Class Medical Microbiology

Identify application areas of medical microbiology and its relationship with biotechnology. Know the main groups of microorganisms that surround us, their implication in public health and relate them to epidemiology and diseases caused by microorganisms and their vectors. Be able to distinguish the main groups of antibiotics, how they work and the mechanisms that lead to resistance and multi-resistance. In the laboratory component, the objective is to learn laboratory techniques for identifying disease-generating microorganisms. Students should also be able to observe and identify the different groups of microorganisms of medical importance under the microscope: Handle microbial agents under the required hygiene and safety conditions and perform classic biochemical tests and state-of-the-art kits for their identification.

Not applicable

Theoretical program: 1-Importance and areas of application of medical microbiology and its relationship with biotechnology. 2-Basic notions of epidemiology and public health. 2- Disease-causing microorganisms in the Bacteria and Archaea Domain, Algae, Fungi, Protozoa, parasites and vectors. Viruses, prions, spread and associated diseases. 3-Study of the pathogenicity, resistance and multi-resistance mechanisms of microorganisms. 4-Defense mechanisms against infection: antibiotics, antimicrobials and vaccines. 5-Laboratory diagnostic techniques in clinical microbiology. Examples and case studies.Practical program: Microscopic observation of: medically important bacteria, fungi and parasites. Classical and advanced methodologies for detection and identification of microorganisms: Comparison and effectiveness between different biochemical methods for identification of microorganisms with clinical importance. Realization of the antibiogram methodology.

  The methodologies implemented in the subject of medical microbiology will enable students to understand and explain various biological phenomena (pathogenicity and resistance) that are at the root of microbial diseases.  The acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge will be assessed through written tests and the presentation of work on the topics discussed in class, allowing the teacher to understand how these fundamental notions have been learnt and grasped by the students. The practical work will stimulate the learning of advanced microbial manipulation techniques, and will be presented by the students in the form of scientific reports subject to discussion, allowing the teacher to assess, together with the realisation and presentation of a poster, the performance, the understanding/relationship between theory and practical approach, and the acquisition of the knowledge underlying each laboratory work. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

- Diagnostic Microbiology (12th ed.), Bailey & Scottis, Mosby. - Brooks, G. F., Butel, J. S., & Morse, S. A. (2006). Medical microbiology. United States, 25th.