Educational objectives The course aims to illustrate the structure, physiology, and functions of microorganisms, as well as the mechanisms underlying genetic variability and adaptation. Particular attention is devoted to understanding the interactions between microorganisms and hosts, mechanisms of pathogenicity, and activation of the immune response. The course also covers major molecular and cellular biology techniques used to study microorganisms.
Specific Objectives
Knowledge and understanding
By the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge in the following areas:
Structure and physiology of prokaryotic cells
Principles of classification, taxonomy, diversity, and molecular evolution of microorganisms
Modes of prokaryotic replication and techniques to control and measure microbial growth
Mechanisms of action of major antibiotics and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance
Mechanisms of pathogenicity and bacterial virulence factors
Structure and replication of viruses and bacteriophages
Biology of major bacterial species of clinical relevance
Biology of major viruses of clinical relevance
Principles of molecular and cellular biology for the study of microorganisms
Applying knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
Integrate the knowledge acquired in the Fundamentals of Microbiology course with that gained from other courses in the degree program;
Understand the structure and physiology of microorganisms for the study of innovative applications in the field of microbiology;
Understand the main mechanisms of microbial pathogenicity for the study of antimicrobial strategies;
Understand and describe key technologies in the field of microbiology.
Critical and judgmental skills
At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
Interpret experimental data from scientific articles;
Formulate judgements in professional contexts and for various purposes within the field of microbiology.
Communication skills
At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
Communicate the acquired knowledge in professional contexts and for various purposes, using appropriate language (correct use of technical and scientific terminology);
Present data from scientific literature.
Learning skills
The student should be able to build their own path of scientific growth in a critical and independent manner, being able to correctly use the study materials provided by the instructor as well as additional resources they may find on their own. These skills will be encouraged by the instructor, as much as possible, through in-depth discussions proposed during the lessons.
|
Educational objectives The Fundamentals of Biophysics course provides students with basic biophysics knowledge aligned with the latest scientific and technological developments in modern medicine. The goal is to understand the fundamental principles of biophysics that underlie biomedical phenomena and new spectroscopic methodologies, while promoting an interdisciplinary perspective that integrates physical laws and concepts as applied to biology and medicine.
The course is organized into the following modules:
Part I (6 hours) – Fundamentals of physics: electric and magnetic fields, electromagnetic waves, geometric optics. Molecular interactions: covalent bonding, electrostatic, and van der Waals interactions.
Part II (6 hours) – Thermodynamics applied to biological systems: internal energy, free energy, reaction kinetics, energy associated with electromagnetic radiation.
Part III (12 hours) – Biological polymers: structure and function of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) and proteins; protein folding mechanisms.
Part IV (6 hours) – Energy in living systems: energy metabolism, photosynthesis, ATP production. Study of biomembranes, nerve signal transmission, memory function, biomechanics, and hearing.
Part V (10 hours) – Techniques and methodologies: introduction to X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, optical microscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy.
Part VI (8 hours) – Nanomaterials for drug delivery: plasmonic and organic nanoparticles, nanoparticle functionalization, photosensitive nanoparticles, and controlled drug release mechanisms.
|
