Microbiology and Medical Virology

Formal teaching:
General properties of microrganisms
General concepts about communicable diseases, the pathogenesis of the microrganisms, the intercation microrganisms-host, the mode of transmission of microrganisms, the meaning of acute, persistent, chronic and latent infection.
Epidemiology of the communicable diseases: disease determinants, the "iceberg" concept, epidemiological indexes
VIROLOGY
General properties of viruses
Description of the structure and of the main morphological characteristics of viruses
Classification of viruses
Description of the main steps of the viral replicative cycle into the host cells
Properties and pathogenesis of the main viral families of medical interest
The following viral families will be described, focusing mainly on their morphologic features, genomic organization, replicative cycle, interaction with the host and pathogenic mechanisms:
· Picornaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Coronaviridae
· Orthomixoviridae, Paramixoviridae, Pneumoviridae, Filoviridae, Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Rhabdoviridae
· Retroviridae
· Herpesviridae, Parvoviridae, Adenoviridae, Polyomaviridae, Papillomaviridae
· Main hepatic viruses (HAV; HBV; HCV; HDV; HGV)
Description of Prions and retroid viruses

BACTERIOLOGY
General properties of bacteria:
Description of Bacterial cell morphology, distinguishing between fundamental and accessory structures, description of metabolic processes of bacterial cell (fermentation, aerobic and anaerobic respiration), gene transfer
Description of the main differences between Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria Gram and Ziehl Nielsen staining
Description of bacterial cell division and description of bacterial growth curve
Pathogenicity and virulence factors
Properties and pathogenesis of the main bacterial groups of medical relevance
The following bacteria groups will be described, focusing mainly on their morphological features, virulence factors, and interaction with the host and on pathogenic mechanisms:

· Staphylococcus, Streptococcus,
· Corynebacterium, Listeria, Bacillus,
· Clostridium
· Mycobacterium
· Neisseriae
· Enterobacteriaceae (E.Coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Yersinia)
· Bordetella, Brucella, Haemophylus Influenzae, Legionella
· Batteri Enterici (Helicobacter Pylori, Vibrio Cholerae)
· Rickettise, Chlamydia
· Spirochete

MYCOLOGY AND PARASSITOLOGY

Brief description of the main properties of Fungi (Candida Albicans, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus) and Protozoa (Plasmodium and Toxoplasma): structure and morphology, reproduction and transmission, pathogenic mechanisms of the most mycosis and parasitic infections of medical interest.

Non formal teaching:
Practical course of bacteriology: bacteria count, dilution, isolation and identification of bacteria, Gram and Ziehl Nielsen staining, biochemistry tests.