Agricutural Industries and Microbiology

Introduction to the course Programme and objectives. The lectures are accompanied by laboratory activities. General information on laboratory activities. Exam rules. Cell morphology, cytology and microbiological techniques. Evolutionary relationships among prokaryotes (Bacteria and Archea) and with Eukarya. Bacterial morphology. Morphology, physiology, ecology and taxonomy of Fungi. Prokaryotic cell structure: wall, surface structures, cytoplasmatic membrane, ribosome, inclusions, genome. Endospore; structure and formation. Essentials of microscopy techniques and instrumentation. Biofilms. Microbial nutrition and growth. Nutritional requirements of microorganisms and metabolic options to obtain energy. Lab culture of microorganisms. Aerobic, facultative, microaerophilic, strictly anaerobic bacteria. Oxygen tolerance. Microbial growth: definition, measurements, continuous culture; environmental conditions and microbial growth (nutrients, pH, temperature, oxygen etc.). Physical and chemical antimicrobial control. Metabolism regulation Microbial genetics. Bacterial genetic elements: chromosome, plasmides and transposons. Mutation: screening and selection of mutants. Horizontal gene transfer among bacteria: transformation, conjugation, transduction. Bacteriophage: lytic and lysogenic pathways. Viroids and prions. Microbial metabolism. Energetic metabolisms. Aerobic respiration of organic compounds; oxygenases and degradation of organic compounds. Applications: acetic acid production, composting and aerobic treatment of polluted soils. Chemiolitotrophy. Anaerobic respiration. Applications: wastewater treatment, desulfurication of cultural heritage and methane production. Main fermentations and related fermenting groups. Oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis and photosynthetic bacteria. Nitrogen fixation and its application. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Microbial ecology. Biogeochemical cycles and related microorganisms. Associations among microorganisms, with plants (mycorrhizae, actinorhizae and rhizobes), and with animals (rumen, intestinal tract). Criteria and methods in bacterial taxonomy. Laboratory course: basic aseptic techniques; streak-plate technique, spread and pour plating, plate counts, isolation to obtain pure cultures; optical observations of wet mount preparations. DNA extraction from pure cultures and gel electrophoresis.

Introductory overview of the Italian and international dairy sector: production trends, milk supply and demand situation, trade problems and policy. Dairy chemistry and physics. Composition and structure: main factors that can affect milk composition (breed, herd, herd management and feeding, season, location). Structure and physical behaviour of milk constituents. Physical properties of milk. Lactose and microbial fermentation processes in dairy products. Milk proteins. Casein micelles, acid and rennet coagulation. Whey proteins, heat denaturation, technological interest. Lipids. Structure and behaviour of fat globules, lipolysis and fat oxidation. Minerals and bioactive constituents: technological role and nutritional impact. Dairy technology. Heat treatments of milk intended for direct consumption or destined to further processing. Membrane processing. Cheesemaking, traditional and innovative processes. Buttermaking by batch or continuous processes and using different types of cream. Dried milk products. Dairy byproducts and effluents. Quality control and fraud detection in dairy products. Italian and EU legislation in dairy sector.