Microbiology and Medical Virology
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
Learning of fundamental knowledge related to the morphology and functions of infectious agents of medical interest (viruses, bacteria), with particular attention to the structural characteristics, genomic organization, molecular phenomena of microorganism-host interaction, replicative processes, pathogenic mechanisms and the ways of transmission of infectious pathogens.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will have learned the fundamental information relating to the morphology, replication and pathogenesis of viruses, bacteria of major clinical interest. In particular, the student will know the structure, genomic organization, replication, interaction with the host of each microorganism and the basics of prevention / treatment of infectious diseases caused by the same microorganism.
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
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics, subdivided into a general part (General microbiology) and a clinical part (Clinical microbiology, i.e.: Bacteriology, Virology).
General microbiology:
· Interaction of infectious agents and human hosts
· Basic concepts of colonization, symbiosis, commensalism, infection and disease
· Main transmission routes (horizontal and vertical) of infectious agents
· Mode of transmission and types of infection (acute, persistent, and latent)
· Classification of infectious agents
· Microbiota (resident microbial population of the human body and composition in the various districts)
· Morphology and structure of the bacterial cell with a focus on microbial structures external to the plasma membrane
· Virulence factor of bacteria: biofilm, capsule, enzymes, flagella, pili, plasmids, toxins
· Exchange of genetic information in bacteria: conjugation, transduction, transformation
· Bacteria culture and common staining procedures
· Sporulation and germination
· Molecular structure and classification of human infecting viruses
· Interaction virus-host
· Viral genetics
· Replication cycle of human infecting viruses
Bacteriology:
Species features involved in human disease: pathogenetic potential, type of infection, prevention and drug-resistance of the main human pathogenic bacteria:
· Staphylococci, with particular reference to Staphylococcus aureus;
· Streptococci, with particular reference to: Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae;
· Enterobacteriaceae with particular reference to those exogenously acquired (Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia and Yersinia spp.) and to the opportunistic endogenous species (E. coli)
· Gram-positive bacilli with particular reference to: Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Listeria monocytogenes;
· Spore-forming Gram-positive bacilli with particular reference to: Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, Clostridioides difficile, Clostridium botulinum, C. perfringens and C. tetani;
· Neisserie with particular reference to: Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis;
· Gram negative bacilli with particular reference to: Helicobacter pylori, Legionella pneumophila and Vibrio cholerae;
· Mycobacteria with particular reference to: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
· Spiral bacteria with particular reference to: Treponema pallidum, Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospira spp.;
Virology:
Main families, replication modalities, pathogenesis of infections related to:
RNA viruses: Picornaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Coronaviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Filoviridae, Rhabdoviridae
Retroviridae: HIV Virus
Main hepatitis viruses: HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV;
DNA viruses: Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, Polyomaviridae, Poxviridae
Practical activities
· Cultures and isolation of bacteria
· Biochemical tests for bacterial identification
· Dilution and plating of biological samples to determine the bacterial load
· Reading of identification tests
· Colony count for the determination of bacterial load
General microbiology:
· Interaction of infectious agents and human hosts
· Basic concepts of colonization, symbiosis, commensalism, infection and disease
· Main transmission routes (horizontal and vertical) of infectious agents
· Mode of transmission and types of infection (acute, persistent, and latent)
· Classification of infectious agents
· Microbiota (resident microbial population of the human body and composition in the various districts)
· Morphology and structure of the bacterial cell with a focus on microbial structures external to the plasma membrane
· Virulence factor of bacteria: biofilm, capsule, enzymes, flagella, pili, plasmids, toxins
· Exchange of genetic information in bacteria: conjugation, transduction, transformation
· Bacteria culture and common staining procedures
· Sporulation and germination
· Molecular structure and classification of human infecting viruses
· Interaction virus-host
· Viral genetics
· Replication cycle of human infecting viruses
Bacteriology:
Species features involved in human disease: pathogenetic potential, type of infection, prevention and drug-resistance of the main human pathogenic bacteria:
· Staphylococci, with particular reference to Staphylococcus aureus;
· Streptococci, with particular reference to: Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae;
· Enterobacteriaceae with particular reference to those exogenously acquired (Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia and Yersinia spp.) and to the opportunistic endogenous species (E. coli)
· Gram-positive bacilli with particular reference to: Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Listeria monocytogenes;
· Spore-forming Gram-positive bacilli with particular reference to: Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, Clostridioides difficile, Clostridium botulinum, C. perfringens and C. tetani;
· Neisserie with particular reference to: Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis;
· Gram negative bacilli with particular reference to: Helicobacter pylori, Legionella pneumophila and Vibrio cholerae;
· Mycobacteria with particular reference to: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
· Spiral bacteria with particular reference to: Treponema pallidum, Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospira spp.;
Virology:
Main families, replication modalities, pathogenesis of infections related to:
RNA viruses: Picornaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Coronaviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Filoviridae, Rhabdoviridae
Retroviridae: HIV Virus
Main hepatitis viruses: HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV;
DNA viruses: Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, Polyomaviridae, Poxviridae
Practical activities
· Cultures and isolation of bacteria
· Biochemical tests for bacterial identification
· Dilution and plating of biological samples to determine the bacterial load
· Reading of identification tests
· Colony count for the determination of bacterial load
Prerequisites for admission
Passing the cell biology exam is a mandatory prerequisite for taking the microbiology and virology course.
Teaching methods
The teaching consists of 5 CFU of lectures (40 hours). The presentations of all the lectures are available through the myAriel website.There is also 1 CFU of laboratory exercises that are carried out by dividing the students enrolled in the course into groups.
Teaching Resources
Jawetz, Melnick e Aadelberg- Microbiologia Medica - Piccin ed
Antonelli, Clementi, Pozi, Rossolini - Principi di microbiologia medica - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
Murray, Rosenthal, Pfaller - Microbiologia medica - Edra ed.
Antonelli, Clementi, Pozi, Rossolini - Principi di microbiologia medica - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
Murray, Rosenthal, Pfaller - Microbiologia medica - Edra ed.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The student's actual achievement of the expected learning outcomes is verified through an Oral Test. During the test, the knowledge of the topics covered in class and during the laboratory exercises is evaluated, but also the ability and clarity of presentation of the same topics. The grade is awarded in 30ths. During the course, written mid-term tests with short open questions may be carried out, which are given a score out of thirty. The score obtained, if positive, becomes part of the final evaluation and is published on the myAriel website of the course, anonymously (matriculation number). Participation in the midterm tests is not mandatory and is not a prerequisite for participation in the Oral Test.
MED/07 - MICROBIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY - University credits: 6
Informal teaching: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Delbue Serena
Professor(s)