FOUNDATIONS OF MICROBIOLOGY AND APPLIED MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 6Module APPLIED MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: DAFNE SAMANTHA IRENE BONGIORNOExpected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge of ISO and UNI EN procedures
Understanding of biosafety principles
Understanding of the principles of microbial ecology regulating population dynamics in natural environments and their relationship with amensalistic symbioses
Knowledge of major metabolic pathways and secondary metabolism
Familiarity with vaccine production techniques (live, inactivated, recombinant, DNA, and RNA vaccines)
Understanding of the applications of microbial “ghosts” as cargo systems and drug delivery systems (DDS)
Knowledge of the metabolic pathways leading to postbiotic production and the related engineering procedures
Familiarity with the main techniques for isolating primary and secondary metabolites
Course Structure
Teaching Methods
Lectures (face-to-face).
Should the course be delivered in a blended or online format, any necessary adjustments may be made to ensure full coverage of the program as outlined in the syllabus.
Information for Students with Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)
To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, students concerned may request a personal meeting to plan appropriate compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the learning objectives and individual needs.
Students may also contact the CInAP representative (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion – Services for Students with Disabilities and/or SLD) within the department.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
1. Dynamics of Microbial Populations in Natural Environments and Forms of Symbiosis
a) Dynamics within microbial populations
b) Dynamics between microbial populations
c) Microbial consortia
2. Primary and Secondary Metabolic Pathways
a) Classical metabolic pathways
b) Secondary metabolism
3. Biosafety
a) Legislative Decree 81/2008 and its amendments: microbiological risk
b) Risks and hazards: definitions
4. Vaccines and Production Techniques
a) Live vaccines
b) Inactivated (killed) vaccines
c) Recombinant vaccines
d) DNA and RNA vaccines
e) Other types
5. Microbial “Ghosts” as Cargo Systems and Drug Delivery Systems (DDS)
a) Bacterial membrane vesicles and bacteriosomes
b) Virus-like particles (VLPs) and virosomes
c) Preparation and applications
6. Prebiotics, Probiotics, Postbiotics, Parabiotics, and Paraprobiotics
a) Prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics
b) Selection and production techniques
c) Current regulations
d) Applications and future perspectives
Textbook Information
As textbooks in Italian are not available, students will be provided with the relevant teaching materials by the instructor at the end of each module.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dynamics of microbial populations in natural environments and the various forms of symbiosis | All teaching materials will be provided by the instructor. |
| 2 | Primary and secondary metabolic pathways | All teaching materials will be provided by the instructor. |
| 3 | Biosafety | All teaching materials will be provided by the instructor. |
| 4 | Vaccines and Production Techniques | All teaching materials will be provided by the instructor. |
| 5 | Microbial “ghosts” as cargo systems and drug delivery systems (DDS) | All teaching materials will be provided by the instructor. |
| 6 | Prebiotics, Probiotics, Postbiotics, Parabiotics, and Paraprobiotics | All teaching materials will be provided by the instructor. |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The examination consists of six questions, randomly selected from the different modules of the program.
Failure to answer at least four questions correctly will result in failure of the exam.
Each correct answer is awarded a maximum of 5 points.
Students who do not pass the exam may retake it in the next examination session.
The assessment may also be conducted remotely (online), should circumstances require it.