Learning objectives

The course regards basic and applied aspects of Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, and Parassitology and provides a conceptual framework to understand and learn: 1) the peculiarity of composition, structure and function of microrganisms in relation to the beginning and evolution of infectious diseases 2) the pathogenesis of infectious diseases and the conceptual basis of immunotherapy and vaccines 3) the mechanism of action of antimicrobial agents and the conceptual basis of antimicrobial therapy 4) the role of specific microrganisms in human diseases 5) the methods for diagnosis of infectious diseases

Prerequisites and basic notions

Basics of biology, biochemistry, cytology

Program

Introduction to medical microbiology, commensal and pathogenic microbial flora in humans. Sterilization, disinfection and antisepsis.
General information on laboratory diagnostics, microscopy and in vitro cultures, molecular diagnostics, serological diagnosis.
General information on the immune response, innate and acquired responses, vaccines and sera.
Bacteriology
Structure and replication of bacteria, genetics of bacteria. Bacteria metabolism. Mechanisms of the pathogenesis of bacterial diseases, Human pathogenic bacteria, Diagnosis of bacterial infection, Antibacterial drugs. Staphylococci, Streptococci, Enterococci, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Erysipelothrix, Corinebacteria, Mycobacteria, Nocardia, Neisseria, Eikenella, Kingella, Haemophilis, Aggregatibacter, Pasteurelle, Enterobacteria, Vibrioacter, Aeromonas, Campenotic, Helomonas, Helomonas maltophila, Acinetobacter, Moraxella, Bartonelle, Bordetelle, Brucelle, Cardiobacterium hominis, Francisella tularensis, Legionella, Streptobacillus, Clostridia, Actinomycetes, Spirochetes (Treponema, Borrelia and Leptospira), Mycoplasmas, Urealicellaplasma, Rickapsiae .
Virology
Classification, structure and replication of viruses, viral pathogenesis, human pathogenic viruses, diagnosis of viral infection, antiviral drugs and infection control. Poxvirus, Adenovirus, Papovavirus, Herpesvirus, Parvovirus, Picornavirus, Coronavirus and Norovirus, Paramyxovirus, Orthomyxovirus, Rhabdovirus, Filovirus, Bornavirus, Reovirus, Togavirus, Flavivirus, Bunyaviridae and Arenaviridae virus, Retro virus
Fungi
Classification, structure and replication of fungi, Pathogenesis of fungal diseases, Pathogenic fungi for humans, mycotoxins and mycotoxicosis. Fungal Infection Diagnosis, Antifungal Drugs. Superficial and cutaneous mycoses, subcutaneous mycoses, systemic mycoses caused by dimorphic fungi, opportunistic mycoses.
Parasitology
Classification, structure and replication of parasites, Pathogenesis of parasitic diseases, Protozoa and human pathogenic helminths, Diagnosis of parasitic infection, Antiprotozoal and anthelmintic drugs. Giardia intestinalis, Amoebiasis, Trichomonas vaginalis, B. coli, Cystoisospora, Cryptosporidium spp, Cyclospora spp, Plasmodium spp, Toxoplasma gondii, Babesia spp, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Sarcocystis, Acanthamoeba, Naegleria. Human pathogenic helminths (Nematodes, Trematodes, Cestodes).
Prions

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Presentation of the topics through lectures

Learning assessment procedures

Oral examination to ascertain the actual achievement of the learning objectives

Evaluation criteria

Assessment of knowledge of the program topics.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

Overall result of the oral test expressed in thirties

Exam language

Italiano