Biotechnology and Genomic for Industry and Environment

The rapid and continuous sequencing of the genomes of microorganisms has opened interesting perspectives in the study of Microbiology and has allowed us to understand globally the various and relevant role played by microorganisms in interactions with their hosts (animal and plant) and/or with the environment. The Course on Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Genomics aims to provide students with the knowledge necessary to understand the structural and functional organization of prokaryotic genomes. In particular, the course aims to integrate in a logical path the knowledge related to the study of prokaryotic genomes (Bacteria and Archea), starting from the minimal genomes up to the analysis of multipartite genomes highlighting the main strategies adopted by prokaryotic cells to respond in an efficient and rapid way to the continuous changes in environmental parameters. Specific skills A) Knowledge and understanding: After completing the course students will be able to know and understand: - Evolution of prokaryotic genome; - Molecular strategies used for genomic and metagenomics analysis; - Role of CRISPR-CAS loci in Bacteria and Archea and in potential application in genome editing; - Novel antibacterial strategies; - Principles and potential application of synthetic biology - Epigenetic regulation in Bacteria B) Applying knowledge and understanding - Understand at molecular level the evolution of microrganims and the potentiality of the genomic approach; - Contribute to solving problems in the medical or environmental field arising from interactions between microorganisms and host or environment C) Making judgments - Being able to integrate the knowledge acquired on the microbial genomes to the development of innovative antibacterial therapies in order to be able to formulate a rigorous opinion on major ethical and social issues such as vaccinations or genomic editing ; D) Communication skills - Being able to communicate with a scientific and rigorous language the potentiality of the new technologies based on products of microbial origin both in the development of new vaccines and in the manipulation of eukaryotic cells; E) Learning skills -Being able to critically study at a genomic and functional level the microbiota and their interactions with the host and the environment. - Create logical connections between the knowledge acquired in bacterial and eukaryotic models