BIOTECNOLOGIE DEI PRODOTTI MICROBICI

The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the study of the mechanisms of action and resistance to the main classes of antibiotics and to the methods of diffusion and transfer of resistance genes between environment / animal / human vectors, with a view to "One -Health ". In addition, new antibiotics recently introduced into clinical practice will be introduced. The student will be taught the main knowledge related to the application of new antimicrobial strategies, alternative and potentially usable in the fight against resistant bacteria (Antimicrobial Peptides; Phage therapy; CRISPR-Cas system; Quorum-sensing inhibitors; Immunotherapy and Vaccines; Nanocompounds, nanosensors and drug-delivery systems).

The course is organized in 35 hours of frontal teaching with the aid of slides, and laboratory exercises.

The discipline is divided into 2 modules of frontal classes (Module I and II), and in a module with students' seminars (module III).

Frontal classes.

Compulsory course attendance.

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.

General biology and biology of microorganims-

Basics of general and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and genetics and molecula biology.

Knowledge acquired: Microbial terminology and main aspects of the prokaryotic cell; pure cultures, bacterial growth and growth factors; genetics and microbial metabolism; classification and identification of microorganisms; interactions between microorganisms and environment/host.

     1.  ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE: A Continued Process

§  Antibiotics Usage and Its Consequence

§  Antibiotic-Resistant Genes (ARGs) in Human/Animal/Agriculture

§  One Health Model to Tackle antimicrobials resistance (AMR)

§  Mechanisms of action of the main antibiotic classes

§  Novel antibiotics

§  Principal mechanisms of antibiotic-resistance and their detection

§  Major “players” of Antibiotic-Resistance: ESKAPE pathogens

§  Strategies for acquiring resistance to conventional antimicrobials

2.    Alternative Strategies to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens

§  Drug repurposing

§  Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs)

§  Immunotherapeutic and Vaccines

§  Nanoantibiotics and nanodelivery systems

§  Phage Therapy

§  CRISPR-Cas Against Antimicrobial Resistant Pathogens

§  Quorum-Sensing Inhibitors

§  Anti-virulence compounds

    3. Outlook and Challenges

1) Gianni Dehò e Enrica Galli. Biologia dei microrganismi. Casa editrice Ambrosiana.

2) During the lectures additional material (scientific articles from international journals) will be distributed for the study of specific issues.

3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

Tests in progress.

Students' seminars and journal-club.

Oral examination.

1.  

     Reservoirs of resistance genes

     Environments and resistance gene flow

     One Health perspective: Factors leading to rapid development of antibiotic-resistance

     The Resistome: What is it?

     Origin and spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)