| 1023324 | [BIO/19] [ITA] | 1st | 2nd | 6 |
Educational objectives Research in Virology allows accomplishing, with relative ease, fundamental discoveries on the mechanisms that regulate complex biological processes and on the origin of life. Thanks to the study of the biology of viruses, in the effort to fight the negative effects they have on their hosts, it has been possible to use them to our advantage so that today Virology has many applications in biotechnology. The discoveries in the field of Virology increase unabated providing more and more knowledge on the molecular details of viruses, including the interactions with their hosts. The breadth of information, old and new, requires to limit the number of viruses discussed in the teaching of Virology, making a selection of examples to be illustrated, which demonstrate broad principles as well as specific detail. Through in-depth discussion of selected topics, the teaching of Molecular Virology aims to provide a comprehensive view of the world of viruses, characterized by such great diversity, knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of the virus life cycle and of their influence on the physiology of the host cell, and the molecular basis of their use in biotechnology. Finally, by including some flipped lessons, the Course of Molecular Virology aims to improve the students’ skills to communicate their knowledge to both specialists and non-specialists.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of Molecular Virology Course, students will acquire knowledge on:
- The pivotal role of molecular virology discoveries on the understanding of the main biological processes;
- The mechanisms by which hosts control virus infection and how different viruses overcome these;
- The life cycles of selected DNA and RNA viruses;
- The molecular basis for how certain viruses cause disease;
- Why do viruses cause cancer;
- The molecular basis of antiviral therapy
- The current state of scientific knowledge for several virus systems under study;
- The molecular basis for creating recombinant viruses.
By the end of the Molecular Virology Course, students should be able to:
- Develop a detailed understanding of the molecular biology underpinning viral replication cycles and virus-host interactions to build original ideas aimed at creating biotechnological tools to be used in a research context;
- Apply their knowledge and understanding to solve problems in medical sphere associated to viral infection, identifying potential targets for designing antiviral drugs.
- Integrate the acquired knowledge for facing emerging viral infection, express judgments and reflect on social and ethical responsibilities linked to vaccines and genome editing.
- Communicate responsibly and illustrate correctly, to specialist and non-specialist audiences, the potential of new technologies based on recombinant viruses both in developing new vaccines and the manipulation of eukaryotic cells.
- Continue to study in autonomous manner bio-molecular aspects aimed at understanding and explaining new viral infections and their consequences at the cell and the whole organism level.
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| 1051866 | Pharmacology in drug discovery [BIO/14] [ENG] | 1st | 1st | 6 |
Educational objectives Main aim
The main aim of the course is to allow the student in GMB to acquire the basic concepts of Pharmacology, which will be useful to its inclusion in sectors of the job market related to the Drug Discovery Process, or to enter third level-education programs requiring a basic pharmacology knowledge.
Specific aims
This objective will be pursued through an articulated knowledge about a range of basic aspects of drug development including pharmacology, such as target identification, drug testing, pharmacokinetics investigations, safety requirements (in vitro and in animal toxicological evaluations), phases of clinical development and postmarketing surveillance.
Among the skills that will be acquired by the student at the end of the course the making judgments and communication skills will be stimulated by inviting students to present to their colleagues a recent publication they chose from the scientific literature concerning pharmacological studies in one of the aforesaid aspects of drug development. The presentation will be followed by a discussion on the results that will involve the other students in the class.
Finally, through the reference to scientific databases (eg. Pubmed) or to websites of public or private organizations in the area of Pharmacology (eg AIFA, ISS, Italian Pharmacology Society), the course will provide the student with indications on the use of such sources to develop learning skills necessary for his/her autonomous education in this field.
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| 1051931 | DATA ANALYSIS [FIS/01] [ENG] | 1st | 2nd | 6 |
Educational objectives In-depth knowledge of methods for data taking and analysis of experimental results, mainly by laboratory experiments and lecture-hall practice. Exploitation of instruments, hardware and software tools. Application of advanced methods for statistical inference (parametric and non parametric methods, test of hypothesis) to actual data from current literature or experiments in the context of the specific master degree.
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| 10589662 | COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN BIOLOGY [BIO/10] [ENG] | 1st | 2nd | 6 |
Educational objectives TKnowledge and understanding:
The aim of the course is to provide insights into the main computational methods used in
the fields of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, with a particular focus on omic
approaches such as the analysis of RNA-Sequencing data. Students will familiarize with
the basics of R, a programming environment for statistical computing and graphics, and
they will use it for the analysis of transcriptomic data.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
At the end of the course students will be able not only to understand, but also to
autonomously carry out computational and statistical analyzes of biological data.
Making judgements:
By carrying out a project in R, students will develop the ability to correctly interpret
biological data, formulate hypotheses and verify them directly.
Communication skills:
Students will learn to effectively communicate the results of their analyses by compiling a
written report on the project.
Learning skills:
The knowledge and skills acquired during the course will allow students to autonomously
deepen both the study of computational methods for the analysis of biological data and
that of R or other programming languages.
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| 10592824 | Molecular parassitology [VET/06] [ITA] | 1st | 2nd | 6 |
Educational objectives Main objectives
The course of Molecular Parasitology aims to provide students with the knowledge on the
molecular mechanisms underlying the biology of parasites and vectors, their pathogenicity and
their coevolution with the host, with particular interest in the vector-parasite and host-parasite
molecular interplays. Human parasitic protozoa, helminths and arthropods will be part of the
syllabus, with particular attention to the molecular biology of the vectors.
The lessons will address different aspects of parasitological relationships, starting from the
fundamental biological aspects up to the specific molecular mechanisms of parasitic life, such as
evasion of the host's immune system, molecular mimesis, penetration into host cells, etc.
Biotechnological approaches (-omics, transgenesis, creation of novel experimental models, etc.)
that allowed in recent years to expand genomic, genetic, molecular and biochemical knowledge
on parasites and on the complex interactions between different eukaryotic organisms will be also
discussed.
Specific objectives
At the end of the lessons, the student will have acquired both the key biological competences on
the discipline of Parasitology and the specific knowledge on the molecular basis of parasitological
relationships, vector-parasite-host interactions, metabolism and pathogenicity of parasites.
A) Knowledge and understanding.
During the course, the student will be guided towards understanding the importance of studying
the subject both from the point of view of basic research and from the point of view of the
numerous possible applications in biomedical research, considering the considerable impact of
parasitic diseases (neglected and not) on global public health.
B) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding.
At the end of the lessons, the students will have gained the biological and terminological
competences of the subject. One of the aims of the course is to provide students with useful tools
for analyzing biological problems and questions and for identifying the relevant molecular
strategies useful for their study.
C) Autonomy of judgment.
During the course the student's ability to apply the scientific method to Molecular Parasitology will
be stimulated. Many aspects of the molecular interactions that regulate parasitic life with the
hosts and with the vectors are in fact still open questions, deeply studied in numerous laboratories
in the world. The student will be encouraged to develop the ability to understand scientific issues,
to interpret the experimental strategies applied and to evaluate the conclusions reached.
D) Communication skills.
The curriculum of the course encompasses different opportunities of direct communication from
the student to the teacher and to the class, for example through the deepening (in groups or
individually) and the exposition of specific topics of the program. The student will be directed
towards choosing the appropriate literature and will be followed in the predsentation of the
specific study.
E) Learning skills.
Learning skills will be continuously stimulated through the application of an integrated study
method between texts, teaching and didactic material provided by the teacher, original articles,
thematic reviews, especially through the review of the most recent scientific literature.
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| 10598569 | Biochemical Biotechnologies I [BIO/10, CHIM/11] [ENG] | 1st | 2nd | 6 |
Educational objectives The course of "Biochemical Biotechnologies I" consists of the integrated modules "Applied Biochemistry" and "Microbial Biotechnologies: Industrial Applications". The learning outcomes of the course concern biotechnological applications of enzymes, proteins and microorganisms in basic and applied research and in industry. The learning outcomes of each individual module can be consulted in the appropriate section of the module.
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| Applied Biochemistry [BIO/10] [ENG] | 1st | 2nd | 3 |
Educational objectives General skills.
At the end of the course and after passing the exam, the student will have acquired the knowledge and skills in the areas listed below. In general, he / she will be able to: know the biochemistry and the main genome editing methods for microorganisms for industrial use, design the genetic improvement of industrial strains and critically read articles in international scientific journals concerning the topics of the course. On the basis of the acquired knowledge, the student will have the ability to interpret and explain the applications of synthetic biology and the rewiring of metabolic biochemical circuits. Students' critical and judgment skills will be developed thanks to class exercises, in which videos will be projected and numerical exercises carried out, and practical laboratory experiences, in which they will apply the concepts studied in class, performing and interpreting experiments that will be in the future able to reproduce autonomously. Communication skills will be exercised during the theoretical lessons, which include moments of open discussion. In the future, the student will be able to integrate the knowledge and skills just described for the applications of microbial biotechnologies also in other fields, such as the medical one, and in basic research.
Specific skills.
a) knowledge and understanding:
- Knowledge and understanding of the physiology, biochemistry and genetics of microorganisms used in industrial microbial biotechnologies.
- Knowledge of the different microbial metabolisms
- Knowledge and understanding of the main genome editing techniques on microorganisms of industrial interest
- Knowledge and understanding of the principles of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering;
b) ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- ability to describe and explain the physiology and biochemistry of industrial microorganisms;
- ability to apply appropriate techniques to problems of industrial production;
c) autonomy of judgment:
- knowing how to independently solve microbial growth problems;
- being able to identify the best microorganisms for the production of a metabolite of interest;
- knowing how to select and evaluate the most appropriate techniques to solve a bottleneck in the production of a metabolite;
d) communication skills:
- be able to illustrate and explain the physiology and biochemistry of the microorganisms of interest with appropriate terms and with logical rigor;
- being able to describe the main molecular techniques for the modification of microorganisms
- being able to describe the industrial productions described in class;
e) learning skills:
- acquisition of the fundamentals and cognitive tools to autonomously pursue the study of microbial biotechnologies;
- acquisition of basic knowledge for the applications of synthetic biology and metabolic engineering.
- ability to apply biochemical and molecular techniques in laboratory working environments;
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| Microbial Biotechnologies: Industrial Applications [CHIM/11] [ENG] | 1st | 2nd | 3 |
Educational objectives The course aims to provide students with the biochemical bases to: understand the most advanced biotechnological applications of enzymes, proteins and complex multienzymatic systems; understand the methods and strategies required for protein engineering. Students' critical and judgment skills will be developed thanks to class exercises, in which videos will be projected and numerical exercises carried out, and practical laboratory experiences, in which they will apply the concepts studied in class, performing and interpreting experiments that they will be in the future able to reproduce autonomously. Communication skills will be implemented during the theoretical lessons, which include moments of open discussion.
Specific skills
A) knowledge and understanding
- knowledge of the main biotechnological applications of enzymes;
- knowledge of the main features of complex multienzymatic systems of biotechnological interest;
- knowledge of the strategies required for protein and enzyme production and engineering
B) ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- exploiting the knowledge of biochemical techniques to investigate the applications of enzymes and proteins in the field of biotechnology
- understanding and evaluating the impact of structural modifications of biological macromolecules on their biological function;
C) Making judgements
- critical thinking through the study of examples of biotechnological applications of proteins and enzymes taken from the scientific literature
- learning by questioning
D) Communication skills
- ability to communicate what has been learned during the oral exam
E) Learning skills
- learning the specific terminology
- ability to make the logical connections between the topics covered
- ability to identify the most relevant topics
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| 10592805 | Psychobiology with elements of psychopharmacology [M-PSI/02] [ITA] | 1st | 2nd | 6 |
Educational objectives Learning objectives
Psychobiology is a discipline that belongs to the life sciences and more particularly to neurosciences.
In the field of psychobiology we consider how the relationships between brain and behavior have
changed from an evolutionary and developmental point of view. The main objective of the course is to
provide students with the basics to address the study and understanding the relationship between the
nervous system and behavior, from reflexes to cortical functions.
The student is guided to the understanding of the relationship between the structure and function of
the nervous system and the strategies for regulating their functions.
Particular attention will be devoted to the effects of the environment on the structure and nervous
function. The course wil also deal with basic psychopharmacology and animal models of neurologiacal
and psychiatric diseases.
Knowledge and understanding
The student:
-Knows the neuroscientific terminology correctly;
- Knows the neurobiological bases of behavior;
- Knows the different levels of organization of the CNS from the spinal cord to the cortex;
- Knows the excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms of NS
- Knows the basic techniques for the study of the nervous system, in vitro and in vivo
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The student:
- knows how to correctly use neuroscientific terminology
- knows how to evaluate the function of different nerve structures and their functional relationships;
- knows how to evaluate the role of neurotransmitters in the various brain functions
- is able to use the techniques for the study of the nervous system in order to explore its functions.
Making judgements
- is able to critically analyze scientific literature in the field of psychobiology
Communication skills
- ability to communicate effectively acquired knowledge to non-specialists
- ability to communicate effectively acquired knowledge through a written report
- ability to synthesize and communicate complex problems in the field of psychobiology
Lifelong learning skills
- the student should be able to understand, and evaluate research in the field of neuroscience and
develop critical judgment
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| 10611803 | PROGRAMMING AND MACHINE LEARNING FOR BIOLOGICAL DATA [BIO/10] [ENG] | 1st | 2nd | 6 |
Educational objectives After completing the course, learners will be able to:
Run Python programs
Store data in programs
Use built-in functions
Detect syntax errors occurring in programs
Read tabular data
Visualise and statistically analyse tabular data
Plot biological data
Create functions
Repeat actions with loops
Make choices
Determine where errors occurred
Manage errors and exceptions
Make programs readable
Use software that other people have written
Recognize various data formats to represent DNA/RNA sequence data
Independently write Python scripts to
Read in sequence data using Python or BioPython modules
Parse data files
Run external programs
Read input from the command line
Describe a wide range of machine learning techniques
Recognize what machine learning method is most applicable to given data analysis problems
Transform biological data for ML application. In particular, transform sequence data into a machine-readable format for input into a machine learning pipeline
Preprocess Biological Sequence Data for Natural Language Processing
Build a Random Forest model (RF) to classify a set of sequences
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