Biotechnologies

DANIELA UCCELLETTI
MICHELE MARIA BIANCHI
ARIANNA MONTANARI

General objective of the teaching is to give knowledge, by frontal lessons and practical training, on microbes used in industrial applications and on examples of industrial productions by traditional and innovative methodologies.
Specific objectives of part 1
A) Knowledge and understanding
- Knowledge of the main microorganisms used in industrial biotechnological applications.
- Knowledge and understanding of the applications of microorganisms.
- Knowledge and understanding of strategies for the isolation and characterization of microorganisms used for biotechnological applications in different industrial sectors.
B) Applying knowledge and understanding
- Capability to use properly specific terms.
- Ability to evaluate the use of microorganisms for the production of substances at the industrial level.
- Ability to propose production of new substances and new production processes.
- Knowing how to isolate, identify and characterize the microorganisms most commonly used in industrial platforms

C) Making judgments
- Acquisition of critical analysis about the identification and characterization of industrial microorganisms in relation to the industrial processes in which they are employed.
- Capability to pose questions about deepening the acquired knowledge.
D) Communication skills
- Communication skills acquired by oral exams
E) Learning skills
- Learning specific and proper nomenclature.
- Capability to connect logically the acquired knowledge.
- Identify relevant issues of studied subjects.

Specific objectives of part 2
A) Knowledge and understanding
- Knowledge on microbial cultivation and on main processes about large-scale fermentative productions.
- Knowledge about main production processes of primary and secondary metabolites.
- Knowledge about metabolic engineering strategies and recombinant protein production.
B) Applying knowledge and understanding
- Capability to use properly specific terms.
- Ability to evaluate the use of microorganisms for the production of substances at the industrial level.
- Ability to propose production of new substances and new production processes.
C) Making judgments
- Acquisition of critical analysis about the use of industrial microorganisms and of industrial processes for the production of substances.
- Capability to pose questions about deepening the acquired knowledge.
D) Communication skills
- Communication skills acquired by oral exams
E) Learning skills
- Learning specific and proper nomenclature.
- Capability to connect logically the acquired knowledge.
- Identify relevant issues of studied subjects.

Le conoscenze sulle principali tecniche molecolari per l'identificazione di comunità microbiche e biotecnologie microbiche applicate all'ambiente come il controllo biologico da parte dei microrganismi.

N/D N/D N/D N/D N/D N/D N/D

Introduction on microbial diversity and metabolic diversity of prokaryotes and microbial eukaryotes (2 hours). Identification and characteristics of the main industrial microorganisms: Clostridia, Bacilli, Actinomyceti, Yeasts and Molds (6 hours). Methods of study of natural microbial communities, molecular techniques and principles of metagenomics (4 hours). Characteristics of industrial strains and their improvement. Mutagenesis and selection techniques and mutagenesis and screening. Improvement with genetic engineering techniques. Problems of conservation of industrial strains (4 hours).
Laboratory sessions (12 hours). Isolation of microorganisms from environmental and food matrices, identification and evaluation of their possible applications in the biotechnological field (eg ability to degrade contaminants).

Michele M. Bianchi - Chimica e biotecnologia delle fermentazioni industriali, Edizioni Nuova Cultura

The course is structured in theoretical lectures and exercises. In particular, 28 hours of teaching (3 CFU) are planned, of which 16 hours of lectures (2 credits) and 12 hours of exercises (1 CFU). The lessons are held twice a week in the classroom and the exposure takes place through the use of slides on power-point. The lessons are interspersed with laboratory hours based on the topics covered. During the laboratory sessions the student learns how to cultivate and manipulate some of the organisms studied.
There are no tests of self-assessment in progress, there will be in the classroom the opportunity to review with the teacher key aspects of the program.

N/D

The exam is aimed at verifying the level of knowledge and in-depth examination of the topics of the teaching program and the reasoning skills developed by the student. The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths (minimum grade 18/30, maximum mark 30/30 with honors).

The evaluation consists of an oral test. The overall exam allows to verify the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and skills acquired as well as communication skills.