Generale Pathology, Immunology and Medical Microbiology

The integrated course of General Pathology, Immunology and Medical Microbiology aims to train graduates in Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical curriculum, with adequate knowledge and skills on the molecular and pathological mechanisms underlying diseases and their resolution.
The General Pathology and Immunology lessons will provide students with the elements to study the mechanisms underlying the disease by looking at the therapeutic approaches in progress and development. In particular, the course will focus on etiology (cause of disease), pathogenesis (cellular and molecular mechanisms), and biological and molecular bases of infectious or non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, the course will provide basic knowledge of the mechanisms of innate and acquired immune host responses.
The Medical Microbiology lessons will provide new and deep knowledge of the structural characteristics, replicative strategies, pathogenicity mechanisms, and evolution of the main viruses of clinical interest and nosocomial bacteria (ESKAPEs). Emphasis will be given to vaccination strategies, antiviral and antimicrobial therapies, their mechanisms of action, and the mechanisms of onset of resistance to antiviral and antimicrobial drugs.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- describe the main molecular and cellular mechanisms that represent the pathogenetic basis of human pathologies (cell and tissue damage, adaptation, and cell death, acute and chronic inflammation).
- describe the main molecular and cellular mechanisms at the base of the immune system, both in health conditions and during disease (hypersensitivity, autoimmune diseases).
- explain the main cellular alterations and molecular mechanisms in neoplastic, inflammatory (atherosclerosis, infections), and genetic diseases.
- illustrate the etiology, signs and symptoms, and pathogenetic mechanisms of the main respiratory system diseases
- describe the morphology and taxonomic classification of viruses of clinical interest, including viral replicative, pathogenetic and evolutionary mechanisms
- know the traditional and molecular biology techniques for the study and isolation of viral agents of clinical interest
- describe the main therapeutic and vaccination approaches used against the main viral infections and the related resistance mechanisms
- describe the taxonomy, virulence, therapeutic strategies, and resistance mechanisms of the main nosocomial bacteria (ESKAPEs)
Furthermore, students will correctly use the necessary medical/scientific terminology, will develop methods to investigate any disease, and will critically analyze scientific publications on the field.