to correlate and integrate the general aspects with the specific characteristics of the individual foods and be able to highlight the possible interactions and side effects.
Expertise
The student must be able to use the knowledge acquired to understand and predict the molecular transformations underlying the formation of xenobiotics. During the course, the student will be driven to the evaluation of the results from toxicological and epidemiological studies and he will have to acquire the skills to apply the knowledge of the mechanisms of action of toxic compounds in order to evaluate the possible toxicity of food and food supplements.
Autonomy of judgment
The student must be able to define which metabolism and interactions may occur or can be induced in a food and how can be related to a possible toxicological response.
Communication skills
The student must be able to use the scientific language and the specific words of toxicology in an appropriate manner, demonstrating the ability to illustrate and transmit the acquired concepts in oral and written form.
Learning ability
The student who attended the course will be able to deepen their knowledge in the field of toxicology, through the independent consultation of specialized texts, scientific papers and appropriate databases, even outside the topics dealt with strictly in class.
Prerequisites
Course unit content
The module of Food Toxicology consists of a first general part concerning the description of the general principles of toxicology, toxicokinetics and the toxicity mechanisms of xenobiotics. This part will investigate the main toxicological parameters and the main toxicological tests applied to the risk assessment area. The second part of the course takes into consideration aspects of chemical carcinogenesis and the toxicological evaluation of possible food contaminants. The last part of the course deals with different topics, in particular: the influence of food in the modulation of metabolism with specific attention to nutraceutical products and food supplements.
Full programme
The program will be divided into two parts in order either to provide the basics to the student and to allow him to apply the acquired knowledge to deepen the subject
PART 1
- General principles of toxicology and nature of toxic effects
- Absorption, Distribution and Excretion of Toxic Substances
- Biotransformation and metabolism of xenobiotics. Enzymatic systems.
- Dose/response curves
- General mechanism of action. Cellular homeostasis and toxicological alterations.
- Experimental toxicology and toxicological risk assessment
- Idiosyncrasies and allergic reactions
PART 2
- Teratogenicity
- Carcinogenesis and chemical mutagenesis
- Toxicology for phytochemicals and pesticides, insecticides and herbicides, metals, solvents, IPA, vegetable and animal toxins
- Environmental toxicology: atmospheric pollutants, pollutants of water and soil
- Food and nutritional toxicity: food additives and contaminants. Nutraceutical products.
- Toxicological interaction in particularly related to food consuming.
- Treatment of poisoning.
Bibliography
Casarett & Doull’s “Tossicologia: fondamenti dell’azione delle sostanze tossiche” Ed. EMSI, Roma.
Goodman & Gilman’s “The pharmacological basis of therapeutics”
Teaching methods
During classes, which will be lead with the help of PowerPoint presentations and on the blackboard, the different aspects that characterize the topics of toxicology will be discussed and treated. Particular reference to food contaminants and food supplements will be dealt with. Lectures and seminars will be held by international specialists.
The lessons will be organized as follows:
- in person with the possibility of using the lessons also remotely in synchronous mode (via Teams).
To promote active participation in the course, various individual and small group activities will be proposed, through the use of the resources present in Elly.
Assessment methods and criteria
The verification of learning will be carried out by written examination. The written exam will consist of both open and closed questions with multiple answers on the main topics of the course. The evaluation scale: 0-30
Weights and evaluation criteria:
• Acquired knowledge (up to 16/30);
• Ability to apply the acquired knowledge and to make links between the topics covered (up to 9/30);
• Ability to deal with the subject through the use of the specific language of the discipline (up to 5/30).
The assessment of learning will be carried out in the following ways:
1. structured written test conducted at a distance (via Teams and Elly). The test consists of 15 questions to be chosen multiple on the contents of the course (volumes indicated + documents uploaded to Elly during the course).
There is no penalty for incorrect answers.
2. Presentation of a Project Work (carried out individually), delivered to the teacher in word or pdf format in the appropriate deposit on the course page in Elly). Project work involves the elaboration of a research project in the educational-training field. The design context is freely chosen by the candidate, as long as it meets the criteria illustrated in the course, in the slides, and in the reference manuals.
For the evaluation of the papers, a predefined column will be used and made known in the course materials published online on the Elly platform.
The final grade, communicated after the written test directly in Esse3, will correspond to the weighted arithmetic average of the assessments obtained in the written test and in the project work, both expressed out of thirty.
Other information
The frequency to class is not mandatory, even if it strongly recommended. Students will be allowed to take the exam if they have attended at least thirty-six of the forty-eight hours of the lessons.
