Unit FUNCTIONAL BIOLOGY

Course
Molecular and industrial biotechnology
Study-unit Code
55A01706
Curriculum
In all curricula
Teacher
Maria Laura Belladonna
Teachers
  • Maria Laura Belladonna
Hours
  • 57 ore - Maria Laura Belladonna
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2021
Offered
2022/23
Learning activities
Caratterizzante
Area
Discipline biologiche
Academic discipline
BIO/13
Type of study-unit
Obbligatorio (Required)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
Italian
Contents
Pathogens and infection. Innate and adaptive immune system. Cell death. Cancer.
Laboratory: cloning of a gene construct and its expression in eukaryotic cells.
Reference texts
Alberts et al. “ BIOLOGIA MOLECOLARE DELLA CELLULA” Ed. Zanichelli – 6th edition
Educational objectives
The course of Functional Biology is part of the teachings dealing with the biology of cellular and molecular systems. It examines the mechanisms of various human cellular functions, in particular those involved in the immune response, programmed cell death, and tumor development; moreover, the experimental part of the course allows the student to perform experimental methodologies of molecular and cellular biology whose basic notions have been learned in previous teachings.
The main objective of the course is that the student can use provided notions to build an integrated and functional framework of cell biology mechanisms, including also previously acquired knowledge; the objective of the experimental part of the course is to make the student practice some of the experimental methodologies useful for the study of cellular functions.
The main knowledge acquired will be related to:
- basic elements on pathogens and cell biology of the infection;
- innate and adaptive immune response, and immunological tolerance;
- molecular and cellular mechanisms of apoptosis (programmed cell death) and tumor development and progression;
- laboratory experience of gene cloning in expression vectors, transfection into eukaryotic cells, and structural and functional analysis of the expressed protein;
- use of gene cloning simulation programs;
- use of gene databases.
The main skills will be:
- analyze and identify the behavior of cellular systems in response to infections and pro-inflammatory stimuli;
- analyze and identify the molecular and cellular components involved in mechanisms of immunogenic and tolerogenic responses, and tumor development;
- evaluate the most suitable methodologies to clone a gene into an expression vector and study the produced protein.
Prerequisites
To effectively follow and understand the topics covered in the course of Functional Biology is necessary for the student to have a basic knowledge of animal cell biology as it is normally acquired in basic programs of biological and/or biotechnological degree courses.
Teaching methods
Face-to-face lessons and laboratory
Other information
For information on support services for students with disabilities and / or DSA visit the page
http://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa
Learning verification modality
The exam consists of an oral examination not longer than 30 minutes and enables verification of the level of knowledge and understanding achieved by the student; the ability of the student to highlight the correlations between the various biological processes. In addition, the oral examination will assess the student's ability to communicate and expose with appropriate language to the topics of cell biology, with particular regard to those discussed during face-to-face lessons and lab activities. The exam will be performed at the end of the course according to the exam timetable. The evaluation will be in thirtieths (minimum: 18/30; maximum: 30/30 cum laude).
There will be no intermediate test.
Extended program
Pathogens and infection: fundamentals of pathogens and human microbiota; cellular biology of infection. Innate and adaptive immune system: cellular and molecular mechanisms of the innate immune system (epithelial barrier, PRR receptors, inflammation and cytokines, phagocytic cells, complement system, dendritic cells); cellular and molecular mechanisms of the adaptive immune system (immunization, MHC proteins, antigens, immunoglobulins, T e B lymphocytes, lymphocyte clonal selection, immunological memory, immunological tolerance, costimulatory signals). Cellular death: fundamentals and molecular mechanisms of apoptosis extrinsic and intrinsic pathways; apoptosis regulation (Bcl-2, IAP, etc.). Cancer: development and progression mechanisms of tumors; crucial genes for cancer (oncogenes and oncosuppressor genes, retroviral genes, Ras, Rb, p53), cancer prevention e treatment.
Laboratory: cloning of a gene construct into an expression vector, eukaryotic cell transfection, and structural and functional analysis of expressed protein.
Condividi su