Microbial Biotechnology

Code:

MI204295

Acronym:

BIOM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Health Sciences

Instance: 2021/2022 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Microbiology Laboratory
Course/CS Responsible:	MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MICF	10	Official Curriculum	4	-	3	52	81

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Learning outcomes and competences

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

In this Curricular Unit, it is assumed that the knowledges provided in basic courses, including General Microbiology, were acquired.

Program

Laboratory classes
Elaboration of growth curves of a microorganism: growth kinetics; determination of the doubling time and the specific growth rate. Genetic manipulation of microbial strains: mutations and selection of mutant strains; transformation, expression and purification of human and viral proteins. Development of a microbial model for functional and pharmacological studies of proteins involved in human diseases. Goods production process (ex.: yogurt / beer): theoretical foundations, microbial strains involved, laboratory demonstration of the fermentation process involved. Presentation and discussion of scientific articles in the area of Microbial Biotechnology. Development of a project in the area of Microbial Biotechnology. Study visit.

Mandatory literature

Nduka Okafor, Benedict C. Okeke; Modern Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, RC Press , 2017. ISBN: 9781138550186
Clarke W; Biotechnology Industrial Microbiology: A Textbook , CBS Publishers, 2016. ISBN: ISBN 10: 8123929056/ISBN 13: 9788123929057
Farshad Darvishi Harzevili, Hongzhang Chen; Microbial Biotechnology: Progress and Trends, CRC Press, 2017. ISBN: 9781138748699

Teaching methods and learning activities

1. Lectures (2 hours/week): recourse to the available media, especially power-point presentations and didactic videos. Students will also contact with professionals from national laboratories and industry in the areas of health, food, textiles and waste treatment, in order to create an interaction between theoretical and real situations of Microbial Biotechnology.

2. Laboratory classes (2 hours/week): Students will be involved in the laboratory work, in the presentation of a scientific paper and in the presentation of one topic within the scope of the Curricular Unit.

E-Learning platform (Moodle): 
- Students are provided with a page of the curricular unit on the Moodle platform with pedagogical content and communication tools essential for learning. In this page, the students will find not only the content in PDF format of all the slides of the classes, but also scientific articles, didactic videos, different bibliographic material to support the teaching of the UC.
- Communication with students is facilitated by the tool prompts the platform Moodle and by e-mail.
- Discussion forums are established that involve the subject addressed within the scope of the curricular unit's program.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	35,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	15,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	52,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	2,00
Elaboração de projeto	8,50
Estudo autónomo	18,50
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

The attendance of students at theoretical lectures is not mandatory. The attendance of students at laboratory classes is mandatory; students whose attendance is below 75% of the classes taught will not have approval.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation follows the ongoing "Evaluation Rules" at FFUP. The final evaluation will be obtained taking into account two parameters:

- Presentation of a practical work - 50%;

- Final written exam on the subjects exposed in theoretical and practical lectures - 50%. Only students that achieve a final classification of 9 values will be approved.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

It is held in accordance with the ongoing evaluation rules at FFUP.

Classification improvement

Students have the right to request a final exam to improve their evaluations, according to the FFUP rules. The repetition of the exam can only be performed once and for the final written exam. The final evaluation will be the higher evaluation obtained in the two performed exams.

Observations

Mobility students
In addition to students who can quickly develop Portuguese comprehension skills (namely Spanish and Italian), Mobility Students with fluency in English are accepted. The UC is taught in Portuguese, however, the teachers provide bibliography and support in English. In addition, the Mobility Students' evaluation processes can be, if requested, in English.

Changes resulting from the Covid-19 Contingency Plan

- Scenario of limitation in the capacity of classrooms for presencial classes

• The schedule of classes and distributed assessment will be adjusted and made available throughout the semester
• Changes to “Objectives”, “Learning Outcomes and Competences” and “program”:

                   - No substantial changes

• Changes in “Teaching methods and learning activities”:

         - Theoretical classes will be in person to limit the capacity of the amphitheater, with synchronous videoconference, at the established times and using platforms such as Colibri-Zoom for students who do not have access to the amphitheater;

        - Practical classes take place in the laboratories, dividing the class into even and odd shifts. Explanation classes will be pre-recorded on video and made available to students at Panopto. Students who are on the shift who is not in class will have exercises, practical work or self-knowledge tests (in Moodle) on these topics.

• Changes in “Type of Assessment”, “Assessment Component”, “Occupation Component”; Frequency Obtaining ”; “Formula for calculating the final classification” and “Classification Improvement”:

          - No substantial changes, however, some evaluation processes may take place at a distance

 

- Scenario of all classes taking place at a distance

• The schedule of classes and distributed assessment will be adjusted and made available throughout the semester
• Changes to “Objectives”, “Learning Outcomes and Competences” and “program”:

            - No changes.

• Changes in “Teaching methods and learning activities”:

            - Theoretical and practical classes will be taught in synchronous videoconference, at the established times and using platforms such as Colibri-Zoom;

• Changes in “Type of Assessment”, “Assessment Component”, “Occupation Component”; Frequency Obtaining ”; “Formula for calculating the final classification” and “Classification Improvement”:

         - No substantial changes, however, some evaluation processes should take place at a distance.