MedInTO Medicine and Surgery

Microbiology

Microbiology

Academic year 2018/2019

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Support activities
• Program
• Suggested textbooks and readings
• Teaching tools

Course objectives

This course covers principles of medical microbiology with emphasis to microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa) and human infectious disease. Topics include an overview of microbial structures and virulence factors, the host-parasite interactions, the pathogenic mechanisms of the most important infectious diseases, the principal concepts regarding sterilization, microbiological diagnosis, antibiotic and antiviral therapy, the conditions promoting the rise up of infections and the prevention options.

Results of learning outcomes

By the end of this  course, the student will have acquired basic knowledge of pathogenesis of microbial and virus infections to be able to implement a rational approach to the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. The student shall learn the basic knowledge in the following topics:

1.  General features of bacteriology, virology, mycology and parasitology  

2.  Pathogenicity, virulence, and epidemiology

3.  Disease transmission and physical and chemical microbial control

4.  Microbiological diagnostic techniques

5.  Antimicrobial therapy

6. Common bacterial, fungal, protozoa and viral diseases

Course delivery

Teaching is organized in both lectures and active learning parts, including microscopic observation of pathogens and main microbial laboratory techniques in teaching room with devices.  This active learning promotes the acquisition of knowledge.

Learning assessment methods

The exam will consist of a written and oral examination. The written test includes multiple-choice questions. The positive result of this test allows access to the oral exam.

Support activities

Students with disorders that may affect learning (e.g. color blind students, visually impaired, hearing impaired, dyslexic or with physical disabilities) are encouraged to contact the lecturers to adapt learning materials, activities and testing methods.

Program

• Introduction to Medical Microbiology:

1. History of microbiology
2. Koch's postulates
3. Classification of microbes

• General Bacteriology:

1. Structure
2. Endospore
3. Human microbiome and concept of opportunism
4. Virulence factors
5. Microbial growth
6. Bacterial genetics
7. Laboratory diagnosis of bacterial diseases
8. Methods of Sterilization
9. Antibiotics

• Systematic Bacteriology:

1. Staphylococcus
2. Streptococcus
3. Bacillus
4. Listeria
5. Mycobacterium
6. Neisseria
7. Haemophilus
8. Legionella
9. Enterobacteriaceae
10. Yersinia
11. Vibrio
12. Pseudomonas
13. Campylobacter and Helicobacter
14. Clostridium
15. Spirochetes (Treponema, Borrelia, Leptospira)
16. Brucella
17. Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma
18. Rickettsia, Ehrlichia
19. Clamydia
20. Bordetella

• Mycology:

1. Structure, replication, pathogenesis, laboratory diagnosis of fungal disease and antifungal agents
2. Superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous and systemic mycoses
3. Opportunistic mycoses (Candida, Criptococcus, Aspergillus and Pneumocystis)

• Parasitology:

1. Parasitic classification, structure, replication, pathogenesis of parasitic diseases, laboratory diagnosis and antiparasitic agents
2. Intestinal protozoa (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba)
3. Urogenital protozoa (Trichomonas)
4. Blood and tissue protozoa (Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Leishmania, Trypanosoma)
5. Main concepts on infections by common nematodes, trematodes and cestodes

• General virology:

1. Structure
2. Classification
3. Replication mechanisms
4. Laboratory diagnosis of viral diseases
5. Antiviral chemotherapy

• Systematic virology:

1. Herpesviruses
2. Papillomaviruses and Polyomaviruses
3. Adenoviruses
4. Poxviruses
5. Parvoviruses
6. Paramyxoviruses
7. Rhabdoviruses
8. Arenaviruses and Bunyaviruses
9. Orthomyxoviruses
10. Retroviruses
11. Reoviruses
12. Caliciviruses
13. Togaviruses
14. Picornaviruses
15. Hepatitis Viruses
16. Flaviviruses
17. Coronaviruses
18. Filoviruses

Textbooks suggested:

• Medical Microbiology  8th Edition  Authors: Patrick Murray, Ken Rosenthal, Michael Pfaller, Elsevier
• Sherris, Medical Microbiology (sixth edition), Mc Graw Hill Education

• Teaching materials
• Exams and finals
• Go to Moodle
• Visit the forums