Learning objectives
Evaluation of classical and molecular methods for laboratory diagnosis of infection.
Evaluation of the different procedures, considering first the values of sensitivity and specificity of the methods.
Evaluation of antiinfective molecules and the practical approches for determining theyr action: antibiotics as well as antivirals assayes.
Prerequisites
Strong as well as peculiar knowledge of Molecular biology as well as General Microbiology.
Course unit content
Infective microrganisms and theyr characteristics of pathogenicity.
Peculiar and important species of microrganisms as agents of infections and morbidity.
Antiviral molecules, antibacterial molecules and theyr molecular structure.
Different procedures for evaluating theyr mode of action as well as procedures for diagnostic assayes.
Full programme
Generalities ' on pathogenic microorganisms
Pathogenicity ' and virulence
The main bacterial species causative agents of infection
The normal microbial population
Antimicrobial agents and their mechanism of action , antibiotics and chemotherapeutic
Transfer of resistance , chromosome , plasmid , transposon
The main families of viruses causative agents of infection
Antiviral agents and mechanism of action
vaccines
Microbiological diagnosis , direct, indirect , rapid molecular methods and related
Criteria and methods ' collection and transportation of the materials used for the correct microbiological diagnosis
Probes and molecular methods designed to reveal the micro-organisms or parts of them (eg, specific macromolecules )
Immunological diagnosis .
The immunoassay systems .
Conventional and molecular systems .
Polymerase chain reaction .
Systems using electrophoresis and transfer of macromolecules : proteins and nucleic acids .
Determination of sensitivity ' and resistance of microorganisms against antimicrobial agents .
Bibliography
Microbiologia diagnostica.
E.W.Koneman
Teaching methods
Oral lessons with a wide range of practical approches.
Assessment methods and criteria
oral examination to verify the knowledge of the multidisciplinar systems and theyr complexities.
Other information
The course promotes the acquisition of independent judgment through continuous stimulation to individual reasoning and the revision of the content of the lectures, in the light of prior knowledge and the information obtained in the recommended texts and materials provided.
