MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY

General Module

Course Sheet

Course code:

DI21B1A

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020

Year of supply:

2021/2022

Type of Course:

Basic

Degree:

Course of 1st Cycle Degree in DIETISTIC

Disciplinary Sector:

Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology

Is part of:

MICROBIOLOGY AND HEALTH EDUCATION

Location:

CHIETI

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

ALLOCATI Nerino

Cycle:

First semester

Obligatory attendance:

Yes

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

Prerequisites:

This course requires that you have taken the course in biology.

Objectives

At the end of this course students should:
- be able to describe the structure and function of microorganisms;
- be able to describe the mechanisms of infectious disease transmission and pathogenicity;
- be able to describe in detail those classes of microorganisms of specific relevance to the common diseases.

Contents

The course provides learning in the basic principles of medical microbiology and infectious disease. It covers mechanisms of infectious disease transmission, principles of aseptic practice, and the role of the human body’s normal microbiota. The biology of bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens and the diseases they cause are covered. The course provides the conceptual basis for understanding pathogenic microorganisms and the mechanisms by which they cause disease in the human body. Classes of microorganisms of specific relevance to the common diseases will be discussed in detail.

Extended Syllabus

Difference between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells.
Naming and Classifying Microorganisms.
The bacteria cell: Size, shape and arrangements of bacteria.
Structures external to the cell wall: glycocalyx, flagella, pili and fimbriae. The cell wall: composition and characteristics; cell wall and Gram stain; atypical cell walls.
Structures internal to the cell wall: the plasma membrane; the cytoplasm; the nucleoid; plasmids and resistance factors; ribosomes.
Bacterial metabolism: aerobic respiration; anaerobic respiration and fermentation.
Bacterial division and generation time.
Bacterial spore: structure, types, sporulation and germination, and their protecting role in biocide resistance.
Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenesis: entry into the human body; adhesion, colonization and invasion; pathogenic actions of bacteria (tissue destruction, toxins); mechanisms for escaping host defenses. The main bacterial diseases.
Antibacterials and their mechanisms of action. Mechanisms of drug resistance.
Biology of Fungi: general characteristics, structure and classification.
Fungal pathogenesis.
Characteristics and classification of viruses.
Virus structure: non-enveloped and enveloped viruses.
Viral replication: life cycle of viruses with animal and prokaryote hosts. The main viral diseases. Antiviral drugs.
Prions.
Hospital-acquired infection.
Disinfection, sterilization and asepsis.

Recommended Bibliography

E. Lanciotti: Microbiologia Clinica, CEA - Quarta Ed. 2017.
J.K. Struthers: Microbiologia Clinica 2a Ed. Edra, 2021.
Murray PR, Rosenthal KS, Pfaller MA: Microbiologia Medica 9a Ed. Edra, 2021.

Teaching Methods

Frontal lectures and material provided by the teacher.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The exam method is an oral test designed to verify the results of the expected learning, in accordance with the educational and specific objectives of the course. The oral examination is placed at the end of the course, after having achieved the attendance to the same, according to a schedule established and published on the University web page at the beginning of the academic year. The outcome of the test is evaluated as the result of learning the specific and training objectives, such as knowledge and understanding, capacity for logical integration and application. At the end of the test the teacher will form an opinion expressed in terms of Italian grades and their correspondent European Credit Transfer System grade (In Italian Universities grades are given on the basis of 30 points).
1) Rating 30 - 30 cum laude (corresponding to ECTS grade A): Excellent knowledge and understanding of the subjects, ability to reason and logical integration of the acquired knowledge. If the student, who has achieved this evaluation, demonstrates autonomy of judgment, high communication skills and autonomous learning skills, a laude can be added by the commision.
2) Rating 27 - 29 (corresponding to ECTS grade B): Good knowledge and understanding of the topics with some non-serious inaccuracies and with a good capacity for logical integration and judgment.
3) Rating: 23 - 26 (corresponding to ECTS grade C): Discrete knowledge and understanding of the topics and, despite some gaps in the ability to integrate and apply knowledge.
4) Rating 20 - 22 (corresponding to ECTS grade D): Knowledge and understanding of the arguments fully sufficient, although there are clear gaps, which are reflected in a reduced capacity for integration, logic and application.
5) Rating 18 - 19 (corresponding to ECTS grade E): Knowledge and understanding of the topics with serious and evident gaps, with limited integrative and applicative skills, but which also allow the passing of the exam.

N.B. For Integrated Courses (exams covering more than one module or course unit) a single exam will be held and a final grade given.

Contacts/More Information

Contact:
In-Person office hours: Monday – Friday from 10:00 to 13:00.
Or by appointment: Contact the professor by email:nerino.allocati@unich.it.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree