Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The aim of the course in Molecular Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Bioinformatics is for students to develop knowledge and understanding of biomedical statistics, epidemiology, and bioinformatics.
Expected learning outcomes
1. Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, students must demonstrate knowledge of essential concepts in biomedical statistics, epidemiology, molecular epidemiology, and bioinformatics for the design, development, and interpretation of studies based on molecular and genomic methods.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: Students must demonstrate that they possess the knowledge and concepts necessary to make the best use of the various molecular techniques and methodologies when applied in practice in different fields (health, animal husbandry, biology).
3. Making judgments: Students must demonstrate their ability to critically analyze the information acquired. Specific exercises on experimental and observational studies are designed for this purpose, applying epidemiological and biostatistical methods in various fields (health, animal husbandry, biology).
4. Communication: Students must demonstrate the ability to express themselves using scientifically appropriate terminology, particularly with regard to epidemiology and biostatistics. The exercises and practical cases presented during the course are intended to stimulate the ability to express oneself correctly and to discuss scientific topics with peers.
5. Lifelong learning skills: Students must demonstrate their ability to critically analyze the information acquired. Specific exercises on experimental and observational studies are designed for this purpose, applying epidemiological and biostatistical methods in various fields (health, animal husbandry, biology).
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: Students must demonstrate that they possess the knowledge and concepts necessary to make the best use of the various molecular techniques and methodologies when applied in practice in different fields (health, animal husbandry, biology).
3. Making judgments: Students must demonstrate their ability to critically analyze the information acquired. Specific exercises on experimental and observational studies are designed for this purpose, applying epidemiological and biostatistical methods in various fields (health, animal husbandry, biology).
4. Communication: Students must demonstrate the ability to express themselves using scientifically appropriate terminology, particularly with regard to epidemiology and biostatistics. The exercises and practical cases presented during the course are intended to stimulate the ability to express oneself correctly and to discuss scientific topics with peers.
5. Lifelong learning skills: Students must demonstrate their ability to critically analyze the information acquired. Specific exercises on experimental and observational studies are designed for this purpose, applying epidemiological and biostatistical methods in various fields (health, animal husbandry, biology).
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
Lectures (16 hours):
- Descriptive Statistics (2 hours);
- Hypothesis Testing in Statistics (2 hours);
- Inferential Statistics (2 hours)
- The Difference Between Sample Means and Inference of Population Results, t-Test (2 hours);
- Linear Regression and Hypothesis Testing with ANOVA (2 hours);
- Biological Databases (NCBI, Ensembl, UCSC Genome Browser) (2 hours)
- Bioinformatics Analysis Tools (2 hours)
- Analysis of Genomic Variation (2 hours)
Lab practices (8 hours):
Application of the topics covered in class to real datasets using RStudio and biological data analysis programs (plink).
Module: Molecular epidemiology
The course has the aim to supply the basic and fundamental information on molecular epidemiology including the specific aspects concerning phylogenesis and molecular evolution. Student knowledge on molecular epidemiology are needed to apply in an efficient way molecular methods.
Lectures will cover the following topics:
1.Biostatistics: principles and applications.
2. Epidemiology: principles and applications.
3.introduction to molecular epidemiology
4.Principles and practice of taxonomy methods and pathogen classification by molecular methods
5.Statistical methods in molecular evolution
6.Building phylogenetic threes
7. Principles and practice of experimental design and of epidemiological studies for both infectious and zoonotic diseases
8. Principles and practice for the epidemiological analysis of data obtained from experiments and from field studies on both infectious and zoonotic diseases
- Descriptive Statistics (2 hours);
- Hypothesis Testing in Statistics (2 hours);
- Inferential Statistics (2 hours)
- The Difference Between Sample Means and Inference of Population Results, t-Test (2 hours);
- Linear Regression and Hypothesis Testing with ANOVA (2 hours);
- Biological Databases (NCBI, Ensembl, UCSC Genome Browser) (2 hours)
- Bioinformatics Analysis Tools (2 hours)
- Analysis of Genomic Variation (2 hours)
Lab practices (8 hours):
Application of the topics covered in class to real datasets using RStudio and biological data analysis programs (plink).
Module: Molecular epidemiology
The course has the aim to supply the basic and fundamental information on molecular epidemiology including the specific aspects concerning phylogenesis and molecular evolution. Student knowledge on molecular epidemiology are needed to apply in an efficient way molecular methods.
Lectures will cover the following topics:
1.Biostatistics: principles and applications.
2. Epidemiology: principles and applications.
3.introduction to molecular epidemiology
4.Principles and practice of taxonomy methods and pathogen classification by molecular methods
5.Statistical methods in molecular evolution
6.Building phylogenetic threes
7. Principles and practice of experimental design and of epidemiological studies for both infectious and zoonotic diseases
8. Principles and practice for the epidemiological analysis of data obtained from experiments and from field studies on both infectious and zoonotic diseases
Prerequisites for admission
None
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with the aid of media supports, including specific software. Exercises through discussion for the development and application of epidemiological studies and genomic studies and analysis of data collected with specific software.
Teaching Resources
Bottarelli & Ostanello. Epidemiologia. Teoria ed esempi di medicina veterinaria - Edagricole 2011
- Thrusfield - Veterinary Epidemiology - IV edition Blackwell, 2018
- Riley Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practices ASM 2004
- Foxman - Molecular Tools and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Ap 2011
-Class notes provided by the teachers
- Thrusfield - Veterinary Epidemiology - IV edition Blackwell, 2018
- Riley Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases: Principles and Practices ASM 2004
- Foxman - Molecular Tools and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Ap 2011
-Class notes provided by the teachers
Assessment methods and Criteria
Learning will be evaluated through the participation of the students in the practical phase and at the end of the course through a written text and an oral exam.
The exam topics are those taught in the course
The exam topics are those taught in the course
AGR/17 - LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS, ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS - University credits: 3
VET/05 - INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS - University credits: 5
VET/05 - INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS - University credits: 5
Exercises: 24 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
Professors:
Bagnato Alessandro, Zecconi Alfonso Agostino
Shifts:
Professors:
Bagnato Alessandro, Zecconi Alfonso Agostino
1 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor:
Zecconi Alfonso Agostino2 turno per un gruppo di studenti
Professor:
Zecconi Alfonso AgostinoEducational website(s)
Professor(s)