Mycology

Code:

MI073226

Acronym:

MICOL

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Health Sciences

Instance: 2024/2025 - 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	199	MICF - Transition Study Plan 2023/24 - 2024/25 - 2025/26	3	-	4,5	39	121,5

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students
Obs.: Aulas são ministradas exclusivamente em português e material de apoio em Português. Estudantes que facilmente compreendam Português ou que dominem a língua Inglesa têm apoio. Bibliografia em Inglês, atendimento em inglês, exame em Inglês.

Objectives

Understanding the importance of fungi in our surrounding environment and their importance as agents of animal infection.
Acquisition of knowledge necessary for the manipulation of fungi in the laboratory and the principal characteristics for their laboratorial identification.
Understanding the pathogenicity of fungal infection and the means available for its prevention and treatment.
The importance of fungi in biotechnology/industry.

Within the scope of Transversal Competencies, this UC aims to contribute to the acquisition of the following competencies:
Cognitive; Critical thinking and integration of concepts learned in different UC,
Methodological methods; Time and resource management, stimulate the ability to plan tasks,
Social Services; Promote inter-personal communication in person.

Learning outcomes and competences

After theoretical and laboratorial classes the studant will have to know:

Structural and physiological characteristics of fungal cell, its taxonomy and multiplication.
Interest of fungi in the biological world, in biotechnology and pathology.
The main groups of fungi and the most important fungi in human pathology.
Identification processes and application of fundamental mycological techniques.
General aspects of pathogenesis of fungal infections.
Influence of factors linked to the fungi and host.
Defence mechanisms of the organism.
Treatment of fungal infections. Antifungals used in the clinic.

Contribution of learning outcomes to the objectives of the MICF
Contribution to the Pharmaceutical Act:
g) Interpretation and evaluation of medical prescriptions;
h) Information and consultation on medicines for human and veterinary use, medical devices, subject and not subject to medical prescription, with health professionals and patients, in order to promote their correct use;
k) Collection of biological products, execution and interpretation of clinical analyzes and determination of serum levels.

 

Contribution to the competencies defined in the document “FIP Global Competency Framework”:

1.1 Emergency response
1.1.1 Participate in the response to public health emergencies

1.2 Health promotion
1.2.2 Advise and provide services related to health promotion; disease prevention and control (e.g. vaccination); and healthy lifestyle

1.3 Medicines information and advice
1.3.1 Counsel the patient/population on the safe and rational use of medicines and devices (including the selection, use, contraindications, storage, and side effects of non-prescription and prescription medicines)

2.6 Patient consultation and diagnosis
2.6.4 Evaluate, assess, and develop health literacy education and counselling on medicines and healthcare needs
2.6.5 Discuss and agree with the patient on the appropriate use of medicines, taking into account patients’ preferences

4.1 Communication skills
4.1.2 Communicate effectively with health and social care staff, support staff, patients, carer, family relatives and clients/customers, using lay terms and checking understanding
4.1.3 Tailor communication that is appropriate to the patient’s needs (including health literacy, cultural or language barriers, social needs, and emotional status)

Working method

Presencial

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

Students should command a basic knowledge of Microbiology.

Failure to comply with this recommendation implies safety problems in the laboratory 
due to a lack of knowledge and skills for handling microorganisms in vitro.

 

Program

Lecture program

A brief review of the history/taxonomy/importance of fungi in our environment.

1-Physiology and nutrition:
Types of metabolism in fungi: The nutrition and development of fungi in the laboratory. Artificial media used for their development, isolation and identification; Environmental conditions for the development of fungi in culture; The relationship between fungi and other organisms (saprophytes, parasites, symbionts).

2-Cell composition and structure:
Capsule; Cell wall; Cytoplasmic membrane; and other cell components; Spores.

3-Morphology and growth:
Leveduriform; Filamentous; Dimorphic; Differentiation of hyphae.

4-Multiplication:
Asexual: Fission, twinning and fragmentation of hyphae, sporulation with formation of sporangiospores and conidia; The different types of conidiogenesis (thallic and blastic).

Sexual: The different stages of sexual reproduction with the production of zygospores, basidiospores and ascospores.

5-Classification of fungi:
Kingdom Fungi: Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota. General characteristics of each group and examples.

6-Identification of fungi:

6.1-Leveduriform: Study of some yeasts of medical, industrial or contaminating interest:
Genera: Candida, Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula, Malassezia, Trichosporon, Saccharomyces.
Growth characteristics; Identification criteria; Morphological characteristics (macroscopic and microscopic); Physiological characteristics; Molecular techniques; Proteomics in identification; Characteristics of the main yeast genera.

6.2-Filamentous: Study of some filamentous fungi of medical, industrial or contaminating interest (Mucorales, dermatophytes, black fungi, and the genera: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, among others).

6.3-Dimorphs: The phenomenon of dimorphism. Some examples of dimorphic fungi.

7-Deterioration of food products by fungi: The origin and multiplication of fungi in food and the factors on which they depend; Main microbial groups involved; Types of alteration and examples.

8-Intoxications caused by fungi. Mycotoxicosis and the main mycotoxins. Preventive measures. Brief reference to the use of fungi as food and poisonous fungi.

9- The use of fungi in Industry and Biotechnology (food, pharmaceutical, chemical) and as a model in scientific research. Brief references.

10- Fungi as agents of infection at animal and plant level, with particular emphasis on human infections: The main factors that favor the onset of infection and the main mechanisms for combating fungal infection; Examples of the main mycoses (superficial, subcutaneous, systemic). Fungal allergies.

11- Treatment and prevention of fungal infection: Study of the chemical structure, mechanism of action and therapeutic applications of the different groups of antifungal compounds (polyenes, azoles, fluorocytosine, griseofulvin, allylamines, echinocandins); New targets of action for antifungal compounds. More recent developments; Evaluation of the sensitivity of fungi to antifungal compounds.

Program of laboratory classes:

   1-  Fungi: macroscopic and microscopic aspects. Isolation of fungi from products.
    2- Mycological techniques. Culture and observation techniques (macroscopic and microscopic). Laboratory precautions when handling fungal cultures.
    3- The distinction between yeast-like, filamentous and dimorphic fungi. Concept of mycelium, septate and non-septate hyphae.
   4- Study of yeast-like fungi. Macroscopic studies on different artificial culture media. Study of their microscopic appearance, their type of reproduction and their specific morphological and physiological characteristics which allow genera and species to be identified.
    5- Study of filamentous fungi. Macroscopic and microscopic aspects of this group of fungi. Microscopic characteristics of different genera. Study of the different types of reproduction, asexual and sexual, in filamentous fungi. Study of the different types of conidiogenesis and identification of fungi.
    6- Molecular identification of a fungus. Evaluation of the susceptibility of fungi to antifungal compounds used in the treatment of mycoses.

Mandatory literature

Alexopoulos C. J.; Introductory mycology. ISBN: 0-471-52229-5
Larone Davise H.; Medically important fungi. ISBN: 1-55581-091-8
Campbell Colin K. 070; Identification of pathogenic fungi. ISBN: 0 90114439 8
Dismukes William E. 340; Clinical mycology. ISBN: 0-19-514809-6
Richardson Malcolm D.; Fungal infection. ISBN: 1-4051-1578-5
Reiss Errol; Fundamental medical mycology. ISBN: 978-0-470-17791-4
Ferreira Wanda F. Canas 340; Microbiologia. ISBN: 978-972-757-515-2

Complementary Bibliography

Pitt J. I.; Fungi and food spoilage. ISBN: 0 412 55460 7
Sidrim José Júlio Costa; Fundamentos clínicos e laboratoriais da micologia médica. ISBN: 85-277-0495-1
Santos Isabel M.; Fungos contaminantes na indústria alimentar. ISBN: 972-97916-0-0
Samson Robert A.; Food and indoor fungi. ISBN: 978-90-70351-82-3
Hoog G. S. de 070; Atlas of clinical fungi. ISBN: 90-70351-43-9

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical classes (1.5 hours / week): recurring to the available audiovisual means, in particular PowerPoint presentations.
Students are involved in laboratorial work.
The laboratorial work (1.5 hours/week) is carried out individually.
The chronogram will be presented to the students in advance and the laboratory classes are accompanied with supplied schemes and techniques previously presented at the beginning of the theoretical classes.
The hours of pedagogical assistance are two, to be designed when there is a timetable,
and communicated to studants in the first theoretical class.

 

keywords

Health sciences > Medical sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Trabalho laboratorial	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	39,00
Estudo autónomo	82,50
Total:	121,50

Eligibility for exams

The evaluation of frequency follows that specified in the current, existing “evaluation norms” in Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto 2024/2025.
- Student attendance to the laboratory classes is mandatory. Those students whose attendance is lower than 75% of the classes predicted.
- Attendance to theoretical classes in not compulsory.
- Attendance is valid for the current academic year and for the following two academic years. For 2024/2025 will be valid the frequency in 2023/2024, 2022/2023 and 2021/2022.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation of the curricular unit will follow the rules in effect at FFUP 2024/2025. At the beginning of the semester, students will be informed.
The laboratory component is assessed on a continuous basis and through a performance assessment test and respective report. Failure to complete the assessment component must lead to a final laboratory exam. Students who do not get a mark of 9.50 or more will be given a final laboratory exam with a report, to be taken during the normal exam period. Although they have already had two exam opportunities, the laboratory exam in the appeal period will be facilitated exclusively for students who fail the exam in the normal period. Student workers can take the laboratory exam in the appeal period even if they missed the laboratory exam in the normal period.
Only students who obtain a mark of 9.50 in the continuous assessment or in the final laboratory exam will be admitted to the written test of the final exam. The final exam includes the theoretical and theoretical-practical content of the laboratory component. Students with a mark of 9.50 or higher in the written exam will pass. A mark of less than 9.50 means failure.

The laboratory component accounts for 30% of the final grade, while the theoretical component accounts for 70%.

The theoretical exam will be written on paper.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to “evaluation norms” in Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto 2024/2025.
Students that are not required to attend classes will have to score 9.50 or above on the laboratory performance exam.

Classification improvement

- The student has the right to request the repeat of the laboratorial plus final exam tests or only the final exam test, but not only the laboratorial exam, to improve the mark.
The improvement that includes laboratory examination will have to be carried out at the normal period. In case the student intends to repeat the laboratory exam, he/she must register with the teacher, regardless of his/her administrative registration for improvement.

- The repeat of the tests to improve the mark can be undertaken only once per subject.
- The final subject classification will be the higher of those obtained in the two tests carried out.
- In the case of subjects which also carry out evaluation in the laboratorial teaching, the final classification will be that resulting from weighting the final exam mark with that which the student obtained when evaluated in the laboratory teaching.

Observations

Mobility students:

Students who easily and quickly understand the Portuguese, such as Spanish and Italians, or English-speaking are accepted. The UC is taught in Portuguese and support is provided in Portuguese. Only the recommended bibliography is in English. Assistance in English to students; English study materials; English assessment.

Changes in teaching and evaluation methodology:

Changes that may be necessary will be communicated in the comments in this Form.