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Microbiology
| Code: | M221 | Acronym: | MIC |
| Keywords | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Keyword |
| OFICIAL | Medicine |
Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S (of 17-02-2025 to 13-06-2025) 
| Active? | Yes |
| Responsible unit: | Molecular Biology |
| Course/CS Responsible: | Integrated Masters Degree in Medicine |
Cycles of Study/Courses
| Acronym | No. of Students | Study Plan | Curricular Years | Credits UCN | Credits ECTS | Contact hours | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIM | 178 | Official Study Plan | 2 | - | 6 | 56 | 162 |
Teaching Staff - Responsibilities
| Teacher | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Maria Salomé Custódio Gomes | |
| Francisco José Ferreira Monteiro |
Teaching - Hours
| Theoretical classes: | 2,00 |
| Laboratory Practice: | 2,00 |
| Type | Teacher | Classes | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theoretical classes | Totals | 1 | 2,00 |
| Ana Maria Luís Ramos Tomás | 0,285 | ||
| Maria Salomé Custódio Gomes | 1,429 | ||
| Francisco José Ferreira Monteiro | 0,286 | ||
| Laboratory Practice | Totals | 9 | 18,00 |
| Ana Carolina Dos Santos Moreira | 3,00 | ||
| Ana Maria Luís Ramos Tomás | 1,286 | ||
| Tânia Martins da Silva | 3,00 | ||
| Maria Salomé Custódio Gomes | 1,429 | ||
| Francisco José Ferreira Monteiro | 9,285 |
Teaching language
PortugueseObs.: Material de apoio e exame poderão ser fornecidos em inglês, caso seja considerado adequado
Objectives
At the end of this Microbiology course, students are expected to be able to:
Recognize the importance of Microbiology in the context of Biomedical Sciences.
State the basic structural characteristics known today for viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa.
Cite different strategies used by different bacteria to obtain energy and elements for biosynthesis.
Mathematically describe bacterial growth; enumerate factors that affect this growth.
Cite mechanisms of action of some of the presently available antibiotics and recognize potential new targets for the performance of future antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agents.
Explain how bacterial resistance to antibiotics arises and how this emergence can be prevented.
Explain how bacteria and viruses differ from eukaryotic organisms in terms of genetic organization and exchange of genetic material between individuals.
Generally describe the replicative cycles of different types of viruses.
Describe the types of damage that can be caused by viral infections, at the cellular and at the systemic levels.
To describe the mode of action of some of the antiviral drugs in clinical use.
Identify the main characteristics of fungi with relevance for their identification.
State and distinguish the different forms of manifestation of fungal infections.
To describe the replicative cycles of some protozoa with clinical and epidemiological relevance.
Recognize factors of virulence or microbial pathogenicity.
Properly perform the aseptic technique for handling microorganisms and comply with biosafety rules.
Properly use the optical microscope to observe microorganisms.
Use different staining techniques for the visualization and classification of microorganisms.
Properly use some metabolic tests for microbial identification.
Quantify the bacteria present in a sample.
Find effectively and critically the bibliographic sources that allow them to update this knowledge over the years.
Recognize the importance of Microbiology in the context of Biomedical Sciences.
State the basic structural characteristics known today for viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa.
Cite different strategies used by different bacteria to obtain energy and elements for biosynthesis.
Mathematically describe bacterial growth; enumerate factors that affect this growth.
Cite mechanisms of action of some of the presently available antibiotics and recognize potential new targets for the performance of future antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agents.
Explain how bacterial resistance to antibiotics arises and how this emergence can be prevented.
Explain how bacteria and viruses differ from eukaryotic organisms in terms of genetic organization and exchange of genetic material between individuals.
Generally describe the replicative cycles of different types of viruses.
Describe the types of damage that can be caused by viral infections, at the cellular and at the systemic levels.
To describe the mode of action of some of the antiviral drugs in clinical use.
Identify the main characteristics of fungi with relevance for their identification.
State and distinguish the different forms of manifestation of fungal infections.
To describe the replicative cycles of some protozoa with clinical and epidemiological relevance.
Recognize factors of virulence or microbial pathogenicity.
Properly perform the aseptic technique for handling microorganisms and comply with biosafety rules.
Properly use the optical microscope to observe microorganisms.
Use different staining techniques for the visualization and classification of microorganisms.
Properly use some metabolic tests for microbial identification.
Quantify the bacteria present in a sample.
Find effectively and critically the bibliographic sources that allow them to update this knowledge over the years.
Learning outcomes and competences
At the end of this Microbiology course, students are expected to have:
1) acquired the knowledge stated in the learning objectives and included in the program;
2) developed capacity for planning and organizing their work, both individually and as a team;
3) ability to use aseptic technique for the cultivation and manipulation of different microorganisms;
4) ability to search and analyze scientific literature in the area of Microbiology.
1) acquired the knowledge stated in the learning objectives and included in the program;
2) developed capacity for planning and organizing their work, both individually and as a team;
3) ability to use aseptic technique for the cultivation and manipulation of different microorganisms;
4) ability to search and analyze scientific literature in the area of Microbiology.
Working method
PresencialProgram
The theoretical program includes 10 chapters:
1- Definition, importance and history of the discipline.
Basic notions of microbial Taxonomy. 2- Bacterial structure: Cytoplasm and cytoplasmic membrane. Bacterial chromosome and plasmids. Cell walls of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Bacteria without peptidoglycan and particularities of the wall of mycobacteria. Synthesis of peptidoglycan. Flagella, fimbriae or pili, inclusion bodies, bacterial capsule, streptococcus M protein, endospores.
3 - Bacterial growth: methods of quantification of bacteria. Phases of growth of a bacterial culture. Mathematical description of bacterial growth not limited. Generation time and specific growth rate. Environmental factors that influence growth.
4- Nutrition and metabolism: Culture media. Nutritional categories. Sugar transport systems. Main glycolytic pathways. Cycle of Krebs. Oxidative phosphorylation. Anaerobic breathing. Chemilitotrophy: impact on the environment, nitrogen and sulfur cycles. Oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis. Anabolism: Main pathways for carbon dioxide fixation, gluconeogenesis, ammonia assimilation pathways. Anaplelotic pathways. Regulation of bacterial metabolism. Importance of operons.
5- Bacterial genetics: Organization of genes in prokaryotes in comparison with eukaryotes. Transfer of genetic material between bacteria: transformation, transduction and conjugation. Notion of genetic recombination.
6- Virus: Structure and morphology. Types of genome. Notions of capsid, capsomer, protomer, nucleocapsid, virion, envelope. Parameters used to classify viruses. Multiplication cycle: adsorption, penetration and descortication, replication and transcription, protein synthesis, capsid assembly and virion release. The consequences of viral infection: persistence, oncogenesis, apoptosis, etc. Antiviral agents: mechanisms of action, bases of selective toxicity. Resistance to antiviral and toxic effects.
7- Mycology: Classification and characteristics of fungi. Constitution of the wall. Cellular structures. Nutrition, asexual and sexual reproduction, growth. Types of plasmogamy. Great families of fungi.
8- Protozoology: General characteristics of protozoa. Organization of the eukaryotic cell, with emphasis on the cytoskeleton and flagellum. Types of reproduction found in protozoa. Morphological, nutritional and reproductive characterization of the groups: ciliates, amibas, flagellates and sporozoans. Notions of epidemiology and pathogenesis of some infections caused by protozoa.
9- Parasite-host interaction: Importance of the microbiomes. Innate resistance. Activation of the complement. Interferon. Professional phagocytic cells. Inflammatory response. Chemotaxis. Phagocytosis. Opsoninas. Antimicrobial effector mechanisms. Acquired resistance. T and B lymphocytes. Antibodies. Activation of the complement. Cytotoxic and helper T cells. Cytokines. Microbial virulence factors and escape strategies to host defense mechanisms.
10- Antimicrobial control. Distinction between microbiostatic, microbicidal and microbiolytic effects. Concepts of sterilization, disinfection, antisepsis, preservation and chemotherapy. Physical and chemical methods of antimicrobial control. Bacterial resistance to chemotherapy: emergence and propagation in populations, localization in the bacterial genome, impact on the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Determination of bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics / chemotherapeutics.
The practical program comprises:
Isolation of microorganisms;
Microscopic observation of live microorganisms;
Bacterial morphology and staining;
Culture and quantification of bacteria;
Microbial metabolic reactions;
Susceptibility to antibiotics.
1- Definition, importance and history of the discipline.
Basic notions of microbial Taxonomy. 2- Bacterial structure: Cytoplasm and cytoplasmic membrane. Bacterial chromosome and plasmids. Cell walls of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Bacteria without peptidoglycan and particularities of the wall of mycobacteria. Synthesis of peptidoglycan. Flagella, fimbriae or pili, inclusion bodies, bacterial capsule, streptococcus M protein, endospores.
3 - Bacterial growth: methods of quantification of bacteria. Phases of growth of a bacterial culture. Mathematical description of bacterial growth not limited. Generation time and specific growth rate. Environmental factors that influence growth.
4- Nutrition and metabolism: Culture media. Nutritional categories. Sugar transport systems. Main glycolytic pathways. Cycle of Krebs. Oxidative phosphorylation. Anaerobic breathing. Chemilitotrophy: impact on the environment, nitrogen and sulfur cycles. Oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis. Anabolism: Main pathways for carbon dioxide fixation, gluconeogenesis, ammonia assimilation pathways. Anaplelotic pathways. Regulation of bacterial metabolism. Importance of operons.
5- Bacterial genetics: Organization of genes in prokaryotes in comparison with eukaryotes. Transfer of genetic material between bacteria: transformation, transduction and conjugation. Notion of genetic recombination.
6- Virus: Structure and morphology. Types of genome. Notions of capsid, capsomer, protomer, nucleocapsid, virion, envelope. Parameters used to classify viruses. Multiplication cycle: adsorption, penetration and descortication, replication and transcription, protein synthesis, capsid assembly and virion release. The consequences of viral infection: persistence, oncogenesis, apoptosis, etc. Antiviral agents: mechanisms of action, bases of selective toxicity. Resistance to antiviral and toxic effects.
7- Mycology: Classification and characteristics of fungi. Constitution of the wall. Cellular structures. Nutrition, asexual and sexual reproduction, growth. Types of plasmogamy. Great families of fungi.
8- Protozoology: General characteristics of protozoa. Organization of the eukaryotic cell, with emphasis on the cytoskeleton and flagellum. Types of reproduction found in protozoa. Morphological, nutritional and reproductive characterization of the groups: ciliates, amibas, flagellates and sporozoans. Notions of epidemiology and pathogenesis of some infections caused by protozoa.
9- Parasite-host interaction: Importance of the microbiomes. Innate resistance. Activation of the complement. Interferon. Professional phagocytic cells. Inflammatory response. Chemotaxis. Phagocytosis. Opsoninas. Antimicrobial effector mechanisms. Acquired resistance. T and B lymphocytes. Antibodies. Activation of the complement. Cytotoxic and helper T cells. Cytokines. Microbial virulence factors and escape strategies to host defense mechanisms.
10- Antimicrobial control. Distinction between microbiostatic, microbicidal and microbiolytic effects. Concepts of sterilization, disinfection, antisepsis, preservation and chemotherapy. Physical and chemical methods of antimicrobial control. Bacterial resistance to chemotherapy: emergence and propagation in populations, localization in the bacterial genome, impact on the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Determination of bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics / chemotherapeutics.
The practical program comprises:
Isolation of microorganisms;
Microscopic observation of live microorganisms;
Bacterial morphology and staining;
Culture and quantification of bacteria;
Microbial metabolic reactions;
Susceptibility to antibiotics.
Mandatory literature
Joanne M. Willey; Prescott.s microbiology. ISBN: 978-1-259-28159-4Teaching methods and learning activities
Theoretical classes: presentation of the subjects, with visual support and discussion of specific points with the students. Attendance in these classes is not compulsory.Laboratory classes: students, in groups of 2 or 3, performing specific procedures in the area of Microbiology, with the support of the teacher; registration and discussion of results. Identificação, analysis and presentation of one original research article in the area of Microbiology.
Evaluation Type
Distributed evaluation with final examAssessment Components
| Designation | Weight (%) |
|---|---|
| Participação presencial | 10,00 |
| Exame | 70,00 |
| Trabalho laboratorial | 20,00 |
| Total: | 100,00 |
Amount of time allocated to each course unit
| Designation | Time (hours) |
|---|---|
| Estudo autónomo | 106,00 |
| Frequência das aulas | 28,00 |
| Trabalho laboratorial | 28,00 |
| Total: | 162,00 |
Eligibility for exams
To obtain frequency, the student must be present in 3/4 of the laboratory classes and have a classification of at least 9,5 in the practical component od the evaluation.Calculation formula of final grade
Final grade = 0.6XExam + 0,4XDistributedDistributed = 0,5XReports + 0,4XArticlePresentation + 0,15X (Assiduity & Preparation)
To obtain approval in the UC, the student must have at least 9.5 values (in 20) in the practical part; 9.0 values (in 20) in the final exam and final classification> 9.50.
Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)
Students with special statutes should contact the responsable professor at the beginning of the semester to obtain clarification regarding the evaluation model that applies to their specific case.If they are excused from practical classes and in fact do not attend 3/4 of them, students will have to take a practical exam, to evaluate the competences defined for the practical classes. The students will also have to perform the search, analysis and presentation of a scientific article, in the same way the other students have.
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Page created on: 2025-06-22 at 22:53:07 | Acceptable Use Policy | Data Protection Policy | Complaint Portal