Environmental stress and food chain: molecular approaches
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course has the main objective of illustrating to students, through general concepts and analytical technologies, some paradigmatic examples relating to the impact of environmental stress on food-producing animals, with reflections on the biological dynamics and the relationship between parasites and their respective hosts, and on the food assessment processes.
Expected learning outcomes
The students are expected to acquire knowledge and analytical skills to interpret the impact of environmental stress in food-producing animals through the biomolecular and chemical analysis of a) changes in the proteome and parasite load in sensitive hosts, and b) indicators of the origin, quality and safety of food of animal origin
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Course syllabus
The course is divided into four teaching units:
TEACHING UNIT: "Host-parasite dynamics in a changing environment"
Basic features of honeybee parasites and their impact on colony health and production in conventional farming systems
How honeybee parasites face with natural beekeeping and urban beekeeping, as alternative farming systems with specific environmental stressors
Effects on environmental changes on honeybee social immunity mechanisms and related host-parasite interactions: case studies
TEACHING UNIT: "Authenticity and quality issues in animal food products"
Introduction to analytical techniques for food authenticity studies
Specific case research studies on food authenticity and quality concerning method of production (wild or farmed, organic or conventional, intensive or extensive), geographic origin and species of origin of animal food products
Application of chemometric analysis in order to solve both descriptive and predictive problems in food authentication
TEACHING UNIT: "Environmental proteomics":
The study of the proteome and its applications in the response to environmental stresses
Sample preparation: protein extraction strategies
Effect of thermal water pollution on animal proteome. The examples of Zebrafish and Sargassum
Protein identification programs: MaxQuant and Perseus
Ontological and pathway classification
Web-based tools available for the creation and networks analysis
TEACHING UNIT: " High Resolution Mass Spectrometry approaches toward environmental risks detection involved in food safety ":
Description of different environmental risk (such as temperature, pH etc.) related to different food chains: milk and derived products, fish, honey and bee products, toward their incidence and legislative framework (f.e organic food and conventional, EFSA guidelines etc).
Sample preparation protocols suitable for target and untarget analysis and mass spectrometry instrumentation requirements
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry for metabolomic analyses and their ambits of application
From mass spectrometric raw data to the detection and quantification of food residues and their metabolites
TEACHING UNIT: "Host-parasite dynamics in a changing environment"
Basic features of honeybee parasites and their impact on colony health and production in conventional farming systems
How honeybee parasites face with natural beekeeping and urban beekeeping, as alternative farming systems with specific environmental stressors
Effects on environmental changes on honeybee social immunity mechanisms and related host-parasite interactions: case studies
TEACHING UNIT: "Authenticity and quality issues in animal food products"
Introduction to analytical techniques for food authenticity studies
Specific case research studies on food authenticity and quality concerning method of production (wild or farmed, organic or conventional, intensive or extensive), geographic origin and species of origin of animal food products
Application of chemometric analysis in order to solve both descriptive and predictive problems in food authentication
TEACHING UNIT: "Environmental proteomics":
The study of the proteome and its applications in the response to environmental stresses
Sample preparation: protein extraction strategies
Effect of thermal water pollution on animal proteome. The examples of Zebrafish and Sargassum
Protein identification programs: MaxQuant and Perseus
Ontological and pathway classification
Web-based tools available for the creation and networks analysis
TEACHING UNIT: " High Resolution Mass Spectrometry approaches toward environmental risks detection involved in food safety ":
Description of different environmental risk (such as temperature, pH etc.) related to different food chains: milk and derived products, fish, honey and bee products, toward their incidence and legislative framework (f.e organic food and conventional, EFSA guidelines etc).
Sample preparation protocols suitable for target and untarget analysis and mass spectrometry instrumentation requirements
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry for metabolomic analyses and their ambits of application
From mass spectrometric raw data to the detection and quantification of food residues and their metabolites
Prerequisites for admission
The prerequisites required to pass the exam are the knowledge of the most common laboratory techniques of biochemistry, proteomics and molecular biology, basic knowledge of parasite biology,
Teaching methods
TEACHING UNIT: "Host-parasite dynamics in a changing environment"
Frontal lectures focused on topics dealt with theoretically, and practical exercises focused on morphological and molecular techniques for honeybee parasites monitoring and immune response assessment at the colony level
TEACHING UNIT: "Authenticity and quality issues in animal food products"
Frontal lectures and practical exercises.
TEACHING UNIT: "Environmental proteomics"
Frontal lectures and practical exercises focused on topics dealt with theoretically. The exercises will take place as follows: a bioinformatic search will be performed using the main softwares and databases available and the correct construction of a scientific work will be discussed.
TEACHING UNIT: " High Resolution Mass Spectrometry approaches toward environmental risks detection involved in food safety ":
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry approaches toward environmental risks detection involved in food safety: frontal lectures and practical exercises focused on topics dealt with theoretically. The practical approach will be used in laboratory in order to acquire he knowledge for sample preparation and purification protocols as well as for high resolution mass spectrometry data management
Frontal lectures focused on topics dealt with theoretically, and practical exercises focused on morphological and molecular techniques for honeybee parasites monitoring and immune response assessment at the colony level
TEACHING UNIT: "Authenticity and quality issues in animal food products"
Frontal lectures and practical exercises.
TEACHING UNIT: "Environmental proteomics"
Frontal lectures and practical exercises focused on topics dealt with theoretically. The exercises will take place as follows: a bioinformatic search will be performed using the main softwares and databases available and the correct construction of a scientific work will be discussed.
TEACHING UNIT: " High Resolution Mass Spectrometry approaches toward environmental risks detection involved in food safety ":
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry approaches toward environmental risks detection involved in food safety: frontal lectures and practical exercises focused on topics dealt with theoretically. The practical approach will be used in laboratory in order to acquire he knowledge for sample preparation and purification protocols as well as for high resolution mass spectrometry data management
Teaching Resources
Teaching material provided in class and available on the Ariel website
Assessment methods and Criteria
The written exam is aimed at ascertaining the knowledge and awareness of the topics proposed in the course through multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Vote expressed out of thirty.
Unit: Authenticity and quality issues in animal food products
AGR/19 - ANIMAL SCIENCE - University credits: 2
Lessons: 12 hours
Unit: Environmental proteomics
BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY - University credits: 2
Lessons: 12 hours
Unit: Host-parasite dynamics in a changing environment
VET/06 - PARASITOLOGY AND ANIMAL PARASITIC DISEASES - University credits: 2
Lessons: 12 hours
Unit: HR MS toward environmental risks
VET/04 - INSPECTION OF FOODS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN - University credits: 2
Lessons: 12 hours
Educational website(s)