General and clinical pathology, microbiology and pathological anatomy 3

Module Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology

The course aims to provide the student with the cognitive and methodological tools necessary to understand: 1) the mechanisms of infection in the host of microorganisms and parasites; 2) the essential biological characteristics of the microorganisms and parasites responsible for human infections; 3) microorganisms in relation to the environment; 4) infection control strategies; 5) the pathogenetic mechanisms of microorganisms and parasites responsible for human infections; 6) the methodological approach in the diagnostic assessment of infection diseases. 

Specific goals With reference to the learning objective of the mechanisms of infection in the host of microorganisms and parasites, the student must be able to: - Identify the different types of relationships that human microorganisms and parasites determine with the host, differentiating the "infection" from the "disease" phenomenon. - Correlate the aggressive mechanisms of microorganisms and parasites with the various “types” of infection and the induced pathological lesions. - Analyzing the critical factors that determine the “contagion” and the spread of microorganisms and parasites, correlating them with the relative peculiar biological characteristics. - Distinguish the different "types" of viral infection; differentiate a viral infection from that induced by other microorganisms and parasites. With reference to the objective of learning the essential biological characteristics of microorganisms and parasites responsible for human infections, the student must be able to: - Classify microorganisms and parasites within the various stages of aggregation of living matter (metazoans, prokaryotes, eukaryotes, viruses), correlating the degree of organization with the pathogenic action. - As part of the structural organization of microorganisms and parasites, identify the structures / functions necessary to carry out metabolic processes and replication and to determine the infection / disease in the host. - Correlate the phenomenon of variation and mutation of microorganisms and parasites with the pathogenic action and resistance to antimicrobial substances. With reference to the learning objective of the relationships between microorganisms and the environment, the student must be able to: - Assess the degree of resistance (survival) of microorganisms and parasites in the environment as a critical factor for host infection. With reference to the learning objective of the strategies for the control of infectious diseases, the student must be able to: 

Regarding "Chemotherapy": - Define the principle of "selective toxicity" aiming at the therapeutic use of antimicrobial substances. - Describe and classify the inhibitory mechanisms, the site of action, the spectrum of action of chemoantibiotics, antivirals, antifungal and antiprotozoal substances. - Indicate the biological prerequisites for chemo - antibiotic resistance (genotypic and phenotypic) and resistance to other antimicrobial agents (antivirals, antifungals, antiprotozoans). - Analyze the limits of antiviral chemotherapy in relation to the biological characteristics of the viruses and the pathogenetic characteristics of the viral infection. - Evaluate the experimental perspectives of interfering on the different functions of microorganisms and parasites by means of inhibiting substances.

Regarding "Antimicrobial Vaccines": - Define vaccination practice by correlating it with the prevention of human infections and possibly with the treatment of an infectious disease (vaccine prophylaxis / vaccinotherapy). - Define the practice of treatment with immune sera (seroprophylaxis and serotherapy) correlating it with the prevention of human infections and with the treatment of an infectious disease. - Indicate the composition of an antimicrobial vaccine and an immune serum. - Identify the current significance and limitations of vaccination in the control (or eradication) of bacterial and viral infections. - To evaluate the current results and experimental perspectives in the field of prophylaxis of fungal and parasitic infections. - List the main antimicrobial vaccines currently in use, defining their essential characteristics. - Identify the limits of vaccination with whole microorganisms (killed or attenuated) by analyzing the theoretical - applicative perspectives deriving from the use of the new vaccines obtained with molecular biology methods. With reference to the learning objective of the pathogenetic mechanisms of microorganisms and parasites responsible for human infections, the student must be able to: - Identify the most essential biological characteristics and the pathogenic action of human pathogenic microorganisms and parasites as a preparatory study for Clinical Microbiology (C.I. of Laboratory Medicine). - Critically analyze and describe, for each "species": the ways of penetration into the organism, the differentiated diffusion in the infected host, the presence of antigens in the various parts of the organism (blood, secretions, excretions) for the purpose of "contagion "And laboratory diagnosis. - Briefly describe the characteristic manifestations of the single disease and the main lesions of organs and systems. With reference to the learning objective regarding the methodological approach in the diagnostic assessment of infection diseases, the student must be able to: - Identify the different laboratory methods that allow the identification of the agent responsible for the infection and those necessary for deepening the biological characteristics of human microorganisms and parasites.

Traditional lectures, with the support of slides.

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. 

Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.”