Studying at the University of Verona
Here you can find information on the organisational aspects of the Programme, lecture timetables, learning activities and useful contact details for your time at the University, from enrolment to graduation.
Academic calendar
The academic calendar shows the deadlines and scheduled events that are relevant to students, teaching and technical-administrative staff of the University. Public holidays and University closures are also indicated. The academic year normally begins on 1 October each year and ends on 30 September of the following year.
Course calendar
The Academic Calendar sets out the degree programme lecture and exam timetables, as well as the relevant university closure dates..
Period | From | To |
---|---|---|
I semestre | Oct 1, 2018 | Jan 31, 2019 |
II semestre | Mar 4, 2019 | Jun 14, 2019 |
Session | From | To |
---|---|---|
Sessione invernale d'esame | Feb 1, 2019 | Feb 28, 2019 |
Sessione estiva d'esame | Jun 17, 2019 | Jul 31, 2019 |
Sessione autunnale d'esame | Sep 2, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 |
Session | From | To |
---|---|---|
Sessione estiva | Jul 16, 2019 | Jul 16, 2019 |
Sessione autunnale | Nov 19, 2019 | Nov 19, 2019 |
Sessione invernale | Mar 11, 2020 | Mar 11, 2020 |
Period | From | To |
---|---|---|
Sospensione attività didattica | Nov 2, 2018 | Nov 3, 2018 |
Vacanze di Natale | Dec 24, 2018 | Jan 6, 2019 |
Vacanze di Pasqua | Apr 19, 2019 | Apr 28, 2019 |
Vacanze estive | Aug 5, 2019 | Aug 18, 2019 |
Exam calendar
Exam dates and rounds are managed by the relevant Science and Engineering Teaching and Student Services Unit.
To view all the exam sessions available, please use the Exam dashboard on ESSE3.
If you forgot your login details or have problems logging in, please contact the relevant IT HelpDesk, or check the login details recovery web page.
Academic staff
Pintossi Chiara
![Foto personale, July 18, 2012](https://docs.univr.it/documenti//Persona/foto/foto606064.jpg)
Vallini Giovanni
Study Plan
The Study Plan includes all modules, teaching and learning activities that each student will need to undertake during their time at the University.
Please select your Study Plan based on your enrollment year.
1° Year
Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
---|
2° Year activated in the A.Y. 2019/2020
Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
---|
3° Year activated in the A.Y. 2020/2021
Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
---|
Un insegnamento a scelta
1 module to be chosen among the following
Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
---|
Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
---|
Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
---|
Un insegnamento a scelta
1 module to be chosen among the following
Legend | Type of training activity (TTA)
TAF (Type of Educational Activity) All courses and activities are classified into different types of educational activities, indicated by a letter.
General Microbiology (2019/2020)
Teaching code
4S00279
Credits
6
Language
Italian
Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)
BIO/19 - MICROBIOLOGY
The teaching is organized as follows:
teoria
Credits
4
Period
I semestre
Academic staff
Giovanni Vallini
laboratorio [1° turno]
laboratorio [2° turno]
Learning outcomes
THEORETICAL LECTURES
The course is designed to introduce students to the basic knowledge of the microbial world as well as to illustrate the main methodological tools for research in microbiology, with a detailed comparison of the properties among the different type of microorganisms, both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, including bacteria, archaea, yeasts, filamentous fungi, and - in a distinct section, since non-cellular organisms – the viruses. During the first series of lectures, general themes will be addressed such as morphological and functional diversity, genetic, biochemical and metabolic features, evolutionary aspects and ecology of microorganisms, including how they interact with specific environmental factors. In the second series of lectures, microorganisms will be discussed as reference systems for fundamental studies dealing with molecular biology as well as biochemistry and metabolic regulatory mechanisms. Also elements will be provided about the methods for microbe cultivation and on strategies for the control of microbial growth and the conditioning of the metabolism. The third part of lectures will cover the detailed study of particularly important microbial groups to be defined with the Students.
LABORATORY PRACTICES
This laboratory module is designed to guide students in the acquisition of techniques and in the development of manipulative skills all necessary for the identification and the study of both structural and functional characteristics of the microorganisms of interest, as well as for a proper handling of microbial cultures within research activities. The main objective of the module is to provide students with the basic tools, represented by traditional analytical procedures in microbiology, but also with the knowledge of advanced techniques, based on molecular methods of investigation, useful for basic research but even the definition of the correct approach to issues related to the many themes of applied microbiology.
Program
CONTENTS of THEORETICAL LECTURES
1. MICROBIAL EVOLUTION AND DIVERSITY: Origin and Evolution of the Microbial Life; Bacteria; Archaea; Eukaryotic Cell and Eukaryotic Microorganisms; Microbial Taxonomy and Systematics. 2. PRINCIPLES OF MICROBIOLOGY: Cell Structure and Function in Bacteria, Archaea and Fungi (Yeast and Moulds); 3. MICROBIAL GROWTH: Microbial Nutrition, Culture and Growth Aspects; Antimicrobial Agents and Microbial Growth Control. 4. METABOLIC DIVERSITY: Phototrophy and autotrophy (purple sulfur and nonsulfur bacteria, green sulfur and nonsulfur bacteria, cyanobacteria), Aerobic (EMP pathway, Enther-Doudoroff pathway, Hexose Monophosphate Shunt + electron transport chain and proton motive force generation) and Anaerobic Respiration (denitrification, dissimilative sulfate reduction, acetogenesis, methanogenesis), Fermentations (homolactic and heterolactic, mixed-acid, butane-diol, propionic, butanol/acetone fermentations), Chemolithotrophy (hydrogen oxidizing, sulfur oxidizing, iron oxidizing, ammonia/nitrite oxidizing bacteria, anammox process); Other biosyntheses (ammonia assimilation, nitrogen fixation). 5. VIRAL DIVERSITY: Overview of Different Viral Groups; Bacteriophages. 6. BACTERIAL GENETICS: Mutations; Genetic Recombination: Transformation, Conjugation, Transduction. 7. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENE EXPRESSION Molecular Biology of Bacteria: Cloning Vectors and Expression Vectors; Regulation of Gene Expression. 8. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY: Methods in Microbial Ecology; Major Microbial Habitats and Diversity; Nutrient Cycles; Microbial Symbioses. 9. FOCUS ON SPECIFIC MICROBIAL GROUPS (Methylotrophs and Methanotrophs, Pseudomonadales, Enteric Bacteria, Myxobacteria, both nonsporulating and endospore-forming Firmicutes, Methanogens, moulds and yeasts).
LABORATORY PRACTICES
[A] Basic laboratory techniques for isolation, cultivation, observation and enumeration of microorganisms. 1. Preparation of liquid and agarized culture media (rich and defined media); 2. Culture trasfer techniques and procedures for isolation in pure culture; 3. Enumeration of microbial populations from a complex matrix (e.g. soil, wastewater, compost): i) serial dilution-agar plate procedure and total count of CFUs (Colony Forming Units), ii) MPN (Most Probable Number) method; 4. Microbial staining and use of the compound microscope: i) simple staining, ii) Gram differential staining, iii) acid-fast staining, iv) spore staining.
[B] Characterization of a bacterial isolate from streak-plate procedure with direct complex matrix inoculation. 1. Classic culture-dependent protocols: (a) Microbial growth evaluation in liquid, agarized and slant cultures – (b) Motility tests: i) direct optical microscope observation, ii) recognition in soft agar tube – (c) Biochemical tests: i) sugar fermentation/oxidation, ii) catalase test, iii) oxidase test, iv) nitrate reduction test, v) urease test – (d) Growth in defined liquid medium added with different C substrates: OD measurement at 600 nm; 2. Molecular methods: (a) Total DNA extraction from liquid culture: i) DNA detection by means of agarose gel electrophoresis, ii) DNA quantification on BioPhotometer through analysis of 260/280 and 260/320 ratios – (b) PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene sequence – (c) ARDRA (Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis) protocol and observation of digestion profiles by agarose gel electrophoresis – (d) BOX-PCR analysis and observation of BOX profiles by agarose gel electrophoresis – (e) Selection by each Student Group of a specific bacterial isolate (on the basis of ARDRA and BOX profiles as well as of results from classic analytical methods) to be considered for sequencing after elution and quantification of the corresponding 16S rRNA gene sequence – (f) Analysis of the obtained 16S rRNA gene sequence by comparison with genetic sequence data banks: i) NCBI; ii) Ez-Taxon.
Bibliography
Activity | Author | Title | Publishing house | Year | ISBN | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
teoria | Gianni Dehò e Enrica Galli (a cura di) | Biologia dei Microrganismi (Edizione 3) | Casa Editrice Ambrosiana | 2018 | 978-8-808-18623-2 | |
teoria | Michael Madigan, John Martinko, Kelly Bender, Daniel Buckley, David Stahl | BROCK Biologia dei microrganismi - Microbiologia generale, ambientale e industriale (Edizione 1) | Pearson Italia | 2016 | 889190094X | |
teoria | Michael T. Madigan, John M. Martinko, Kelly S. Bender, Daniel H. Buckley, David A. Stahl | Brock Biology of Microorganisms - 14th Edition (Edizione 14) | Pearson | 2015 | 978-0-321-89739-8 |
Examination Methods
Final assignment of course credit by written examination. The test consists in the submission to the student of a multi-page form containing 20 to 25 quizzes, including single answer questions, multiple answer questions, calculation exercises, request of short comments and descriptions. Each question is given a different weight in points. The rating is in thirtieths, based on the percentage of points totalized with the answers correctly provided, also taking into account the score attributed to the laboratory report.
Type D and Type F activities
Modules not yet included
Career prospects
Module/Programme news
News for students
There you will find information, resources and services useful during your time at the University (Student’s exam record, your study plan on ESSE3, Distance Learning courses, university email account, office forms, administrative procedures, etc.). You can log into MyUnivr with your GIA login details: only in this way will you be able to receive notification of all the notices from your teachers and your secretariat via email and also via the Univr app.
Graduation
List of thesis proposals
theses proposals | Research area |
---|---|
Studio delle proprietà di luminescenza di lantanidi in matrici proteiche | Synthetic Chemistry and Materials: Materials synthesis, structure-properties relations, functional and advanced materials, molecular architecture, organic chemistry - Colloid chemistry |
Multifunctional organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials for applications in Biotechnology and Green Chemistry | Synthetic Chemistry and Materials: Materials synthesis, structure-properties relations, functional and advanced materials, molecular architecture, organic chemistry - New materials: oxides, alloys, composite, organic-inorganic hybrid, nanoparticles |
Dinamiche della metilazione del DNA e loro contributo durante il processo di maturazione della bacca di vite. | Various topics |
Il problema della donazione degli organi | Various topics |
Risposte trascrittomiche a sollecitazioni ambientali in vite | Various topics |
Studio delle basi genomico-funzionali del processo di embriogenesi somatica in vite | Various topics |
Attendance modes and venues
As stated in the Didactic Regulations, there is no generalised obligation of attendance. Individual lecturers are, however, free to require a minimum number of hours of attendance for eligibilitỳ for the profit exam of the teaching they teach. In such cases, attendance of teaching activities is monitored in accordance with procedures communicated in advance to students.
Part-time enrolment is permitted. Find out more on the Part-time enrolment possibilities page.
The course's teaching activities take place in the Science and Engineering area, which is composed of the buildings of Ca‘ Vignal 1, Ca’ Vignal 2, Ca' Vignal 3 and Piramide, located in the Borgo Roma cluster, and Villa Lebrecht and Villa Eugenia located in the San Floriano di Valpolicella cluster.
Lectures are held in the classrooms of Ca‘ Vignal 1, Ca’ Vignal 2 and Ca' Vignal 3, while practical exercises take place in the teaching laboratories dedicated to the various activities.