Learning objectives
“Microbiology and Applied Laboratory Medicine” course is part of the integrated course “Laboratory Analysis applied to Sport”. The course aims to provide the student with essential knowledge about the main features of microorganisms and viruses etiologic agents of infectious diseases, and the principles of laboratory diagnosis. Furthermore, it will supply the ability of using the acquired knowledge and understanding as useful tools for a conscious approach to the infectious diseases.
Prerequisites
Basic notions of Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology and general Microbiology.
Course unit content
Besides proper recalls on general characters of microorganisms and viruses causative agents of infectious diseases, lectures will concern host defenses against infections and principles and methods of laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Full programme
The resident microbiota in humans. Host-parasite interactions. Host defenses against infectious agents. Innate immunity; Adaptive immunity. General information on infectious diseases. Etiologic agents of infectious diseases: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses. Transmission routes of infectious agents and their pathogenicity. Laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases, principles and methods. Biological samples for the laboratory diagnosis of viral and microbial infections: sample collection, transport and storage. Microscopic examination, culture, antigen detection, nuclei acid amplification tests. Antibody detection.
Bibliography
Madigan M.T., Martinko J.M., Stahl D.A., Clark D.P. BROCK. Biologia dei microrganismi 3 – Microbiologia biomedica. PEARSON
Didactic resources will be available on the Elly site, on the course page.
Teaching methods
According to the regulation of the Italian Government and the University of Parma about the COVID-19 pandemics, the present course is realized with frontal lessons via mixed in-presence and at-distance modality. In particular, the teacher takes lessons in the classroom with the help of PC (PowerPoint slides); simultaneous connection of the PC to the Teams platform in streaming modality ensures connection with students not present in the classroom (for instructions, see http://selma.unipr.it). Each lesson is registered and loaded in the Elly portal of the course, together with the slides. Lectures will present the main conceptual frame of each subject, summoning questions or doubts from the audience.
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, in order to test his/her ability of applying the acquired knowledge to a conscious approach to the infectious diseases. The examination results will contribute to the final evaluation of the integrated course.
In case the COVID-related sanitary emergence continues, the examination will proceed on the Teams platform (see the guidelines at the address: http://selma.unipr.it/).
Other information
The teacher is available for further explanations in office or by distance via Teams after e-mail appointment, or via chat on Elly platform.
