M.C. Thaller

GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY; Module I General Microbiology
Historical notes: the evolution of techniques and ideas. Microbiological methods: cultivation, identification, taxonomy.
Microrganisms structure: Cellular and molecular organization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells . The cell wall. The cytoplasmic membrane, transport and secretion systems. Cytoplasmic inclusions, outer envelopes. The organization and structure of the genome.
Bacterial metabolism
Anabolism and catabolism; nutritional types and Energy scavenging strategies: aerobic and anaerobic respiration, fermentation, oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis. The environmental impact of microbial metabolism: basic knowledge about carbon and nitrogen cycles.
Microbial Growth: nutritional requirements, the struggle for food, nutrient transport and motility. Growth curve, abiotic factors, chemo- and other taxis. Sessile growth: the biofilms
Bacteriophages
Eucaryotics microorganisms: yeasts, molds and protozoans
Genetics and genic expression regulations. Cell division, nucleoid replication and septum formation. Mutations, lateral genetic transfer.
Gene expression and regulation; Lateral genetici transfer: conjugation, transformation, transduction. Homologous and non- Homologous genetic recombination.
Environment and microorganisms: microbes and biogeochemical cycles (carbon and nitrogen cycles), waste-waters treatment and compost production.
Micro-organisms and other living beings: interactions between microorganisms, Agrobacterium, Rhizobium, Euprymna-Vibrio fisheri interactions; the rumen environment. Parasite / host interactions, virulence, sterilization and disinfection. Antibiotics, action and resistance. Basics of Immunology: Humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Innate and acquired immunity. The evolution of microorganisms: molecular analysis and phylogenetic studies. Eukaryotic micro-organisms

ENVIROMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY; “Master in “Evolutionary biology and ecology”
Microbial evolution; functional groups. Energy production and environment adaptation mechanisms. Spatial organization of microbial communities: biofilm and mats. Abiotic factors (temperature, water availability, atmosphere, pH, redox value, light..). Extreme environments. Microbial interactions; Quorum sensing, Microbes and stress. Microbes and biogeochemical cycles (carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, manganese, mercury and minor elements). Bio-leaching. Aqueous environments, fresh and marine waters, estuarine. Microbes eukaryotes interactions in each environment. The air and its microbiological control. Microbes and pollutants; treatment of wastewaters and composting. Water-transmitted diseases; potabilization and water quality controls. Bioremediation. Monuments deterioration. Molecular techniques in the environmental microbiology and microbial ecology.

BACTERIOLOGY AND MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGIES; “Master in Industrial Biotechnology”
Module I Bacteriology. The microbe to man interactions and theri possible outcomes. Host defenses. The man-associated microbiota: interaction-strategies, benefits, microbiota alterations and disease. Pathogenic bacteria, pathogenicity and virulence. Toxinogenesis, invasiveness, immune defenses escape; faciltative or obligate intracellular life. Controlling microorganisms: vaccines; antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (mechanisms, evolution and related problems).
Modulo II Microbial biotechnologies. Industrial employing of microorganisms. Microbes for viotechnologies: taxonomy, features, nutritional requests, genetic manipulation and heterologous expression in: Escherichia coli, Streptomyces, Bacillus, Lactic acid bacteria (LABS), Yeasts, Molds. Pathogenic bacteria for vaccine delivery. The Codon Adaptation Index and its use.

BACTERIOLOGY I (AAS) the same as the first part of “Bacteriology and microbial biotechnologies”

BACTERIOLOGY II (AAS)
Description, aetiopathogenesis, virulence factors and strategies; identification and control of pathogenic species of: Bacillus; Clostridium; Listeria; Staphylococcus; Streptococcus-Enterococcus; Mycoplasma; Corynebacterium; Mycobacterium; Spirochaeta; Chlamydiaceae; Campylobacter-Helicobacter; Brucella; Rickettsiaceae; Neisseria; Bordetella; Haemophilus; Legionella; Enterobacteriaceae: Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, E. coli virotypes; Vibrio; Pseudomonas.
Basics about: Bartonella, Coxiella, Francisella, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Burkholderia, Acinetobacter, Moraxella.

MICROORGANISM AND HETEROLOGOUS EXPRESSION (AAS) the same as the second part of “Bacteriology and microbial biotechnologies”