Learning objectives
The successful student will know: (i) main goals of a metagenome study; (ii) techniques and technologies for the metagenomes assessment; (iii) role of microbiomes in food systems, food production and connections with food quality and the risk assessment.
Course unit content
1. General Introduction the study of microbiomes: metagenomics, microbial ecosystems and microbiomes, definitions, importance and applications, main technical aspects, goals for a metagenome study, types of metagenome studies, NGS sequencing, second-and third-generation NGS platforms;
2. NGS sequencing: sampling, DNA extraction from different matrices (soil, air, water and biological samples), multiplexing and library preparation, NGS sequencing reaction; marker gene 16S sequencing and shotgun metagenomics;
3. bioinformatic and biostatistics: demultiplexing, quality filtering, reads mapping, contigues reconstruction, assignment on reference databases (KEGG, COGS, greengenes and SILVA, alpha and beta diversity), multivariate statistics
4. microbiomes in food system: microbiomes of the food system actors, microbiomes circulation in food systems and connection with food quality and safety, food system microbiome for a better food, microbiomes and risks assessment in foods and food production.
Bibliography
Notes of lectures; scientific publications
Teaching methods
Oral lectures and scientific seminaries
Teaching tools
projector, computer, instruments of microbiological laboratory
Assessment methods and criteria
Theoretical knowledge will be tested in a oral examination
Other information
See the website of Marco Candela, Unibo
