Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Microbiology and Immunology
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
If the student is enrolled for the English track then classes for that subject will be taught in the same language and also in Catalan.
Teaching staff
Questions will be answered in person with the involved instructor. Questions will not be answered by mail.
To make an appointment:
Microbiology:
Jordi Mas (jmas@uic.es)
Immunology
Natalia Ricco (anricco@uic.es)
Introduction
Microbiology and immunology, from the point of view of a health professional,are two sides of the same coin. The first is dedicated to the study of a broad group of living organisms with which we coexist and establish different degrees of interactions. In addition to economic reasons, we will focus in the ability of many microorganisms to cause diseases in humans. The immunology, on the other hand, deals with the mechanisms disposed by the human body to protect against the infections caused by, among others, the microorganisms.
Pre-course requirements
Students must have a previous knowledge in biochemistry, human genetics, molecular biology, cellular biology. The student`s access route assures the basic knowledge needed to follow the present subject.
Objectives
The first goal of this subject is to provide the student with knowledge about the characteristics and peculiarities of a broad variety of organisms with which we establish a number of steady interactions as well as the benefits and damages that can be determined by then. Special interest will of course be given to oral microbiology.
As important as the former goal is to provide structural and functional overview of the immune system, both in health and disease conditions, again focusing in the special immunological characteristics of the mouth and the oral cavity.
The last goal of this subject is to show the student the most relevant techniques and processes employed in this scientific fields in order to provide a critical capacity useful for the latter professional career.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 07 - Promoting new knowledge and techniques being acquired through autonomous learning, as well as the motivation to achieve quality.
- 11 - Understanding the basic biomedical science Dentistry is based on in order to ensure that adequate dental healthcare is provided.
- 14 - Being aware of the general processes of the illness, including infection, inflammation, alterations in the immune system, degeneration, neoplasm, metabolic alterations and genetic disorders.
- 18 - Being aware of, critically evaluating and knowing how to use sources of clinical and biomedical infomation in order to obtain, organise, interpret and communicate scientific and healthcare-related information.
- 32 - Knowing the biomedical science on which Dentistry is based in order to ensure adequate oral and dental care. This science must include material on: (a). Embryology, anatomy, histology and the physiology of the human body (b). Genetics, Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology and (c). Microbiology and immunology.
- 35 - Knowing the scientific principles of sterilisation, disinfection and the antiseptics necessary to prevent cross-infection in dental practice
Learning outcomes of the subject
Knowledge and understanding of the microbiotic world in terms of existence, history diversity and characteristics.
Knowledge of the most common infectious diseases determined by the different types of microorganisms.
Knowledge on the different tools for control of microorganisms' growth and the infections determined by then.
Knowledge of the economical and scientific relevance of microorganisms
Knowledge of the basic techniques on how to handle and interpret microbiological data
Knowledge on the structure and function of the immune system both in health and disease conditions
Knowledge on the transfer to the human healthcare of the advances in the field of the immunology.
Dysfunction of the immune system
Interpretation of the clinical information related to the immune system.
Knowledge of scientific vocabulary in English and Spanish in the field of Immunology
- 1.01 - Know the different types of microorganisms that interact with the human body
- 1.02 - Know the most common infectious diseases and the pathogens that cause them
- 1.03 - Diagnose, treat and prevent the most common infections in dentistry
- 1.04 - Know the organization of our immune system: molecules, cells and organs
- 1.05 - Manage with immunology infections and tumors, as well as auto-immunity
- 1.06 - Understand and describe the embryological origin of human
- 1.12 - Solve clinical problems from deductions made with the basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the human body
- 1.32 - Will know the general processes of falling ill, including genetic alterations
- 1.33 - Will know better the scientific method and will have critical capacity to assess the established knowledge and new information
- 1.34 - Will get the rudiments to assess published basic research
- 1.36 - – Will know genetic diagnostic testing of laboratory, its reliability and diagnostic validity and begin to be able to interpret the results
- 1.37 - Will value as necessary the knowledge throughout life
- 1.39 - Will learn the general processes of falling ill, including metabolic alterations.
- 1.40 - Will know the clinical biochemistry tests, its reliability and diagnostic validity and begin to be able to interpret their results
Syllabus
Immunology
Unit 1. Description of the immune system: Immune system the sixth sense, structure and function of the immune system: organs, cells and molecules.
Unit 2. The innate part of the immune system: the complement system, the macrophage
Unit 3. The adaptive part of the immune system: antigens and antigen presentation, the MHC / HLA system
Unit 4. The adaptive part of the immune system: T and B lymphocyte, diversity in the immune system
Unit 5. The immune system in action: immunity against microorganisms, immunity against tumors.
Unit 6. The immune system in action: immunity from transplants, vaccines.
Unit 7. Dysfunctions of the immune system: immune tolerance, immunodeficiencies.
Unit 8. Dysfunctions of the immune system: autoimmunity, hypersensitivity
Unit 9. Immunological techniques: poly / monoclonal antibodies, flow cytometry, ELISA, cell cultures, cell lines.
Microbiology
Unit 1. Introduction to Microbiology: definition and overview, brief history, key figures, oral microbiology today.
Unit 2. I Analysis and microbiological diagnosis (laboratory techniques): standard microbiological practices, antigen detection, identification of microorganisms, technical-omics (genomics, proteomics ...)
Unit 3. Laboratory techniques: control of microbial growth, sterilisation.
Unit 4. Morphology and bacterial surface structures: cytoplasmic membrane wall bacterial outer membrane of Gram negative bacteria, capsule
Unit 5. Bacterial appendices, extracellular products and intracellular structures: mobility flagella, fimbriae and pili, toxins, bacterial spores, organelles of eukaryotic microorganisms
Unit 6. Bacterial metabolism: an overview of bacterial metabolism, energy generation pathways, culture media, main metabolic characteristics of oral bacteria
Unit 7. Specific microbial genetics: generation of genetic variability, conjugation, transposition, transformation. Genome projects.
Unit 8. Virology: general characteristics of viruses and viral replication, virus quantification
Unit 9. Main families of viruses: bacteriophage and human pathogenic viruses
Unit 10. Health microbiology: microbial pathogenicity, microorganism-person relationship, transmission of microorganisms.
Unit 11. Introduction to bacterial taxonomy: bacterial species concept, classification of bacteria
Unit 12. Major families of bacteria: taxonomic characteristics of oral bacteria
Unit 13. Microbial diversity: fungi and parasites oral Interest
Unit 14. Oral Microbiology of dental plaque, caries.
Unit 15. Periodontal, endodontic and peri-implant microbiology and processes.
Problem based learning:
- Vaccines
- Immunology of transplants & implants
- Pregnancy immunology
- Immunomodulation
- Oral microbiology
- Massive sequencing
- Scientific papers
Teaching and learning activities
In blended
Lecture: Presentation during two hours (with a break of 10 minutes) of a theoretical topic by the teacher with audio-visual support based on presentations projected from the computer. The student will have the contents in advance through Moodle.
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) / Clinical Cases: The student will be presented with a real or imaginary situation related to an immunological case. Students will work on the questions asked in groups and will be assigned a day for clinical case. The clinical case will be presented for 30 minutes by the assigned group. There will be another 30 minutes to discuss the suggested questions and others that may eventually arise during the development of the discussion. Conclusions will be presented as a colophon.
Practices (P): Familiarization of students with the basic techniques of work and manipulation of microorganisms and components of the immune system in a laboratory. Demonstration in the laboratory of some aspects raised in the master classes. Consolidation through the practice of the most important aspects treated in the theoretical classes.
“Online” documentation (DO): Certain contents, either due to their impossibility to be acquired by other means, or due to an eminently electronic support will be available in Moodle.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In blended
Students in first call:
- Participation in class: 20%
- Oral presentation: 10%
- Lab practice: 10%
- Final exam: 60%
Instructors reserve a 10% of the grade to be granted by subjective items such as: involvement, participation, respect for basic standards, etc.
2) Students in second call: same criteria as in the first call.
3) Students repeating the subject: continuos evaluation grade (participation in class, oral presentation, lab practices) will be keep in their profiles, although whenever they wish, students will be able to repeat class attendance and obtain a new grade.
General points to consider about the evaluation system:
1) In the final exam, a minimum grade of 5 must be obtained in order to be able to average the marks of continuous evaluation. Exams will be type test with 4 options, counting +1 the correct answers and -0.25 the errors.
2) Class participation and lab practices will be evaluated by short multichoice tests.
3) 10% of the questions of the test may be related to concepts that have not been explained directly in the session but that are present in the recommended bibliography as well as in articles, press or virtual material recommended.
5) Attendance:
- Regular attendance to lectures is recommended (online or face-to-face).
- Lecture’s attendance is not mandatory, but students will have to follow the standards indicated by the instructors. The expulsion of student from ant class will have a negative impact on the evaluation.
- Attendance to practical lessons is mandatory and students must attend in the assigned groups. The expulsion of a student from the laboratory classroom will mean the automatic fail of the subject.
6) In the granting of grades with Honors, special consideration will be given to participation in the lab practices, oral presentations and attitude in lectures.
7) The improper use of electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets or laptops may result in class expulsion. Misuse is understood as recording and dissemination of students or teachers during the different lessons as well as the use of these devices for recreational and non-educational purposes.
Bibliography and resources
Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System A.K. Abbas, A.H. Lichtman, S. Pillai. Elsevier Ed. 4ª ed. 2014
Inmunobiología: el sistema inmunitario en condiciones de salud y de enfermedad. Janeway et al. Ed. Masson 7ª ed. 2009.
Microbiología Estomatológica: Fundamentos y guía práctica (3ª edición). Marta Negroni. Ed Médica. Panamericana
Brock. Microbiología de los microorganismos. M.T. Madigan, J.M. Martinko y J. Parker. 10ª Ed. Prentice Hall.1999.
Microbiología. Prescott, Harley y Klein. McGraw-Hill 7ª Ed, 2008.
Microbiología Médica. P.R. Murray, K.S. Rosenthal y M.A. Pfaller. 7ª Ed. Elsevier Science. 2013
Sherris. Microbiología Médica. Una introducción a las Enfermedades Infecciosas. K.J. Ryan y C.G. Ray editores. 4ª Ed. McGraw-Hill Interamericana. 2004.
Evaluation period
- E1 17/05/2021 A22 09:00h
- E1 17/05/2021 A12 09:00h
- E1 17/05/2021 A15 09:00h
- E1 17/05/2021 A20 09:00h
- E1 17/05/2021 A21 09:00h
- E1 17/05/2021 A19 09:00h
- R1 02/06/2021 A08 10:00h
- E2 28/06/2021 A21 08:00h
- E2 28/06/2021 A22 08:00h
- R2 02/07/2021 A09 09:00h