Learning objectives
Knowledge of: Microorganisms structure, physiology, genetic and metabolism , Microbial growth, survival and metabolites production DNA, RNA and protein expression. Genetic modification of prokaryote and eukaryote cells Intrinsic and extrinsic enviromental factors affecting microbial growth and phenotype expression
The course is aimed to give a critical insight about the microbiology applied to food systems and food industry.
Prerequisites
basic knowledge of microbiology, mathematics and chemistry
Course unit content
Deep Knowledge of: Microorganisms structure, physiology, genetic and metabolism , Microbial growth, survival and metabolites production Intrinsic and extrinsic enviromental factors affecting microbial growth and phenotype expression
The course is aimed to give a critical insight about the microbiology applied to food systems and food industry. The possible applications (i.e. formulation of innovative products, shelf life determination, evaluation of safety, HACCP, risk analysis, etc.) will be discussed. The most important statistical and mathematical instruments available will be analyzed in relation to the interpretation of resultsand their significance
The different sections in which the course is subdivided will be structured in theorical lessons and practical examples regarding food fermentations and food microbiology. In particular, case studies will be proposed inherent to microbial growth under different conditions, death kinetics following sanitizing treatments (thermal and not thermal), shelf life evaluation of foods and growth of pathogenic bacteria or toxin production.
Full programme
Bibliography
Materials provided during the lessons.
Lecture notes.
Teaching methods
The theoretical topics of the course are explained through lessons.
The basics and applications of food microbiology will be discussed during the lessons. The study, the elaboration and the discussion of specific "case studies are proposed in order to enable students to verify the students' comprehension and processing ability
Assessment methods and criteria
During the course, some lessons will be devoted to assessing the learning status.
In progress it will be assigned and discussed "case studies" useful for verifying the state of learning and the ability to elaborate the basic notions of food microbiology
At the end of the course an oral examination will be performed, regarding the discussion of a scientific paper on the course topics, and questions regarding the theoretical part of the course.
The passing of the exam and the final grade will be determined by assigning to the different questions an overall grade.
Other information
