Methods of Molecular Diagnostics in Bacteriology and Mycology
Code
21224
Academic unit
NOVA Medical School | Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
Department
Medical Bacteriology/Medical Mycology
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Profª. Doutora Isabel Maria dos Santos Leitão Couto/Prof. Doutor João José Inácio Silva
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
At the end of the UC, students should:
1. Understand the fundamentals of molecular diagnostic methods; their application to the laboratorial microbiological diagnosis, advantages and limitations.
2. Become familiar with rapid diagnostic tests and the processes involved in its development and production; particularly in the context of the decentralized diagnosis (pointofcare).
3. Understand and differentiate the concepts of identification and typing.
4. Understand the patterns of fungal infections and the need to implement rapid diagnosis tools.
5. To be able to execute and critically analyze examples of applications of molecular tools for the diagnosis of bacterial and fungal infections.
Prerequisites
n/a
Subject matter
Lectures:
1. Methods of molecular diagnosis based on nucleic acids. Hybridization, amplification and sequencing. Biosensors, nanotechnology;
2. Molecular methods of microbial typing;
3. Application of molecular methods to the general course of microbiological diagnosis and to the study of the epidemiology of clinically relevant fungi; advantages, limitations, reliability and applicability;
4. High-throughput molecular approaches in the detection and characterization of fungal agents.
Theoretical-practical and practical classes:
1. Molecular detection of multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis by PCR and reverse hybridization;
2. Typing of pathogenic bacteria by PFGE, MLST and whole genome sequencing;
3. Molecular typing of clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii by PCR-RFLP and MLST;
4. Detection of Candida species with fluorescence in situ hybridization.
Bibliography
- Patricia, M. Tille. (2014) Bailey & Scott's Diagnostic Microbiology. Elsevier, 13ª Ed.
- Larry, S., Peters, J. E., Henkin, T. M. & Champness, W. (2013). Molecular Genetics of Bacteria. ASM Press, 4th Ed.
- Viveiros, M., Couto, I., Inácio, J. (2014) Diagnóstico Molecular. In: Barroso, H., MeliçoSilvestre, A., Taveira, N. (Eds). Microbiologia Médica (vol. 1). Lidel, Edições Técnicas. Lisboa
- Sin, M.L., Mach, K.E., Wong, P.K., Liao, J.C. (2014) Advances and challenges in biosensorbased diagnosis of infectious diseases. Expert Rev Mol Diagn, 14, 225244.
- Zhang, S.X. (2013) Enhancing Molecular Approaches for Diagnosis of Fungal Infections. Future Microbiol, 8, 15991611.
Teaching method
The theoretical concepts are taught by an expositive method, promoting interaction, oriented dialogue and discussion with students, stimulating the pedagogical action. The theoretical-practical and laboratory classes are carried out in groups of two to four students.
The theoretical concepts are taught by an expositive method, promoting interaction, oriented dialogue and discussion with students, stimulating the pedagogical action. The theoretical-practical and laboratory classes are carried out in groups of two to four students.
The theoretical concepts are taught by an expositive method, promoting interaction, oriented dialogue and discussion with students, stimulating the pedagogical action. The theoretical-practical and laboratory classes are carried out in groups of two to four students.
Evaluation method
· Written examination, with multiple choice questions, on the content of the theory, practical and theory-practical classes of Parts A (Bacteriology) and B (Mycology) (75% of the final grade), to be held on 26/06/2018 (16:00 p.m. - 19:00 p.m.).
· Presentation, based on an article to be proposed by each student (25% of the final grade), to be held on 27/06/2018 (16:00 - 20:00). Each presentation will last 10 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of discussion.