MICROBIOLOGY M - Z

The aim of the course is to provide the main knowledge on: microorganisms, pathogenicity mechanisms and infections; mechanism of action and use of antimicrobial drugs; infection prevention and control.

1. Entrance test and Course presentation
2. Bacterial classification and bacterial cell
3. Bacterial genetic and genomic
4. Metabolism, reproduction and bacterial growth
5. The human microbiota - Pathogenicity and virulence
6. Special bacteriology
7. Bacteriological diagnosis and antibacterial drugs
8. General virology
9. Special virology
10. Antiviral drugs
11. Host Response to Infections - Vaccines - Interferon System
12. General mycology - Special mycology - Antifungal drugs
13. General parasitology - Special parasitology - Antiparasitic drugs
14. Sterilization and disinfection
15. Pharmaceutical production and Pharmacopoeia
16. Food microbiology

Bacterial classification

• Prokaryotes and eukaryotes
• Taxonomy: Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya
• Classification: Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Bacterial cell

• Cytoplasm and chromosome
• Cytoplasmic membrane
• Ribosomes
• Bacterial wall
• Bacterial wall synthesis
• Bacterial cell transport systems
• Pili
• Flagella
• Capsule and Glycocalyx
• Plasmids

Bacterial genetic and genomic

• Bacterial genome
• DNA synthesis
• Protein synthesis
• Plasmids
• Bacteriophages
• Transposable genetic elements
• Mutations
• Genetic recombination
• Horizontal gene transfer
• Gene and genomic sequencing

Bacterial Metabolism

• Sources of energy for microorganisms
• Bacterial fermentation
• Bacterial respiration
• Anaerobic respiration

Bacterial growth and reproduction

• Growth and division
• Bacterial growth curve
• Continuous cultures

• Influencing factor on microorganism growth
• Bacterial spore
• Biofilm
• Quorum sensing

The human microbiota

• Microbiota characteristics
• Intestinal microbiota
• Vaginal microbiota
• Skin microbiota
• Respiratory tract microbiota
• Oral microbiology

Pathogenicity and virulence

• Host-parasite interaction
• Latent infections and carriers
• Virulence
• Pathogenic process: adhesion and colonization; invasion, growth and multiplication
• Adaptive changes of virulence
• Tropism
• Virulence factors: endotoxin; superantigens; diphtheria toxin; tetanus toxin; botulinum toxin; enterotoxins; pathogenicity Islands

Special bacteriology

Taxonomic classification, characteristics, laboratory identification, pathogenicity mechanisms, clinical manifestations, sensitivity and resistance to antibiotics of: Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus , Lactobacillus, Gardnerella, Bacillus, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Burkholderia, Stenotrophomonas, Vibrio, Campylobacter, Haemophilus, Bordetella, Brucella, Neisseria, Treponema, Mycobacterium, Borrelia , Leptospira, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, Rickettsia, Chlamydia, Helicobacter, Legionella

Bacteriological diagnosis and antibacterial drugs

• Direct and indirect diagnosis
• Definition and classification of antibacterial drugs
• Bacterial drug resistance
• Intrinsic and acquired resistance
• In vitro methods for evaluation of antibacterial drugs activity

General Virology

• Structure and classification of viruses
• Replication of the virus and effects on host cell
• Viral infections pathogenesis
• Defensive mechanisms of the host to viral infections

Special Virology

Taxonomic classification, characteristics, laboratory identification, pathogenicity mechanisms, clinical manifestations of families: Herpesiviridae, Adenoviridae, Parvoviridae, Papillomaviridae, Polyomaviridae, Poxviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Reoviridae, Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae, Picornaviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Togaviridae, Caliciviridae, Arenaviridae, Filoviridae, Bunyaviridae, Retroviridae, Hepadnaviridae, hepatitis D Virus, hepatitis E Virus, Viroids, Prions, Oncogenic Viruses

Antiviral

• Entry inhibitors
• Uncoating inhibitors
• Viral nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors
• Integrase inhibitors
• Protease inhibitors
• Release inhibitors
• New targets of antiviral therapy
• Drug resistance and HIV combination therapy

Host response to infection

• Meaning of antimicrobial defenses
• Surface-level defenses: normal microbiota; anatomical and chemical barriers
• Immune system
• Type of immunity: innate and adaptive immunity; effector mechanisms of the immune system

Vaccines

• Vaccines based on micro-organisms and parts of microorganisms
• DNA vaccines
• Vector-based transgenic vaccines
• Vaccines: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, tuberculosis, Haemophilus influenzae diseases, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis

Virus vaccines

• Attenuated virus vaccines
• Inactivated virus vaccines
• Genetic engineering and vaccines
• Epitope-based vaccine
• Major virus vaccines: measles, mumps, rubella, anti-varicella (MPRV), anti-polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, anti-influenza, rotavirus vaccines, anti-HPV

Interferon system

Properties, mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications

General Mycology

• General information on mushrooms
• Reproduction of fungi
• Classification of fungi
• Fungal cell structure
• Ecology, pathogenicity and virulence of fungi

Special Mycology

General information about Mycosis. Main fungus of clinical interest: Capsulatum, Coccidioides, Cryptococcus, Candida, Aspergillus, Pneumocystis

Antifungal medications

Characteristics and mechanism of action of 5-Fluorocytosine, Echinocandins, Allilamine, Polyenes, azole Derivatives

Parasitology

• General information on pests
• Protozoa: intestinal protozoa, Genitourinary,Leishmania and Trypanosoma (tissue)
• Metazoa: intestinal helminths and intestinal roundworms and tissue, tissue
• Antiparasitic drugs

Sterilization and disinfection

• Physical sterilization methods (heat, radiation, filtration)
• Chemical sterilization methods (alkylating agents, oxidizing agents)
• Sterility control (physical, chemical, biological indicators indicators indicators)
• Objectives and methods of realization of the disinfection
• Targets and mechanisms of action of disinfectants
• Disinfectants: phenol derivatives, biguanides, halogen compounds, alcohols, aldehydes, surfactants, oxidizing agents
• Methods to assess the effectiveness of disinfectants

Pharmaceutical production and Pharmacopeia

• Necessarily sterile pharmaceutical preparations
• Pharmaceutical preparations not necessarily sterile
• Sterilization applications in the pharmaceutical field: parenteral products and parenteral products
• Evaluation of contamination of pharmaceutical products
• Assessment of microbial contamination of non-sterile products
• Essay for the determination of bacterial endotoxins (LAL Test)
• Use of antimicrobial preservatives in pharmaceutical preparations
• Good preparation of medicines (N.B.P.): environment features, staff, raw materials

Food Microbiology

• Microorganisms in foods
• Non-fermented foods: meat, eggs, fish, vegetables and fruit
• Fermented foods: milk, bread and baked goods, wine, beer, fermented vegetables, cheese, meat products
• HACCP: HACCP system description; preliminary application of the system; General principles of HACCP system; 1-7 principles

1. Principi di Microbiologia Medica - Antonelli G., Clementi M., Pozzi G., Rossolini G. M. - Zanichelli Editore (III Edizione)
2. Microbiologia Farmaceutica - Carlone N., Pompei R. - Casa Editrice EdiSES (II Edizione)