Environmental Microbial Biotechnology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge in the ecology of the environmental microbial communities, the "environmental microbiomes": how they are selected in natural and man-made ecosystems and how they can be explored and exploited to obtain an environmental benefit. This knowledge will be applied to the main environmental biotechnologies in order to understand their functioning and the scope for improvement.
Expected learning outcomes
The student will i) acquire the basic elements for the comprehension of the ecological and physiological mechanisms which sustain the functionality of environmental microbial communities, ii) understand the rational behind the "microbial resource management" approach in environmental biotechnologies, iii) gain an understanding about the main environmental microbial biotechnologies like bioremediation, sustainable bioenergy production and wastewater treatment, in terms of consolidated practices, problems still to be solved and research trends.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course will describe the potential of natural microbial communities to sustain environmental biotechnologies. After an overview of the ecological theories describing i) their assembly, ii) the link between microbial diversity and function and iii) its evaluation approaches, specific microbial biotechnologies will be described, aimed to environmental bioremediation (including wastewater treatment), and production of renewable energy and biomolecules from waste biomasses and CO2
Lessons in detail:
1) DIVERSITY AND FUNCTION IN MICROBIAL ECOSYSTEMS (1,5 CFU)
- environmental biotechnologies and microbial ecology
- role of phylogenetic and functional diversity in microbial biotechnology
- approaces for the analyses of diversity and function in microbial communities
2) MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGIES FOR BIOREMEDIATION (3 CFU)
- principles and processes in bioremediation
- oil bioremediation
- reductive dechlorination
- rhyzoremediation
- metal bioremediation
- wastewater treatment
3) MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGIES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY (1,5 CFU)
- anaerobic digestion: production of bioCH4 and bioH2
- microbial fuel cells: production of bioelectricity and H2, electrochemical bioremediation
- biofuel and biomolecules from CO2 by litotrophic and phototrophic microorganisms
Lessons in detail:
1) DIVERSITY AND FUNCTION IN MICROBIAL ECOSYSTEMS (1,5 CFU)
- environmental biotechnologies and microbial ecology
- role of phylogenetic and functional diversity in microbial biotechnology
- approaces for the analyses of diversity and function in microbial communities
2) MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGIES FOR BIOREMEDIATION (3 CFU)
- principles and processes in bioremediation
- oil bioremediation
- reductive dechlorination
- rhyzoremediation
- metal bioremediation
- wastewater treatment
3) MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGIES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY (1,5 CFU)
- anaerobic digestion: production of bioCH4 and bioH2
- microbial fuel cells: production of bioelectricity and H2, electrochemical bioremediation
- biofuel and biomolecules from CO2 by litotrophic and phototrophic microorganisms
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge in: general microbiology and molecular biology; Chemistry; Biochemistry.
You can contact the teacher to obtain indications about texts and bibliographic references that can be studied to fill eventual knowledge gaps
You can contact the teacher to obtain indications about texts and bibliographic references that can be studied to fill eventual knowledge gaps
Teaching methods
The course will consist in 22 frontal lessons and a field trip to visit one of the Milan wastewater treatment plants.
Teaching Resources
Slides showed during lessons, scientific papers dealing with the course topics, videolessons given by experts in particular sectors, will be provided to the students through the ARIEL platform (https://ariel.unimi.it/)
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final examination is based on the answer to 2 open questions, elaborating and discussing selected topics described during the course. The use of a correct scientific language will be part of the exam evaluation.
The exam will be written. At least 7 exam dates will be published yearly in SIFA
The exam will be written. At least 7 exam dates will be published yearly in SIFA
AGR/16 - AGRICULTURAL MICROBIOLOGY - University credits: 6
Practicals: 8 hours
Lessons: 44 hours
Lessons: 44 hours
Professor:
Borin Sara
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Borin SaraProfessor(s)
Reception:
everyday under appointment
office: via Mangiagalli 25, 3rd floor, Environmental Microbiology Section