Applied Microbiology, Virology and Principles of Public Health
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
In this course, students will acquire basic knowledge of microbiology and virology. The students will learn about the structure and the function of the prokaryotic cell and will familiarize with the metabolic and physiological diversity of prokaryotes and viruses. Key concepts on viral replication and viral genetics will be also offered to students. Overall, these concepts represent tools to understand the applications of microbiology in the medical, pharmaceutical and diagnostic fields as well as in food industry.
The course will also introduce the students to the fundamental mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, the main infectious diseases and host immune defenses. Such knowledge is relevant for an effective management and control of infectious diseases.
The course will also introduce the students to the fundamental mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, the main infectious diseases and host immune defenses. Such knowledge is relevant for an effective management and control of infectious diseases.
Expected learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course, the student will have acquired basic knowledge in microbiology and will know in detail the functioning of the prokaryotic cell together with viral replication and viral genetics. Moreover, the student will become familiar with the most important infectious diseases and the strategies for their control.
Lesson period: Activity scheduled over several sessions (see Course syllabus and organization section for more detailed information).
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Linea AL
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
TEACHING UNIT OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY (4 CFU - 32 hours)
- Overview of microbiology and its applications.
- Overview of cell structure: prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Bacteria and Archaea. Cytoplasmic membrane, structure and function. Bacterial transport systems. Cell wall of prokaryotes. Inhibitors of cell wall biogenesis. Outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Capsules. Flagella and bacterial motility. Surface structure for adhesion: pili. The nucleoid. Structure and organization of bacterial chromosome. Inhibitors of DNA replication. Transcription and inhibitors. Cytoplasm. Ribosomes and inhibitors of translation. Cell inclusions. Endospores.
- Microbial growth and microbial growth control. Principles of microbial nutrition. Liquid and solid media, growth conditions. Methods for sterilization. Disinfectants and antiseptics.
- Nutrition and metabolism. Overview of metabolism. Fermentation and substrate level phosphorylation. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Chemiolithotrophy.
- Microbial genetics. Mutations and mutants. Horizontal gene transfer mechanisms: Transformation, Conjugation Transduction.
- Antibiotics. Structure and mechanisms of action. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Overview of resistance mechanisms.
- Host-pathogen interaction. The human microbiota. Virulence factors and pathogenesis.
TEACHING UNI: VIROLOGY (2 CFU - 16 ore)
- Introduction to Virology: what is a virus? Structure and classification of viruses. Laboratory methods to study the infectious cycle. Biocontainment laboratories (BSL1 to BSL4).
- Viral replication cycles. Attachment and entry. Gene expression and genome replication. The Baltimore classification. Assembly and egress.
- Virus-host interaction and mechanisms of pathogenesis.
- Viral diseases and antiviral drugs. AIDS and retroviral drugs. Herpes viruses and anti-herpetic drugs. Viral hepatitis and antivirals targeting HBV and HCV. Respiratory viral infections and antivirals: influenza and Covid-19.
TEACHING UNIT: HYGIENE (4 CFU - 32 hours)
- Introduction to Hygiene. Health and diseases. Public health. Demographic studies.
- Descriptive epidemiology: measures of frequency, ratios, proportions, crude and adjusted rates. Disease prevalence and incidence.
- Anaytic and experimental epidemiology. Causality criteria. Cross-sectional vs longitudinal studies. Cohort and case-control studies. Relative risk and odds ratio. Clinical trials and preventive interventions.
- Preventive medicine and promotion of health. Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Mass screening campaigns. Sensitivity and specificity of screening tests. Oncological screening programs in Italy.
- General epidemiology of infectious diseases. The epidemiological transition. Koch's postulates. The chain of infection. Sources and reservoirs of infection. Modes of transmission. Patterns of infectious disease occurence: endemic, epidemic and pandemic diseases.
- Prophylaxis measures in infectious disease. Direct and indirect prophylaxis: notification, quarantine measures, diagnostic ascertainment, health surveillance, epidemiologic survey, disinfection, disinfestation, sterilization.
- The immune response: anatomical and physical barriers. Innate and adaptive immune responses. Humoral and cellular immune response. The role of B and T lymphocytes and antibodies.
- History of Vaccines. Vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccine types: life-attenuated vaccines; inactivated vaccines; toxoid vaccines; subunit , recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines. Adjuvants. Administration modes, side effects and contraindications. National vaccine plan. Passive immunization and immune-prophylaxis.
- Epidemiology and prophylaxis of transmittable disease: airborne infectious diseases; sexually-transmitted diseases; chronic viral hepatitis; diseases transmitted via oral-fecal route; vector-borne infectious diseases.
- Overview of microbiology and its applications.
- Overview of cell structure: prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Bacteria and Archaea. Cytoplasmic membrane, structure and function. Bacterial transport systems. Cell wall of prokaryotes. Inhibitors of cell wall biogenesis. Outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Capsules. Flagella and bacterial motility. Surface structure for adhesion: pili. The nucleoid. Structure and organization of bacterial chromosome. Inhibitors of DNA replication. Transcription and inhibitors. Cytoplasm. Ribosomes and inhibitors of translation. Cell inclusions. Endospores.
- Microbial growth and microbial growth control. Principles of microbial nutrition. Liquid and solid media, growth conditions. Methods for sterilization. Disinfectants and antiseptics.
- Nutrition and metabolism. Overview of metabolism. Fermentation and substrate level phosphorylation. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Chemiolithotrophy.
- Microbial genetics. Mutations and mutants. Horizontal gene transfer mechanisms: Transformation, Conjugation Transduction.
- Antibiotics. Structure and mechanisms of action. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Overview of resistance mechanisms.
- Host-pathogen interaction. The human microbiota. Virulence factors and pathogenesis.
TEACHING UNI: VIROLOGY (2 CFU - 16 ore)
- Introduction to Virology: what is a virus? Structure and classification of viruses. Laboratory methods to study the infectious cycle. Biocontainment laboratories (BSL1 to BSL4).
- Viral replication cycles. Attachment and entry. Gene expression and genome replication. The Baltimore classification. Assembly and egress.
- Virus-host interaction and mechanisms of pathogenesis.
- Viral diseases and antiviral drugs. AIDS and retroviral drugs. Herpes viruses and anti-herpetic drugs. Viral hepatitis and antivirals targeting HBV and HCV. Respiratory viral infections and antivirals: influenza and Covid-19.
TEACHING UNIT: HYGIENE (4 CFU - 32 hours)
- Introduction to Hygiene. Health and diseases. Public health. Demographic studies.
- Descriptive epidemiology: measures of frequency, ratios, proportions, crude and adjusted rates. Disease prevalence and incidence.
- Anaytic and experimental epidemiology. Causality criteria. Cross-sectional vs longitudinal studies. Cohort and case-control studies. Relative risk and odds ratio. Clinical trials and preventive interventions.
- Preventive medicine and promotion of health. Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Mass screening campaigns. Sensitivity and specificity of screening tests. Oncological screening programs in Italy.
- General epidemiology of infectious diseases. The epidemiological transition. Koch's postulates. The chain of infection. Sources and reservoirs of infection. Modes of transmission. Patterns of infectious disease occurence: endemic, epidemic and pandemic diseases.
- Prophylaxis measures in infectious disease. Direct and indirect prophylaxis: notification, quarantine measures, diagnostic ascertainment, health surveillance, epidemiologic survey, disinfection, disinfestation, sterilization.
- The immune response: anatomical and physical barriers. Innate and adaptive immune responses. Humoral and cellular immune response. The role of B and T lymphocytes and antibodies.
- History of Vaccines. Vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccine types: life-attenuated vaccines; inactivated vaccines; toxoid vaccines; subunit , recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines. Adjuvants. Administration modes, side effects and contraindications. National vaccine plan. Passive immunization and immune-prophylaxis.
- Epidemiology and prophylaxis of transmittable disease: airborne infectious diseases; sexually-transmitted diseases; chronic viral hepatitis; diseases transmitted via oral-fecal route; vector-borne infectious diseases.
Prerequisites for admission
The student must possess basic knowledge of human biology, anatomy and physiology
Teaching methods
Lectures. Attendance is highly recommended. PDF copies of the lecture slides will be made available to the students.
Teaching Resources
- G Dehò, E Galli. Biologia dei microrganismi. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 3a edizione (2019)
- N.J. DImmock, A. J. Easton e K. N. Leppard. Introduzione alla Virologia Moderna. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 7a edizione (2017)
- A. Amendola et al. Igiene e patologia. Zanichelli, 2a edizione (2020)
- Slide decks (PDF on Ariel)he students.
- N.J. DImmock, A. J. Easton e K. N. Leppard. Introduzione alla Virologia Moderna. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 7a edizione (2017)
- A. Amendola et al. Igiene e patologia. Zanichelli, 2a edizione (2020)
- Slide decks (PDF on Ariel)he students.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is written, consisting of a series of multiple-choice questions and/or open-ended questions, each with a maximum score proportional to its complexity. The final grade is the sum of the scores obtained in the individual questions. Time available: 90 minutes.
The evaluation criteria will include:
- achieving the course objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding
- verifying the ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- for open-ended questions, the quality of the exposition including the mastery of the specific language related to the field of microbiology and the ability to present the topics in a clear and logical fashion
The evaluation criteria will include:
- achieving the course objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding
- verifying the ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- for open-ended questions, the quality of the exposition including the mastery of the specific language related to the field of microbiology and the ability to present the topics in a clear and logical fashion
BIO/19 - MICROBIOLOGY - University credits: 10
Lessons: 80 hours
Linea MZ
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
Microbiology Unit (4CFU - 32 hours)
1) Overview of microbiology and its applications.
2) Overview of cell structure: prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Bacteria and Archaea. Cytoplasmic membrane, structure and function. Bacterial transport systems. Cell wall of prokaryotes. Inhibitors of cell wall biogenesis. Outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Capsules. Flagella and bacterial motility. Surface structure for adhesion: pili. The nucleoid. Structure and organization of bacterial chromosome. Inhibitors of DNA replication. Transcription and inhibitors. Cytoplasm. Ribosomes and inhibitors of translation. Cell inclusions. Endospores.
3) Microbial growth and microbial growth control. Principles of microbial nutrition. Liquid and solid media, growth conditions. Methods for sterilization. Disinfectants and antiseptics.
4) Nutrition and metabolism. Overview of metabolism. Fermentation and substrate level phosphorylation. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Chemiolithotrophy.
5) Microbial genetics. Mutations and mutants. Horizontal gene transfer mechanisms: Transformation, Conjugation Transduction.
6) Antibiotics. Structure and mechanisms of action. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Overview of resistance mechanisms.
Virology Unit (2CFU - 16 hours)
1) Introduction to Virology: different types of viral genomes and virions structures
2) The Baltimore Virus Classification. General introduction to viral replication
3) Replication of DNA viruses. Universal rules of DNA replication. Structure of the different types of DNA viral genomes. Replication of dsDNA and ssDNA viruses. Host-pathogen interactions
4) Replication of RNA viruses. Structure of the different types of RNA viral genomes. Replication of ssRNA+ viruses. Replication of ssRNA- viruses. Replication of dsRNA viruses. Replication and structure of Retrovirus.
5) Viral Evolution. Drivers of di Viral Evolution. Differences in viral evolution between DNA and RNA viruses. Viral Quasispecies. Antigenic Drift and antigenic Shift. Bases of phylogenetic analysis of viruses. Specific examples of viral evolution (SarS-CoV2, HIV, Influenza)
6) Discovery and origin of HIV. Structure and replication of HIV. Antiretroviral therapy and drug resistance. HIV pathogenesis and latency
7) Replication cycle HCV e HBV. HCV e HBV antiviral therapy. Pathogenesis of viral induced hepatitis
8) Replication cycle of Herpes viruses and Influenza virus and antiviral therapy
Hygiene Unit (4CFU - 32 hours)
1. The normal microbial populations (Microbiota) of the human body. Eubiosis and Disbiosis.
2. Pathogenic microorganisms. Overview of virulence factors and virulence strategies of bacterial pathogens.
3. First line of defenses against bacterial infections. The innate immune system.
4. Concepts on Epidemiology and epidemiological studies
5. Overview of infectious diseases.
6. Respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens. Virulence mechanisms
7. Prophylaxis of infectious diseases. Antibiotics and mechanisms of actions. Antibiotic resistance mechanism. Vaccines.
1) Overview of microbiology and its applications.
2) Overview of cell structure: prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Bacteria and Archaea. Cytoplasmic membrane, structure and function. Bacterial transport systems. Cell wall of prokaryotes. Inhibitors of cell wall biogenesis. Outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Capsules. Flagella and bacterial motility. Surface structure for adhesion: pili. The nucleoid. Structure and organization of bacterial chromosome. Inhibitors of DNA replication. Transcription and inhibitors. Cytoplasm. Ribosomes and inhibitors of translation. Cell inclusions. Endospores.
3) Microbial growth and microbial growth control. Principles of microbial nutrition. Liquid and solid media, growth conditions. Methods for sterilization. Disinfectants and antiseptics.
4) Nutrition and metabolism. Overview of metabolism. Fermentation and substrate level phosphorylation. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Chemiolithotrophy.
5) Microbial genetics. Mutations and mutants. Horizontal gene transfer mechanisms: Transformation, Conjugation Transduction.
6) Antibiotics. Structure and mechanisms of action. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Overview of resistance mechanisms.
Virology Unit (2CFU - 16 hours)
1) Introduction to Virology: different types of viral genomes and virions structures
2) The Baltimore Virus Classification. General introduction to viral replication
3) Replication of DNA viruses. Universal rules of DNA replication. Structure of the different types of DNA viral genomes. Replication of dsDNA and ssDNA viruses. Host-pathogen interactions
4) Replication of RNA viruses. Structure of the different types of RNA viral genomes. Replication of ssRNA+ viruses. Replication of ssRNA- viruses. Replication of dsRNA viruses. Replication and structure of Retrovirus.
5) Viral Evolution. Drivers of di Viral Evolution. Differences in viral evolution between DNA and RNA viruses. Viral Quasispecies. Antigenic Drift and antigenic Shift. Bases of phylogenetic analysis of viruses. Specific examples of viral evolution (SarS-CoV2, HIV, Influenza)
6) Discovery and origin of HIV. Structure and replication of HIV. Antiretroviral therapy and drug resistance. HIV pathogenesis and latency
7) Replication cycle HCV e HBV. HCV e HBV antiviral therapy. Pathogenesis of viral induced hepatitis
8) Replication cycle of Herpes viruses and Influenza virus and antiviral therapy
Hygiene Unit (4CFU - 32 hours)
1. The normal microbial populations (Microbiota) of the human body. Eubiosis and Disbiosis.
2. Pathogenic microorganisms. Overview of virulence factors and virulence strategies of bacterial pathogens.
3. First line of defenses against bacterial infections. The innate immune system.
4. Concepts on Epidemiology and epidemiological studies
5. Overview of infectious diseases.
6. Respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens. Virulence mechanisms
7. Prophylaxis of infectious diseases. Antibiotics and mechanisms of actions. Antibiotic resistance mechanism. Vaccines.
Prerequisites for admission
The student must possess basic knowledge of experimental biology, anatomy and human physiology.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons and classroom exercises.
Teaching Resources
Galli-Dehò
Biologia dei Microrganismi
Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 3ed 2018
Nigel J. Dimmock, Andrew J. Easton, Keith N. Leppard
Introduzione alla virologia moderna
CEA
Patrick R. Murray, Ken S. Rosenthal, Michael A. Pfaller
Microbiologia medica
EDRA
Amendola et al
Igiene e Patologia
Zanichelli (seconda edizione)
Slides on Ariel repository
Biologia dei Microrganismi
Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 3ed 2018
Nigel J. Dimmock, Andrew J. Easton, Keith N. Leppard
Introduzione alla virologia moderna
CEA
Patrick R. Murray, Ken S. Rosenthal, Michael A. Pfaller
Microbiologia medica
EDRA
Amendola et al
Igiene e Patologia
Zanichelli (seconda edizione)
Slides on Ariel repository
Assessment methods and Criteria
The verification of learning is represented by a written test; it consists of a series (20) of multiple choice questions and open questions (3 including an exercise), each with a maximum score proportional to the complexity. The final grade is given by the sum of the scores obtained in the individual questions. Time available: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Non mandatory ongoing tests are also available.
Non mandatory ongoing tests are also available.
BIO/19 - MICROBIOLOGY - University credits: 10
Lessons: 80 hours
Professors:
Manganaro Lara, Polissi Alessandra
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Upon request
Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences - Via Balzaretti 9 - Milano