Learning objectives
This part of the General Microbiology course aims to enable the student to
autonomously
carried out a microbiological analysis, ranging from the estimation of cellular concentration to the evaluation of different growth behiavours in diverse conditions.
In particular, the student must be able to understand the meaning of a
direct and indirect microbiological analysis and express the result in the
correct way. The expected learning outcomes are: 1) Knowledge of the methods to be applied for microbiological analysis 2)
Application skills: apply methodologies and techniques for the
microbiological analysis in order to evaluate the presence and the the quantity of microorganisms in different matrices. 3) Autonomy of judgment: to evaluate
the results obtained in the microbiological experiments. 4) Communication skills: communication of the results obtained in a proper way 5) Ability to learn:
Ability to critically consult databases and websites relating to microbial
methods and procedures.
Prerequisites
none
Course unit content
The course completes the contents of General Microbiology and concerns
to understand the basis of a microbiological analysis. 1 CFU of exercise includes 15 hours
of lessons divided between classroom and laboratory exercises to learn the fondamentals of microbiological techniques. Laboratory exercises will focus on: i)microscopy ii)explanation and meaning of
the microbiological counting techniques iii) isolation techniques iv) microbial growth curve
Full programme
Fundamentals of microbiological analysis. Microscopy. Pure culture: fundamentals and methods. Decimal diluitions. Plate count. Microbial growth curve. Expression of the result of a microbiological analysis.
Bibliography
Ann Elizabeth Vaughan Pietro Buzzini Francesca Clementi. Laboratorio
didattico di microbiologia (2008) Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. Distribuzione
esclusiva Zanichelli. ISBN: 9788808183224
Teaching methods
The teaching will be carried out through lectures /exercises in the classroom and in the laboratory;
the lessons will be held with the help of slides that will represent didactic
material, in addition to the recommended texts. The slides will be
available online at the platform Elly, in pdf format,
and some videos useful for viewing the operational sequences of the
procedures applied will be upload on the platform. During the lessons, the appropriate use of technical
language will be reiterated, and the links between the various parts of
the course will be emphasized.
The frequency to the laboratory experiences is mandatory, except in particular cases that will be evaluated by the Professor. The Professor will inform the students about the maximum number of absences. The presence to the laboratory experiences will be verified through methods decided by the Professor and will be communicated to the students at the beginnining of the lessons.
The content of the practical lessons, held in the classroom, will be an
integral part of the final evaluation.
Assessment methods and criteria
The content of this part of the teaching is an integral part of the learning
assessment.
In particular, 5 of the 31 questions included in the written test relate to
this part of the teaching.
Each correct answer is worth 1 point.
Other information
In the event of a serious health emergency, the methods of teaching and
verifying learning may be subject to changes which will be promptly
communicated on Elly and / or on the course website.
