Learning objectives
The aim of this part of the General Microbiology course is to enable the student to carry out a basic microbiological analysis ranging from estimating cell concentrations to assessing behaviour under 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 methodologies and protocols to be applied for microbiological analysis 2) Application skills: to apply methodologies and techniques to assess the presence and quantify microorganisms in different matrices 3) Autonomy of judgement: ability to evaluate the results obtained in different experiments 4) Communication skills: to communicate the results obtained using subject-specific vocabulary 5) Learning ability: ability to critically consult databases and websites relating to the methods and protocols used
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
The teaching complements the contents of General Microbiology in order to understand the basics (techniques, protocols, procedures) of a microbiological analysis. 1 CFU of practical training comprises 15 hours of lectures divided between classroom and laboratory exercises.
The laboratory exercises will be partly devoted to explaining the theory behind the techniques that will then be applied in the practical exercises. The practical experiences will focus on: i) microscopy ii) principles of microbiological counts iii) isolation techniques iv) microbial growth curves.
Full programme
Fundamentals of microbiological analysis
Microscopy
Pure culture: concepts and analytical methodologies
Decimal dilutions
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
Teaching will be carried out in the form of lectures/face-to-face exercises in the classroom and laboratory. Lectures will be conducted with the aid of slides that will represent teaching material to supplement the recommended texts. The slides will be available online on the Elly platform in pdf format for students.
During the lectures, the appropriate use of technical language will be emphasised, and links between the various parts of the course will be stressed.
Attendance of the laboratory exercise hours is compulsory, unless justified by the lecturer. The lecturer will inform the students, at the beginning of the lessons, of the maximum number of absences allowed. Attendance is ascertained according to the methods and criteria established by the individual lecturer, who informs the students at the beginning of the lessons.
The content of the tutorials, carried out in the classroom, will be an integral part of the final assessment.
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 in the written test relate to this part of the teaching.
Each correct answer is worth 1 point.
Other information
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