Learning objectives
The objectives of the Microbiology course are to enable the acquisition of knowledge and understanding about morphology, structural organization, genetics and classification of bacteria, fungi, parasites (protozoa, helminths, arthropods) and viruses of medical interest; mode of reproduction of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths, arthropods, and virus replication; natural history of infections caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses, and mechanisms of their pathogenicity; mode of action of the major antimicrobial and antiviral agents and mechanisms of drug resistance; procedures for the study of morphology, cultivation and in vitro drug sensitivity of bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. The course also aims to provide the ability to apply in occupational contexts the knowledge and understanding gained in the field of Microbiology.
Course unit content
Introduction to Microbiology. General and Systematic Bacteriology: General characters of bacteria. Host-bacterium interactions and mechanisms of pathogenicity. Antibacterial drugs, mechanisms of action and resistance. Morphology, mechanisms of pathogenicity, natural history of infections with reference to bacteria responsible for infections of the nervous system, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, urogenital tract, immune system, skin.
General and Systematic Mycology. General characters of fungi. Host-fungus interactions and mechanisms of pathogenicity. Antifungal drugs, mechanisms of action and resistance. Etiological agents of human mycoses.
General Parasitology: Definitions. Systematic Parasitology: Parasitic protozoa of medical interest. Life cycle of the most important blood and tissue parasitic protozoa, intestinal and urogenital parasitic protozoa. Parasitic helminths of humans. Notes on the most important parasitic arthropods of medical interest. Notes on the most important antiparasitic drugs.
General Virology: Definition, characteristics, nature, morphology, structure, chemical composition, quantitative determination, multiplication, cultivation of viruses. Viral genetics. Viral interference. Virus-host interactions: pathogenesis of viral infections, host response to viral infections, notes on the epidemiology of viral infections, notes on the prophylaxis and therapy with antiviral drugs. The classification of viruses. Prions.
Systematic Virology: Morphological and structural characteristics, introduction to cultural characteristics and identification, pathogenesis of the infections of the nervous system, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, urogenital tract, immune system, skin.
Full programme
INTRODUCTION. Evolution of microorganisms and Microbiology. Classification of the etiologic agents of infectious diseases. General information on infectious diseases (endogenous and exogenous infections, routes of transmission, epidemiology).
GENERAL BACTERIOLOGY. The bacterial cell (morphology, structure and chemical composition, Gram stain). Bacterial metabolism and reproduction. The bacterial spore. Bacterial cultivation (culture media, growth curve). Bacterial genetics (mutations, plasmids, transposable elements, bacteriophages: lytic and lysogenic cycle, recombination mechanisms: transformation, conjugation, transduction). Host-microorganism relationships. The resident microbiota. Bacterial pathogenic action (pathogenicity and virulence, adhesion, invasiveness and/or toxinogenicity, lytic enzymes, immunoevasion, endotoxins and exotoxins, biofilm production). Antibacterial drugs, mechanisms of action and resistance. Antibacterial susceptibility testing.
SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY. Morphology, cultivation, antigenicity, mechanisms of pathogenicity, natural history of infections, and drug susceptibility of the following bacteria: Staphylococcus (S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus and other species), Streptococcus (S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae, S. pneumoniae), Enterococcus (E. faecalis, E. faecium), Bacillus (B. anthracis, B. cereus), Corynebacterium diphteriae, Listeria monocytogenes, Mycobacterium, Actinomyces, Nocardia, Neisseria (N. meningitidis, N. gonhorroeae), Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, other enterobacteria, Yersinia), Vibrio, Campylobacter, Helicobacter pylori, Brucella, Haemophilus, Bordetella, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Legionella, Clostridium (C. tetani, C. perfringens, C. botulinum), Clostridioides difficile, other anaerobic bacteria, Spirochetaceae (Treponema, Borrelia, Leptospira, Brachyspira), Bartonella, Rickettsia, Chlamydia and Chlamydophila, Mycoplasma.
GENERAL MYCOLOGY. Structure of the fungal cell. Yeasts and molds. Fungal metabolism and mode of reproduction. Dimorphism. Fungal pathogenicity. Classification of fungi and mycoses. Fungal ecology and geographical distribution. Antifungal drugs, mechanisms of action and resistance. SYSTEMATIC MYCOLOGY. Etiologic agents of superficial, mucocutaneous, subcutaneous and deep-seated mycoses.
GENERAL PARASITOLOGY. Parasitism, commensalism, mutualism. Infections by protozoa and by helminths and arthropods. Host-parasite interactions. Prevalence of parasitic infections and infestations. Classification of medically important human parasitic Protozoa, Helmints and Arthropods.
SYSTEMATIC PARASITOLOGY. Parasitic Protozoa of medical interest. Life cycle of the most important blood and tissue parasitic protozoa: haemoflagellates (Leishmania, Trypanosoma); Plasmodia; Toxoplasma gondii; free-living amoebas (Acanthamoeba, Naegleria). Life cycle of the most important intestinal and urogenital parasitic protozoa: host-associated amoebas (Entamoeba histolytica); ciliates (Balantidium coli); coccidia (Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Cystoisospora); microsporidia; flagellates (Dientamoeba fragilis, Giardia intestinalis, Trichomonas vaginalis). Parasitic helminths of humans. Life cycle of the most important blood and tissue parasitic helminths: cestodes (Echinococcus - hydatidosis; Taenia solium - cysticercosis); nematodes (Filaria, Trichinella, Toxocara); trematodes (Fasciola, Schistosoma). Life cycle of most important intestinal parasitic helminths: cestodes (Diphyllobotrhium latum, Hymenolepis nana, Taenia saginata, Taenia solium); nematodes (Enterobius vermicularis, Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostomatidae, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura). Notes on the most important parasitic arthropods of medical interest. Notes on most important antiparasitic drugs.
GENERAL VIROLOGY. The beginnings of experimental virology. Definition of viruses. Characteristics of viruses. Nature of viruses. Theories on the origin of viruses. Morphology of viruses. Structure of viruses: icosahedral symmetry, helical symmetry, complex structure, combined structure. Chemical composition of viruses: nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates. Haemagglutination by viruses. Quantitative determination of viruses: chemical and physical determinations, infectivity assays. Steps in multiplication of viruses: adsorption, penetration, uncoating, synthesis of viral components, maturation, release. Nucleic acid replication of RNA viruses. Nucleic acid replication of DNA viruses. Expression of viral genomes. Cultivation of viruses: cultivation in cell cultures in vitro, cytopathic effect, haemadsorption, immunoenzymatic and immunofluorescence techniques, cultivation in chicken embryos, cultivation in animals. Viral genetics: induction of mutations by physical and chemical agents, different types of mutants, pleiotropism; covariation. Interactions between virus phenotypes: complementation, phenotypic mixing, transcapsidation. Interactions between virus genotypes: intramolecular recombination, genetic reassortment, polyploidism. Viral interference: absorption mediated, homologue, heterologue, interferon-mediated. Virus-host interactions: pathogenesis of viral infections, host response to viral infections, persistent infections, notes on the epidemiology of viral infections, notes on the prophylaxis and therapy with antiviral drugs. The classification of viruses: classification based on pathogenetic and epidemiological characteristics, classification based on chemical, physical, biological and antigenic characteristics. Prions.
SYSTEMATIC VIROLOGY. Morphological and structural characteristics, introduction to cultural characteristics and identification, pathogenesis of infections, epidemiology, prophylaxis and therapy relative to: Adenoviridae, Herpesviridae, Poxviridae, Hepadnaviridae, Papillomaviridae, Polyomaviridae, Parvoviridae, Picornaviridae, Caliciviridae, Hepeviridae, Togaviridae, Matonaviridae, Flaviviridae, Coronaviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Pneumoviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Filoviridae, Reoviridae, Retroviridae.
Bibliography
Murray P.R., Pfaller M.A., Rosenthal K.S. “Microbiologia Medica”, EDRA. Nona edizione, febbraio 2021 o più recente se disponibile.
oppure Ryan K.J. Sherris – Microbiologia Medica, EDRA, settima edizione, settembre 2021 o più recente se disponibile.
Teaching methods
The topics concerning the contents of the course will be presented and discussed through lectures. The main concepts of each topic will be exposed, emphasizing the links between the various parts of the course and encouraging the active participation of the students. Lectures will be held on-site in compliance with safety standards. Supporting material will be available on the specific, student-reserved platform (Elly) and will include slide presentations of the lectures.
Assessment methods and criteria
Learning outcomes will be verified through an oral exam. No interim evaluation is programmed. Questions on the topics of the course will be used to verify the student’s knowledge and understanding in the field, and her/his ability to apply the knowledge and understanding in occupational contexts. Failure to answer to one question, or proven inability to demonstrate at least a basic knowledge on the subject, will prevent the successful completion of the exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, a grade will be attributed according to the degree of achievement of the objectives (excellent, good, fair, fully sufficient, barely sufficient, in the range between 30/30 and 18/30). Honors will be reserved to students demonstrating particular communication skills and independent learning ability.
Students with Learning Disabilities/Special Educational Needs must first contact the "Centro di Accoglienza e Inclusione" of the University of Parma (cai@unipr.it).
