The prokaryotic cell: shape, membrane, wall, differentiation, motility, chemotaxis. Nutrition, cultivation and metabolism of microorganisms. Metabolic diversity. Growth and control of microbial growth; sterilization, antimicrobials. Bacterial genome. Horizontal gene transfer. Molecular systematics and microbial evolution. Communication between microorganisms. Interactions between microorganisms and other organisms. Virus. Zoonoses: bacterial and viral. Microbial biotechnologies.
Knowledge:
Structural and functional characteristics of microorganisms.
Metabolic and phylogenetic diversity of microorganisms.
Basic techniques of the microbiology laboratory: microscopy, sterilization, preparation of culture media, cultivation, determination of microbial growth.
Concepts of genetics and bacterial genomics, systematics and molecular evolution.
Intra- and inter-specific communication between microorganisms.
Interaction with multicellular organisms: symbiosis, pathogenesis and zoonosis.
Outline of microbial biotechnology.
Competences and skills acquired:
Knowledge of microorganisms from a structural point of view and the relationship between particular cellular structures and their functions.
Recognize the peculiarities of microorganisms from a metabolic and phylogenetic diversity point of view.
Knowledge about the particular needs regarding the study of microorganisms in relation to the problems related to their size, the enormous metabolic and genetic diversity, the difficulties of cultivation, the need to obtain and maintain sterile conditions to avoid environmental contamination.
Knowledge of the essential role of microorganisms in the biogeochemical cycles of the elements and in the sustenance of ecosystems.
Knowledge the potential of microorganisms in different biotechnological applications.
Knowing how to prepare and sterilize culture media for microorganisms. Knowing how to isolate environmental microorganisms and keep them as pure cultures. Knowing how to work in aseptic conditions. Knowing how to evaluate the effects of different environmental parameters on microorganisms by analyzing their consequences on microbial growth.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Biochemistry and Genetics.
Teaching Methods
Frontal lessons.
Seminar activities on specific topics.
Individual study.
Reading and discussion of scientific articles.
Teaching support tools:
recommended texts,
lectures supported by electronic slides available to students on Moodle,
indications of websites for further information
Type of Assessment
Oral exam.
Course program
Introduction to microbiology. What are microorganisms. Microbial habitats and microbial life. Microbial diversity.
The prokaryotic cell: form, structure and function. Optical microscopy and stains. Electronic microscope. Size, organization, shape of the bacterial cell. Differences between Bacteria and Archaea. The cytoplasmic membrane. Transport across cell membranes. The bacterial wall: structure, function and synthesis of the wall in Gram + and Gram- bacteria. Capsule. Bacterial differentiation. The bacterial spore, structure and function. Sporulation process.
Microbial locomotion: flagella, structure and function. Chemotaxis: receptors, sensors and regulation of chemotaxis.
Nutrition, cultivation and metabolism of microorganisms
Culture media. Aseptic techniques for handling microorganisms. Isolation of microorganisms and preparation of pure cultures. Conservation of microorganisms. Microbial nutrition. Enzymes, enzymatic catalysis and assimilation of nutrients. Energy metabolism in bacteria. Fermentation and respiration. Sources of carbon, heterotrophs and autotrophs. Sources of energy, chemotrophs and phototrophs. Microbial diversity, expression of metabolic diversity.
Growth and control of microbial growth. The bacterial cell cycle. Growth of a bacterial population in the laboratory. Bacterial growth curve. Methods for measuring bacterial growth and calculating the generation time. Determination of the total number of microbial cells and of the vital titer. Temperature and other environmental factors that affect the growth of microorganisms. Control of microbial growth. Methods of sterilization and inhibition of bacterial growth. Microorganisms producing antibiotics.
Molecular biology of microorganisms. Organization of hereditary material. Plasmids, characteristics, structure and function. Replication of hereditary material. Transcription and translation.
Bacterial genetics. Transfer of genetic material between bacteria: conjugation, transduction, transformation. Bacteriophages. Intragenomic transfer of genetic material: insertion sequences, transposons and integrons. Evolutionary, physiological, taxonomic and medical importance of the phenomena of transfer of genetic material between microorganisms. Mutations. Selection of bacterial mutants. Gene expression, from DNA to proteins. Operons and notes on the regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes.
Microbial genomics.
Molecular systematics and microbial evolution. Study of microbial diversity: phenotypic and molecular characterization of microorganisms. Bacterial identification and classification: use of 16S rRNA. Sequencing and analysis of microbial genomes. Comparison between genomes. Metagenomics. The concept of microbial species.
Communication between microorganisms. Microbial communities. Quorum sensing. Biofilm formation.
Interactions between microorganisms and other organisms. Microorganisms and animal host. Symbiosis. Pathogenesis and infection. Virulence and pathogenicity factors. Defenses of the host. Pathogenic microorganisms and opportunistic pathogens. Microorganism-insect interactions.
Viruses: animal, plant and bacterial.
Zoonoses: bacterial and viral
Microbial biotechnologies. Exploiting microbial biodiversity. Selection and genetic improvement of microorganisms of biotechnological interest. Hints of genetic engineering. Genetically modified microorganisms.