Learning objectives
The laboratory exercises aim to enable the student to carry out a basic microbiological analysis ranging from the estimation of cellular concentration to the evaluation of behavior in different growth 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 and protocols to be applied for microbiological analysis 2) Application skills: apply methodologies and techniques to evaluate the presence and quantify microorganisms in different matrices 3) Autonomy of judgement: ability to evaluate the results obtained in the various experiments 4) ability to process the results obtained into reports
Prerequisites
Knowledge of microbial counts is required
Course unit content
The course completes the contents of dairy microbiology. 1 tutorial CFU includes 12 hours of lessons divided between classroom and laboratory exercises.
The laboratory exercises will be dedicated in part to explaining the theory underlying the techniques that will then be applied in the practical exercises.
Full programme
The experiences will be focused on the following techniques: i) impedometric technique for the study of the growth kinetics of the microbiota of raw milk and selected starters ii) plate counting technique on selective and non-selective media for the quantification of the cultivable population of different matrices iii ) DNA extraction from different matrices iii) absolute quantification of cultivable and non-cultivable populations with Real-time qPCR technique.
Bibliography
- - -
Teaching methods
Teaching will be carried out through lectures/exercises in the classroom and in the laboratory. The lessons will be carried out with the aid of slides which will represent teaching material. The slides will be available online on the Elly platform in pdf format for students.
During the lessons, the appropriate use of technical language will be reiterated, and the connections between the various parts of the course will be underlined.
Attendance at the laboratory hours is compulsory, unless justified by the teaching professor. Attendance is verified according to methods and criteria established by the individual teacher who makes them known to the students at the beginning of the lessons.
The content of the exercise lessons, carried out in the classroom, will be an integral part of the final evaluation.
Assessment methods and criteria
At the end of the course, the level of learning of the expected results will be verified for all the contents offered during the lessons, including the tutorial lessons.
The learning test will be carried out through an oral test preceded by a preliminary written test with closed answers. Passing this test will be a barrier to verifying knowledge and understanding of the fundamental aspects of dairy microbiology. The test is structured with 7 questions relating to the frontal activity and 3 questions relating to the exercises activity. The correct answer to at least 9 of the 10 questions will be a necessary condition for being able to take an oral test on the same exam date.
The oral test is aimed at verifying knowledge, understanding and communication skills regarding all the topics offered during the lessons and exercises of dairy microbiology.
The vote will be expressed out of thirty
The exam results are published on the ESSE3 portal (https://unipr.esse3.cineca.it/Home.do
Other information
Attendance of the hours of laboratory exercises is compulsory, unless there is a justified justification assessed by the course teacher. Attendance is verified according to methods and criteria established by the individual teacher who makes them known to the students at the beginning of the lessons.
