Study Programmes

1Bacteriology

Bacteriologia

Curse code:9494220

Nuno Eduardo Moura dos Santos da Costa Taveira

Learning outcomes of the curricular unit:

The objectives of this course unit are:

  • To provide theoretical and practical information about the main characteristics of bacteria
  • Review the mechanisms of action of antibiotics and mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
  • Present the constituents of the human microbiome and their impact on health and disease.
  • Introduce the general principles of epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment, control and prevention of bacterial diseases.

At the end of this course unit the student should be able to identify and characterize Eubacteria, in their different dimensions, including the epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of the diseases they might cause. The student must also know the methods of sampling of biological specimens for microbial analysis and using phenotypic and molecular methods to isolate, identify and quantify microorganisms, distinguishing those that are pathogenic from those that are not. Finally, the student should know how to perform and interpret bacterial antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Syllabus:

Theoretical:

  1. History of Microbiology.
  2. Functional anatomy of the bacterial cell.
  3. Nutrition of microorganisms.
  4. Microbial growth in vitro
  5. Microbial metabolism and impact in human physiology.
  6. Bacterial genetics.
  7. Control of bacterial populations by antibiotics. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
  8. The human microbiome.
  9. Nosocomial infections.
  10. Bacterial diseases.
  11. Clinically important bacteria.

Practical:

Fresh exam and after staining of bacteria. Culture and isolation of bacteria. Identification of Pseudomonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus sp and fastidious Gram-negative bacteria with metabolic and biochemical tests. Execution and interpretation of an antibiogram. Detection of resistance traits in clinical strains of enterobacteria and S. aureus. Performance of common clinical bacteriological analyses.
 
Suggested Bibliography:
  • Barroso H, Meliço Silvestre A, Taveira N (Eds) (2014) Microbiologia Médica. Vol. 1 and Vol 2, LIDEL. ISBN: 978-989-752-057-0; ISBN 978-972-757-576-3.
  • Schaechter M (Editor-in-chief) (2009) Desk Encyclopedia of Microbiology. 2nd ed., Elsevier. ISBN: 0080961282.
  • Mahon CR, Lehman DC, Manuselis G (2010) Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology. 4th ed., W.B. Saunders Company. ISBN: 978-1416061656.
  • Goering R, Dockrell H, Zuckerman M, Roitt I, Chiodini PL (2012) Mims’ Medical Microbiology. 5th ed., Elsevier Saunders. ISBN: 978-0723436010.