Enrollment year
2021/2022
Academic discipline
BIO/19 (GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY "LAZZARO SPALLANZANI"
Curriculum
PERCORSO COMUNE
Period
1st semester (26/09/2022 - 13/01/2023)
Lesson hours
48 lesson hours
Prerequisites
Principles of Genetics and Biochemistry.
Learning outcomes
To understand the role of microrganisms in the enviroment, in human health/diseses and in biotechnology.
The expected learning outcomes are as follows:
- Knowledge of the structure of microorganisms, in particular of bacteria and Archaea, and understanding of their internal organization, through the study of the peculiar characteristics of the prokaryotic cell.
- Knowledge of the specific language for the description of microorganisms.
Course contents
Microbiology as basic and applied science. The golden era of Microbiology. Fields of modern Microbiology. The scientific method. Prokaryotic cell: structure and function.
Differences between prokaryotic and eukaryiotic cells. Microbiological techniques: microscopy, staining and media. Methods of sterilization. Determination of bacterial growth. Energy production by bacteria: fermetation, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, oxygen and anoxygen photosynthesis.
Examples of bacteria with different metabolism. The control of metabolic activity: feed-back, transcriptional and post-transcriptionalregulation.
The origin of life and the experiment of S. Miller.
Principles of taxonomy.
Archaea and principal gropus of bacteria.
Antibiotics: mechanism of action and of resistance.
Phages and genetic recombination. Phages as new tool to combact the multidrug resistan strains.
Teaching methods
The course is based on lectures, with the help of video projections.
Power Point presentations are used for the lessons, made available to students in the section dedicated to teaching on the KIRO platform. There are no practical exercises or laboratory activities.
Reccomended or required readings
- Dehò G, Galli E - Biologia dei microrganismi - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2014, 2018.
- Madigan MT, Martinko JM, DA Stahl, DP Clark - Brock Biologia dei Microrganismi – Microbiologia generale, ambientale e industriale. Pearson Italia, 2022.
Assessment methods
The learning test is always in written form, with 8 open questions aimed at verifying the study and knowledge of the subject. The evaluation will take into account the use of an appropriate scientific language. The exam will last two hours.
Sustainable development goals - Agenda 2030
Some of the topics covered in this course are in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - Objective 3. Ensuring health and well-being for all and for all ages.
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