This clinically-oriented course will give to students the basics regarding the mechanisms of bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections. The expanding knowledge of the effects of altered (dysbiotic) resident flora will also be presented and critically discussed.

The following topics will be part of the exam:

Bacteriology
Following the above-described perspective, students will be introduced to all of the basic structural, physiological and metabolic principles of medical bacteriology including the following points:

‐ Cell structure of prokaryotes
‐ Structure and function of endospores
‐ Microbial metabolism
‐ Microbial genetics
‐ Virulence and pathogenicity of bacteria
‐ Transmission of bacterial infection
‐ The immune response to bacteria
‐ Techniques for the diagnosis of bacterial infections
‐ Novel techniques for the study of resident flora
The detailed knowledge of the microbiota and its composition will also allow a better comprehension of the role played by specific bacterial genera and species, important in medical microbiology, that will be studied in details.
The microbiota‐oriented perspective will also be followed in the study of the available prophylactic and therapeutic anti‐bacterial approaches:
‐ Sterilization, Disinfection and Antisepsis
‐ Modes of action of the main biocides used for disinfection and antisepsis
‐ Mechanisms of resistance to biocides
‐ Antibiotics: bacterial targets of available molecules and mechanisms of resistance
‐ Genetic bases of antibiotic resistance
‐ Genetic bases of the diffusion of antibiotic resistance
‐ Multi‐drug resistant bacteria
‐ Passive immunoprophylaxis
‐ Anti‐bacterial vaccines

Virology
The general purpose of this course is to give a robust introduction to basic medical virology, correlating the molecular features of each viral agents to the associated clinical syndromes. The dramatic advances in the comprehension of the different phases of the viral replicative cycle and pathogenesis will be directly correlated to the practical possibility of developing novel antiviral strategies or of improving the available diagnostic tools.

At the end of the course, the students should be familiar with the following general topics:
‐ Structure and chemical composition of viruses
‐ Phases of viral replication
‐ Transmission of viral infection
‐ Different types of viral infection
‐ Pathogenesis of viral diseases according to different sites of replication
‐ Viral carcinogenesis
‐ The immune response to viruses
‐ Techniques for the diagnosis of viral infections
‐ Antiviral agent and mechanisms of viral resistance
‐ Passive immunoprophylaxis
‐ Antiviral vaccines

These general concepts should be specifically correlated to the specific features of each of the
main viral families of medical interest.

Mycology
At the end of the course, the students will be familiar with the following topics regarding medical mycology:
‐ Structure of fungal cell
‐ Yeasts and moulds
‐ Fungal genera and species present in the human microbiota
‐ Virulence and pathogenicity of fungi
‐ Immune control of fungal agents
‐ Causative fungal agents of superficial, cutaneous and subcutaneous mycoses
‐ Causative fungal agents of endemic mycoses
‐ Causative fungal agents of opportunistic mycoses
‐ Diagnostic laboratory techniques of fungal infections
‐ Antifungal agents: targets of available molecules and mechanisms of resistance

The students should also be familiar with the main features regarding the most common fungal genera and species of medical interest.

Parasitology
By the end of the course, students should be familiar with the main protozoan and helminthic parasites of medical importance, with particular attention given to associated clinical syndromes and diagnostic laboratory techniques.