Microbiology
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge necessary to identify the bacteria responsible or not of infection. They will also achieve basic notions of antibiotic resistance and of the most frequent resistance mechanisms known to date. As regards viral infections, the topics dealt with are the following: virus structure, classification, replication strategies, main principles of drug resistance to antiviral and antiretroviral drugs, viruses responsible of human infections, diagnostic methods and clinical cases.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge on the main characteristics of microrganisms (structure, laboratory methods of identification, diseases)
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Course syllabus
Basic Concepts in Bacteriology:
· Structure and function of the prokaryotic cell
· Microbial classification and pathogenesis
· Diagnosis of bacterial infections
· Antimicrobials and mechanisms of resistance
· Fundamentals of the immune response
Special Bacteriology:
· Gram-positive cocci: Focus on Staphylococci, Streptococci, and Enterococci
· Gram-negative cocci: Focus on Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis
· Gram-negative bacilli:
o Enterobacteriaceae: Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli, Yersinia, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp.
o Pseudomonadaceae: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia spp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
o Acinetobacter spp., Campylobacter spp., Helicobacter pylori, Legionella pneumophila, Vibrio cholerae
· Acid-fast bacteria: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, M. leprae, M. avium-intracellulare
· Gram-positive bacilli: Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Listeria monocytogenes
· Obligate intracellular bacteria: Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, C. psittaci
· Spiral-shaped bacteria: Treponema pallidum, Borrelia burgdorferi, Leptospira spp.
· Mycoplasmas: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, M. genitalium, M. hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum
· Nosocomial infections and ESKAPE pathogens: Health surveillance
Basic Concepts in Virology:
· Structure and function
· Classification and pathogenesis
· Oncogenic viruses
· Diagnosis of viral infections
· Antiviral agents and resistance mechanisms
Special Virology:
· DNA viruses: Papovaviridae, Herpesviridae, Adenoviridae, Parvoviridae, Poxviridae
· RNA viruses: Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae and Pneumoviridae, Picornaviridae, Coronaviridae
· Emerging and re-emerging viruses: Flaviviridae, Filoviridae, Togaviridae
· Hepatitis viruses: HAV, HEV, HBV, HDV, HCV
· Retroviridae: HERVs and HIV
Fungi (Mycology):
· Morphological, cultural, and pathogenic characteristics
· Yeast-like fungi: Focus on Candida spp., Cryptococcus spp.
· Filamentous fungi: Focus on Aspergillus spp., Mucorales, and dermatophytes
· Dimorphic fungi
Parasitology:
· Morphological and pathogenic characteristics
· Protozoa: Plasmodium spp., Toxoplasma gondii
o Overview of Amoebae, Giardia, Trichomonas, Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp.
· Helminths: Filariae and tapeworms (Taenia, Echinococcus)
· Brief overview of vectors and vector-borne diseases, including Lyme disease
· Structure and function of the prokaryotic cell
· Microbial classification and pathogenesis
· Diagnosis of bacterial infections
· Antimicrobials and mechanisms of resistance
· Fundamentals of the immune response
Special Bacteriology:
· Gram-positive cocci: Focus on Staphylococci, Streptococci, and Enterococci
· Gram-negative cocci: Focus on Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis
· Gram-negative bacilli:
o Enterobacteriaceae: Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli, Yersinia, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp.
o Pseudomonadaceae: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia spp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
o Acinetobacter spp., Campylobacter spp., Helicobacter pylori, Legionella pneumophila, Vibrio cholerae
· Acid-fast bacteria: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, M. leprae, M. avium-intracellulare
· Gram-positive bacilli: Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Listeria monocytogenes
· Obligate intracellular bacteria: Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, C. psittaci
· Spiral-shaped bacteria: Treponema pallidum, Borrelia burgdorferi, Leptospira spp.
· Mycoplasmas: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, M. genitalium, M. hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum
· Nosocomial infections and ESKAPE pathogens: Health surveillance
Basic Concepts in Virology:
· Structure and function
· Classification and pathogenesis
· Oncogenic viruses
· Diagnosis of viral infections
· Antiviral agents and resistance mechanisms
Special Virology:
· DNA viruses: Papovaviridae, Herpesviridae, Adenoviridae, Parvoviridae, Poxviridae
· RNA viruses: Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae and Pneumoviridae, Picornaviridae, Coronaviridae
· Emerging and re-emerging viruses: Flaviviridae, Filoviridae, Togaviridae
· Hepatitis viruses: HAV, HEV, HBV, HDV, HCV
· Retroviridae: HERVs and HIV
Fungi (Mycology):
· Morphological, cultural, and pathogenic characteristics
· Yeast-like fungi: Focus on Candida spp., Cryptococcus spp.
· Filamentous fungi: Focus on Aspergillus spp., Mucorales, and dermatophytes
· Dimorphic fungi
Parasitology:
· Morphological and pathogenic characteristics
· Protozoa: Plasmodium spp., Toxoplasma gondii
o Overview of Amoebae, Giardia, Trichomonas, Leishmania spp., Trypanosoma spp.
· Helminths: Filariae and tapeworms (Taenia, Echinococcus)
· Brief overview of vectors and vector-borne diseases, including Lyme disease
Prerequisites for admission
The student must have an excellent knowledge of the Italian language. The student is strongly advised to have acquired basic knowledge of cell biology and the basics in immunology
Teaching methods
The course includes 48 hours of lectures and 12 hours of innovative teaching. Lecture materials are made available on the instructor's Ariel website. Additionally, 16 hours of laboratory exercises are scheduled. Students enrolled in the course will be divided into groups to participate in the lab activities.
Laboratory exercises are organized into four modules: Virology, Bacteriology, Mycology, and Parasitology. Their objective is to familiarize students with cutting-edge diagnostic techniques in each of the course's four main areas.
Laboratory exercises are organized into four modules: Virology, Bacteriology, Mycology, and Parasitology. Their objective is to familiarize students with cutting-edge diagnostic techniques in each of the course's four main areas.
Teaching Resources
Adopted textbooks:
· P. Murray, K. Rosenthal, M. Pfaller - Medical Microbiology, Latest Edition
· La Placa - Principles of Medical Microbiology, Latest Edition
· Koneman's Atlas and Textbook of Diagnostic / Medical Microbiology
Additional materials will be provided, including slides, research articles related to both synchronous and asynchronous lectures, and further readings to support students in understanding the course content.
· P. Murray, K. Rosenthal, M. Pfaller - Medical Microbiology, Latest Edition
· La Placa - Principles of Medical Microbiology, Latest Edition
· Koneman's Atlas and Textbook of Diagnostic / Medical Microbiology
Additional materials will be provided, including slides, research articles related to both synchronous and asynchronous lectures, and further readings to support students in understanding the course content.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Assessment methods and criteria:
The student's actual achievement of the expected learning outcomes is assessed through an initial written exam consisting of 31 multiple-choice questions (1 correct answer = 1 point; no penalty for unanswered or incorrect answers), with a duration of one and a half hours. The final grade will be awarded on a 30-point scale. In order to pass the exam, students must correctly answer at least 18 questions; to achieve honors (cum laude), all questions must be answered correctly. Students who wish to improve their written exam score may take an oral exam on the same day as the written test. There are no intermediate assessments; the exam is only administered at the end of the course. During the exam, knowledge of the topics covered in lectures, innovative teaching activities, and laboratory exercises will be assessed.
The student's actual achievement of the expected learning outcomes is assessed through an initial written exam consisting of 31 multiple-choice questions (1 correct answer = 1 point; no penalty for unanswered or incorrect answers), with a duration of one and a half hours. The final grade will be awarded on a 30-point scale. In order to pass the exam, students must correctly answer at least 18 questions; to achieve honors (cum laude), all questions must be answered correctly. Students who wish to improve their written exam score may take an oral exam on the same day as the written test. There are no intermediate assessments; the exam is only administered at the end of the course. During the exam, knowledge of the topics covered in lectures, innovative teaching activities, and laboratory exercises will be assessed.
MED/07 - MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY - University credits: 6
Informal teaching: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons - Innovative Teaching: 20 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons - Innovative Teaching: 20 hours
Professor:
Alteri Claudia
Shifts:
Professor:
Alteri Claudia
Gruppo 1
Professor:
Alteri ClaudiaGruppo 2
Professor:
Alteri ClaudiaGruppo 3
Professor:
Alteri ClaudiaGruppo 4
Professor:
Alteri ClaudiaProfessor(s)
Reception:
Available on Teams and in presence, day and time to be agreed upon via e-mail
Teams or in presence