Industrial pharmacy (Latina Campus)

MARIA ELENA MARCOCCI

General expected learning outcomes
The course aims to provide students with a detailed knowledge of the main microrganisms of medical interest and their role in physiological and pathological processes in humans.
Particular attention will be paid to microorganism-host relationships, the mechanisms underlying infectious diseases and possible therapeutic and preventive approaches, as well as aspects of public and environmental hygiene.

Specific expected learning outcomes
1. Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student will know in depth the medical microbiology in its general and applicative aspects. In particular, the course will allow the student to acquire a good knowledge about morphological and physiological characteristics of bacteria, mycetes and protozoa of medical interest, their transmission, related diseases and underlying pathogenic mechanisms. Moreover, the student will know the structure and replication mechanisms of the main viruses of medical interest, the virus-host relationships, and pathogenic mechanisms. The student will also know the main elements of immune responses to microbial infections, as well as main therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.
Finally, the student will acquire knowledge related to the prevention and control of the spread of infectious agents.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding
The course will prepare the student to know and understand the main mechanisms of action of antimicrobial drugs and vaccines. Particular attention will be devoted to the antimicrobial resistance, underlying mechanisms, and related problems. The ability to use a scientific methodological approach to research activities will also be developed.

3. Making judgements
During the lessons the teacher will pursue an effective question strategy to capture students' attention, foster student involvement, and facilitate a positive, active learning environment.

4. Communication skills
At the end of the course the student will be able to use an appropriate technical-scientific language to communicate correctly on the topics covered, even with non-specialists or professionals from other disciplines.

5. Learning skills
The course is aimed at facilitating a critical and autonomous in-depth study of the topics covered in specialized texts and through consultation of databases and sector-specific platforms.

The student will know in depth the medical microbiology in its general and applicative aspects, will know the main elements of immune responses to microbial infections, as well as main therapeutic and diagnostic approaches and knowledge related to the prevention and control of the spread of infectious agents.

For a good comprehension of the topics and to achieve the learning objectives, it is important that the student possess basic knowledge in Biology and Chemistry. In addition, the study will be facilitated by an appropriate understanding of cellular biochemical and physiological processes.

General bacteriology: general characteristics of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic microorganisms. Definition and general classification of microorganisms. Bacterial cell structure. Structure of Gram-positive, Gram-negative and micobacteria. Cell wall, spores, biofilm, metabolism and bacterial growth, cell division, bacterial genetics. Disinfection and sterilization. Antibacterial drugs, antibiotic resistance, common and emerging nosocomial pathogens. Bacterial pathogenesis mechanisms. Bacterial toxins.

Specific pathogenic bacteria: Gram positive bacteria: Staphylococci (S. aureus, S. epidermidis); Streptococci (S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae, S. pneumoniae); Spore forming bacilli (B. anthracis, B. cereus); Clostridia (C. tetani, C. botulinum, C. perfringens; C. difficile); Gram negative bacteria: Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia, Salmonella, Shigella, Klebsiella, Proteus); Micobacteria; Sexually transmitted pathogens: Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, Chlamydia trachomatis. Microbiota. Vaccines preventable bacterial infection.

General virology: Virus structure and classification. General characteristics of viruses, composition, and morphology. Viral replication cycle. Pathogenesis of viral infections

Specific pathogenic viruses: Herpesvirus, Adenovirus, Papillomavirus, Rotavirus, Retrovirus, Orthomyxovirus, Paramyxovirus, Coronavirus, Enterovirus, Togavirus, Flavivirus, Hepatitis viruses.

General mycology: General characteristic of Mycetes. Pathogenicity mechanisms.
Specific pathogenic mycetes: Candida, Dermatophytes, Aspergillus and Cryptococcus. Antifungal drugs

Fundamentals of prevention and control of infectious agents: disinfection and sterilisation. Microbiological control methods (antibiogram, MIC, microbial count, viral titration, detection of genetic and protein material by diagnostic tests). Introduction to immunology: innate immunity and acquired immunity. Innate and adaptive defenses against microbial invasion. Vaccines and vaccination strategies currently used.

We suggest a theoretical deepening already from the beginning of the course attendance. To consultation and in-depth study, the recommended books are:
1-Microbiologia medica, Patrick R. Murray, Ken S. Rosenthal, Michael A. Pfaller
2-Microbiologia medica, Jawetz Edra
3-Microbiologia Farmaceutica, N. Carlone – EdiSES
4-Microbiologia Generale, JM Willey, KM Sadman, DH Wood-Mc Graw Hill

Course materials available at the Google Classroom platform of the course.

Frontal teaching with the aid of slides and films

Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended.

Oral examination with final evaluation expressed in thirties. At the end of the course, student must know the general characteristics of microorganisms that cause human diseases, the mechanisms of viral pathogenesis, host antiviral defenses, therapeutic tools, fundamentals of prevention and control of infectious agents. Following points will be taken into consideration: appropriate technical-scientific language, reasoning ability. To obtain the maximum mark, the student has to show a very good knowledge of all the arguments and to be able to reply to the required questions clearly and with suitable scientific language.

general/special virology, general/special bacteriology, immunology/Fundamentals of prevention and control of infectious agents, general mycology

• General virology and Specific pathogenic viruses (focus on Herpesvirus, Adenovirus, Papillomavirus, Rotavirus, Retrovirus, Orthomyxovirus, Paramyxovirus, Coronavirus, Enterovirus, Togavirus, Flavivirus, Hepatitis viruses).20 h
  • Books: -Microbiologia medica, PR. Murray, KS. Rosenthal, MA. Pfaller - Edra-Microbiologia medica, Jawetz - Edra-Microbiologia Farmaceutica, N. Carlone – EdiSES-Microbiologia Generale, JM Willey, KM Sadman, DH Wood-Mc Graw Hill- Course materials available at the Google Classroom platform of the course.


• General bacteriology and Specific pathogenic bacteria  (Staphylococci, Streptococci,  spore forming bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Micobacteria; Sexually transmitted pathogens) 25 h
  • Books: -Microbiologia medica, PR. Murray, KS. Rosenthal, MA. Pfaller - Edra-Microbiologia medica, Jawetz - Edra-Microbiologia Farmaceutica, N. Carlone – EdiSES-Microbiologia Generale, JM Willey, KM Sadman, DH Wood-Mc Graw Hill- Course materials available at the Google Classroom
    
    platform of the course.


• General mycology. Specific pathogenic mycetes: Candida, Dermatophytes, Aspergillus and Cryptococcus. Antifungal drugs.3 h
  • Books: -Microbiologia medica, PR. Murray, KS. Rosenthal, MA. Pfaller - Edra-Microbiologia medica, Jawetz - Edra-Microbiologia Farmaceutica, N. Carlone – EdiSES-Microbiologia Generale, JM Willey, KM Sadman, DH Wood-Mc Graw Hill- Course materials available at the Google Classroom platform of the course.


• Fundamentals
  of prevention and control of infectious agents: disinfection and sterilisation.
  Microbiological control methods (antibiogram, MIC, microbial count, viral
  titration, detection of genetic and protein material by diagnostic tests). Introduction
  to immunology: innate immunity and acquired immunity. Innate and adaptive
  defenses against microbial invasion. Vaccines and vaccination strategies
  currently used. 16 h
  • Books: -Microbiologia medica, PR. Murray, KS. Rosenthal, MA. Pfaller - Edra-Microbiologia medica, Jawetz - Edra-Microbiologia Farmaceutica, N. Carlone – EdiSES-Microbiologia Generale, JM Willey, KM Sadman, DH Wood-Mc Graw Hill- Course materials available at the Google Classroom platform of the course.