Research Strategies and Methodologies Applied to Disease Study and Control
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The main objectives of the course are to provide student with information on the main traditional and advanced bio-molecular techniques to be applied both in the diagnostic (for the evaluation of the presence of a parasite) and in the epidemiological (for the study of the circulation of parasites in vectors, animals and in humans) fields. It is therefore planned to illustrate the qualitative and quantitative PCRs techniques to be applied in a parasitological context. The practical lessons will allow students to work in a molecular biology laboratory using molecular tools for parasitological diagnosis applicable both in the industrial field and in research institutes.
Students will also acquire knowledge relating to the generation, use and management of transgenic mice. It is also expected to provide the student with knowledge relating to the transformation of primary cells or cell lines. The course will provide students with information on the main molecular techniques for gene editing of mouse lines (transgenesis, gene targeting, Crispr/Cas9). The practical lessons will allow students to learn how to manage genetically modified mouse colonies using molecular tools for genotyping applicable both in the industrial field and in research institutes.
Students will also acquire knowledge relating to the generation, use and management of transgenic mice. It is also expected to provide the student with knowledge relating to the transformation of primary cells or cell lines. The course will provide students with information on the main molecular techniques for gene editing of mouse lines (transgenesis, gene targeting, Crispr/Cas9). The practical lessons will allow students to learn how to manage genetically modified mouse colonies using molecular tools for genotyping applicable both in the industrial field and in research institutes.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will have acquired in-depth knowledge on how to plan a parasitological diagnostic experiment using a molecular approach. Furthermore, students will have acquired the skills to design a research project, have the critical ability to the results obtained and resolve any technical problems arising from the analyses carried out.
Furthermore, at the end of the course, students will have acquired in-depth knowledge on how to plan in vivo and in vitro experiments with genetically modified mouse and cell models. This knowledge can be applied to the use of laboratory animals, in particular in the management of animal facilities, in the planning of experiments both in vivo and in vitro with mice or genetically modified cells, in the generation of new mouse or genetically modified cell lines, in the drafting of projects for ministerial authorization for the use of laboratory animals.
Furthermore, at the end of the course, students will have acquired in-depth knowledge on how to plan in vivo and in vitro experiments with genetically modified mouse and cell models. This knowledge can be applied to the use of laboratory animals, in particular in the management of animal facilities, in the planning of experiments both in vivo and in vitro with mice or genetically modified cells, in the generation of new mouse or genetically modified cell lines, in the drafting of projects for ministerial authorization for the use of laboratory animals.
Lesson period: First 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
Course syllabus
"Biotecnologie avanzate in parassitologia"
Frontal lessons
- How to write/read a scientific article: 2 hours
- Introduction to qualitative PCR: 2 hours
- PCR phases and development of protocols useful in parasitological diagnostics: 2 hours
- How to improve the yield of a qualitative PCR: applications in the parasitological field: 2 hours
- DNA Sanger sequencing: 2 hours
- Introduction to Real Time PCR, relative and absolute quantification: 4 hours
- Application of Real Time PCR to parasitological diagnostics: 2 hours
- How to make recombinant proteins: 2 hours
Practical lessons
- Design of primers and validation with online tools: 2 hours
- Preparation for practical exercise: 2 hours
- Exercise: DNA extraction from parasite, molecular identification with qualitative and quantitative PCR, electrophoresis, processing of Real time PCR data, interpretation of results and discussion: 10 hours
- How to produce recombined proteins: practical example: 2 hours
- Biotechnological applications in parasitology: examples of the studies of host-parasite interaction; study of bacterial communities: 8 hours
"Modelli murini e cellulari geneticamente modificati"
Frontal lessons:
- Introduction to animal experimentation and animal models. 1 hour
- Legislation relating to in vivo testing. 1 hour
- Mouse immunobiology. 1 hour
- Transgenesis methods. 1 hour
- Gene targeting and conditional gene targeting methods. 2 hours
- Application of the Crispr/Cas9 technique for gene editing of mouse lines. 1 hour
- Management of genetically modified mouse colonies. 1 hour
- In vivo imaging systems. 2 hours
- Genetically modified cell models. 2 hours
Practical lessons:
- Restriction maps 4 hours
- Primer design, qPCR, DNA sequences analysis 4 hours
- Genotyping 4 hours
Frontal lessons
- How to write/read a scientific article: 2 hours
- Introduction to qualitative PCR: 2 hours
- PCR phases and development of protocols useful in parasitological diagnostics: 2 hours
- How to improve the yield of a qualitative PCR: applications in the parasitological field: 2 hours
- DNA Sanger sequencing: 2 hours
- Introduction to Real Time PCR, relative and absolute quantification: 4 hours
- Application of Real Time PCR to parasitological diagnostics: 2 hours
- How to make recombinant proteins: 2 hours
Practical lessons
- Design of primers and validation with online tools: 2 hours
- Preparation for practical exercise: 2 hours
- Exercise: DNA extraction from parasite, molecular identification with qualitative and quantitative PCR, electrophoresis, processing of Real time PCR data, interpretation of results and discussion: 10 hours
- How to produce recombined proteins: practical example: 2 hours
- Biotechnological applications in parasitology: examples of the studies of host-parasite interaction; study of bacterial communities: 8 hours
"Modelli murini e cellulari geneticamente modificati"
Frontal lessons:
- Introduction to animal experimentation and animal models. 1 hour
- Legislation relating to in vivo testing. 1 hour
- Mouse immunobiology. 1 hour
- Transgenesis methods. 1 hour
- Gene targeting and conditional gene targeting methods. 2 hours
- Application of the Crispr/Cas9 technique for gene editing of mouse lines. 1 hour
- Management of genetically modified mouse colonies. 1 hour
- In vivo imaging systems. 2 hours
- Genetically modified cell models. 2 hours
Practical lessons:
- Restriction maps 4 hours
- Primer design, qPCR, DNA sequences analysis 4 hours
- Genotyping 4 hours
Prerequisites for admission
"Biotecnologie avanzate in parassitologia"
Knowledge required for the access to the Degree Course.
"Modelli murini e cellulari geneticamente modificati"
The prerequisites necessary to fully understand this course are the following:
Inorganic and organic chemistry
Cellular biology
Physics
Molecular biology
Genetics
Knowledge required for the access to the Degree Course.
"Modelli murini e cellulari geneticamente modificati"
The prerequisites necessary to fully understand this course are the following:
Inorganic and organic chemistry
Cellular biology
Physics
Molecular biology
Genetics
Teaching methods
"Biotecnologie avanzate in parassitologia"
Lectures, practical laboratory activities, group work.
"Modelli murini e cellulari geneticamente modificati"
The course is divided into lectures and practical lessons.
The lectures are organised with teacher presentations, videos and conferences of experts in some of the topics covered in the course.
The practical exercises include laboratory experiences and visits to structures of significant interest for the course.
Lectures, practical laboratory activities, group work.
"Modelli murini e cellulari geneticamente modificati"
The course is divided into lectures and practical lessons.
The lectures are organised with teacher presentations, videos and conferences of experts in some of the topics covered in the course.
The practical exercises include laboratory experiences and visits to structures of significant interest for the course.
Teaching Resources
"Biotecnologie avanzate in parassitologia"
Lectures, practical laboratory activities, group work.
"Modelli murini e cellulari geneticamente modificati"
The course is divided into lectures and practical lessons.
The lectures are organised with teacher presentations, videos and conferences of experts in some of the topics covered in the course.
The practical exercises include laboratory experiences and visits to structures of significant interest for the course.
Lectures, practical laboratory activities, group work.
"Modelli murini e cellulari geneticamente modificati"
The course is divided into lectures and practical lessons.
The lectures are organised with teacher presentations, videos and conferences of experts in some of the topics covered in the course.
The practical exercises include laboratory experiences and visits to structures of significant interest for the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
"Biotecnologie avanzate in parassitologia"
The final examination will be an oral test. It will consist in a presentation of a scientific article followed by some questions to verify the level of learning of the principal topics of the course.
"Modelli murini e cellulari geneticamente modificati"
The learning assessment methods consist of an oral exam through oral questioning, during which students will be asked to explain in appropriate and correct language some topics covered during the course. The evaluation criteria include: presentation ability, verification of learning of the course topics, ability to plan simple experiments related to the course topics.
The final examination will be an oral test. It will consist in a presentation of a scientific article followed by some questions to verify the level of learning of the principal topics of the course.
"Modelli murini e cellulari geneticamente modificati"
The learning assessment methods consist of an oral exam through oral questioning, during which students will be asked to explain in appropriate and correct language some topics covered during the course. The evaluation criteria include: presentation ability, verification of learning of the course topics, ability to plan simple experiments related to the course topics.
VET/05 - INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS - University credits: 3
VET/06 - PARASITOLOGY AND ANIMAL PARASITIC DISEASES - University credits: 5
VET/06 - PARASITOLOGY AND ANIMAL PARASITIC DISEASES - University credits: 5
Practicals: 36 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
Professors:
Bazzocchi Chiara, Riva Federica
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Every day by appointment
Department of veterinary Medicine and Animal Science