Study Programmes

General Microbiology3

Microbiologia Geral

Curse code:9554122

Nuno Eduardo Moura dos Santos da Costa Taveira

Learning outcomes of the curricular unit:

The objectives of this CU are to study the morphology, constitution, nutrition, metabolism, and genetics of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites and their interaction with Man. The objectives of this CU at the laboratorial level are to enable the student to plan, execute and interpret different laboratory methods for the identification of bacteria, fungi and parasites to the genus and species level.
At the end of this course unit the student should be able to characterize bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites in their different dimensions, including some of the diseases they cause in humans. The student must also know the methods of sampling for microbial analysis and how to use 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:

Lectures:

  1. History of Microbiology.
  2. Functional anatomy of the bacterial and fungi cell.
  3. Nutrition of microorganisms.
  4. Impact of environmental factors on microbial growth.
  5. Microbial metabolism.
  6. Bacterial genetics and evolution.
  7. Mechanisms of action of antibiotics and microbial resistance.
  8. The human microbiome.
  9. General principles of parasitology.
  10. General mechanisms of human pathogenicity and virulence of the protozoan and helminths.
  11. Emerging opportunistic parasites and human parasites.
  12. Biology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of protozoa and helminths with public health importance.
Lab practical classes:
 
Principles of biological safety containment.
Study of the bacterial cell by light microscopy.
Special and differential staining.
Gram staining, capsule staining and Kenyoun staining.
Culture of bacteria.
Culture media.
Techniques for inoculation.
Macroscopic features of bacterial colonies.
Culture and dentification of Staphylococcus sp. and Streptococcus sp. by biochemical and metabolic tests.
Cultural study and identification of Pseudomonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae by biochemical and metabolic tests.
Control of microorganisms by chemical agents.
Execution, reading and interpretation of an antibiogram by the Kirby-Bauer method.
Methodologies in parasitology.
Laboratory diagnosis of infections by protozoa and helminthes by direct and indirect methods.
Direct methods: organic products; infective and diagnostic identification and morphological forms.
Indirect methods: methodologies and interfering; coloring and concentration technics; biological products; interpretation of results.
 
Suggested Bibliography:
  • Barroso H, Silvestre AM & Taveira N (2014) Microbiologia Médica, Vol. 1, LIDEL. ISBN: 978-989-752-057-0
  • Barroso H, Silvestre AM & Taveira N (2014) Microbiologia Médica, Vol. 2, LIDEL, Portugal. ISBN: 978-972-757-576-3
  • Larone DH (2011) Medically important fungi. A guide to identification, 5th ed., ASM Press. ISBN-13: 9781555816605
  • Garcia LS (2007) Diagnostic Medical Parasitology, 5th ed., Washington: ASSM Press. ISBN 1-55581-380-1
  • Ridley JW (2011) Parasitology for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Professionals, Delmar Cengage Learning, Australia: Delmar Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1-4354-4816-2

 

 

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