Water Microbiology
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course provides students with basic knowledge about biodiversity and functionalities of microbial communities in natural water sources (groundwater, glaciers, freshwater and seawater) and in relevant man-made water systems (drinking water bottling plants, drinking water filtering systems, desalinization plants, water pipelines, wastewater treatment plant). European and national legislative framework is delivered together with official analytical methods for microbial water quality. The course conveys awareness concerning water safety in developing countries.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the students will be able to describe the role of microbial communities in natural water sources as well as to discriminate between harmful and not-harmful bacteria in man-made water systems. The students will be able to classify waters in the reference legislative framework and to consult successive updates. Students will be able to compare technologies of water treatments in western versus developing countries considering safety issues.
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
Frontal lectures (28 h)
Native microbial communities in groundwater, glaciers, freshwater, and marine habitats: microbial physiology and functions in biogeochemical cycles and in the microbial loop of dissolved organic matter (3 h).
Anthropogenic and geogenic contaminations of superficial and deep water systems: eutrophication, pathogens dispersion into the human food chain, wastewater treatment and desalinization plants (3 h).
Microbiology of man-made infrastructures: physiology, formation, and control of biofilms in drinking water distribution systems (municipal water pipelines, bottling plants, dispensers), industrial cooling towers, and food processing pipelines (6 h).
Bacterial Pathogens: Tracking persistence and infectious pathways of Legionella pneumophila, Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio cholerae, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Viral & Protozoan Threats: The environmental resilience of enteric viruses (Norovirus, Hepatitis A) and protozoan cysts (Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia) (6 h).
Water Quality Legislations and official microbiological analytical methods: EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), EU Drinking Water Directive, and US EPA Clean Water Act/Safe Drinking Water Act standards. Drinking and food-grade industrial waters: Italian legislative framework (8 h).
Water safety in high income and developing countries. Implementation of the Water Safety Plans (WSPs) of World Health Organization (WHO) (2 h).
Analytical laboratory (8 h):
Standard isolation and cultivation of fecal indicator bacteria (total coliforms, E. coli, intestinal enterococci) using membrane filtration and chromogenic media.
Molecular Diagnostics: Real Time quantitative PCR (qPCR), tracking Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) genes through wastewater treatment pathways.
Native microbial communities in groundwater, glaciers, freshwater, and marine habitats: microbial physiology and functions in biogeochemical cycles and in the microbial loop of dissolved organic matter (3 h).
Anthropogenic and geogenic contaminations of superficial and deep water systems: eutrophication, pathogens dispersion into the human food chain, wastewater treatment and desalinization plants (3 h).
Microbiology of man-made infrastructures: physiology, formation, and control of biofilms in drinking water distribution systems (municipal water pipelines, bottling plants, dispensers), industrial cooling towers, and food processing pipelines (6 h).
Bacterial Pathogens: Tracking persistence and infectious pathways of Legionella pneumophila, Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio cholerae, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Viral & Protozoan Threats: The environmental resilience of enteric viruses (Norovirus, Hepatitis A) and protozoan cysts (Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia) (6 h).
Water Quality Legislations and official microbiological analytical methods: EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), EU Drinking Water Directive, and US EPA Clean Water Act/Safe Drinking Water Act standards. Drinking and food-grade industrial waters: Italian legislative framework (8 h).
Water safety in high income and developing countries. Implementation of the Water Safety Plans (WSPs) of World Health Organization (WHO) (2 h).
Analytical laboratory (8 h):
Standard isolation and cultivation of fecal indicator bacteria (total coliforms, E. coli, intestinal enterococci) using membrane filtration and chromogenic media.
Molecular Diagnostics: Real Time quantitative PCR (qPCR), tracking Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) genes through wastewater treatment pathways.
Prerequisites for admission
General Microbiology.
Teaching methods
ATTENDING STUDENTS: Frontal lectures, seminars and practical laboratories.
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS: Independent study of the topics covered in frontal lessons and practical laboratories via MyAriel sources and text books, and recorded seminars on Microsoft Teams. At the beginning of the course, not attending students must fix an appointment with the teacher.
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS: Independent study of the topics covered in frontal lessons and practical laboratories via MyAriel sources and text books, and recorded seminars on Microsoft Teams. At the beginning of the course, not attending students must fix an appointment with the teacher.
Teaching Resources
Slides of lectures on the MyAriel site of the course.
Scientific papers and review articles uploaded on the MyAriel site of the course.
Practical classes notes.
Links to useful online resources.
Some of the information given during the course can be found in the following textbooks (also available in the UNIMI Library link https://unimi.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=39UMI_INST:VU1&lang=en):
- M.T. Madigan, J.M. Martinko, K.S. Bender, D.H. Buckley, D.A. Stahl. Brock - Biology of microorganisms, 2016, Ed. Pearson.
- M.T. Madigan, J.M. Martinko, K.S. Bender, D.H. Buckley, D.A. Stahl. Brock - Biologia dei Microrganismi, 2022, Ed. Pearson.
- B. Biavati e C. Sorlini. Microbiologia Agroambientale, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.
Scientific papers and review articles uploaded on the MyAriel site of the course.
Practical classes notes.
Links to useful online resources.
Some of the information given during the course can be found in the following textbooks (also available in the UNIMI Library link https://unimi.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=39UMI_INST:VU1&lang=en):
- M.T. Madigan, J.M. Martinko, K.S. Bender, D.H. Buckley, D.A. Stahl. Brock - Biology of microorganisms, 2016, Ed. Pearson.
- M.T. Madigan, J.M. Martinko, K.S. Bender, D.H. Buckley, D.A. Stahl. Brock - Biologia dei Microrganismi, 2022, Ed. Pearson.
- B. Biavati e C. Sorlini. Microbiologia Agroambientale, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Students must demonstrate their knowledge on water system dynamics: microbial behaviour, mitigate processing risks in food production, and monitor biological systems to protect both environmental and public health.
ATTENDING STUDENTS: Oral presentation of an advanced topic based on the course material. Evaluation criteria are: accuracy and clarity of the presented scientific contents (60%), knowledge of course topics (40%).
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS: Oral examination on the course topics.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
The final grade is expressed in thirties (from 18/30 to 30/30).
ATTENDING STUDENTS: Oral presentation of an advanced topic based on the course material. Evaluation criteria are: accuracy and clarity of the presented scientific contents (60%), knowledge of course topics (40%).
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS: Oral examination on the course topics.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
The final grade is expressed in thirties (from 18/30 to 30/30).
AGRI-08/A - Agricultural, Food and Environmental Microbiology - University credits: 4
Laboratories: 8 hours
Lessons: 28 hours
Lessons: 28 hours
Professor:
Cavalca Lucia
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Cavalca LuciaProfessor(s)
Reception:
By appointment
DEFENS-Environmental Microbiology, Via Mangiagalli 25, 3rd floor, office 3021