The course aims to provide students with knowledge on the theoretical bases and applications of biotechnology techniques in the fields of diagnostics and drugs/vaccines production, with particular reference to nucleic acids-based methods and the use of recombinant DNA technology.

1. nucleic acid amplification in molecular diagnostics
1.1 PCR-based methods
1.2 non PCR-based methods
2. Gene mutations
2.1 detection of gene mutations (hybridization-based methods, polymerization-based methods, cleavage methods)
2.2 gene mutation nomenclature
3. DNA sequencing in molecular diagnostics
3.1 Pyrosequencing
3.2 Bisulfite DNA sequencing
4. DNA polymorphisms and human identification
4.1 types of polymorphisms
4.2 RFLP typing
4.3 STR typing
4.4 Y-STR
4.5 Engraftment testing
4.6 Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms
5. Detection and identification of microorganisms
5.1 sample collection and preparation
5.2 quality control
5.3 targets of molecular-based tests
5.4 resistance to antimicrobial agents
5.5 typing methods
6. molecular detection of inherited diseases
6.1 molecular diagnosis of single-gene disorders
6.2 single-gene disorders with nonclassical patterns of inheritance
6.3 limitations of molecular testing
7. Diagnostic targets in molecular oncology
7.1 mutations in solid tumors
7.2 microsatellite instability
7.3 loss of heterozygosity
7.4 gene rearrangements in leukemia and lymphoma
8. Chemical oligonucleotide synthesis and DNA mutagenesis
9. Microbial production of therapeutic agents
9.1 hormones
9.2 cytokines
9.3 blood proteins
9.4 enzymes
10. Monoclonal antibodies
10.1 Monoclonal antibodies engineering (murine, chimeric, humanized and human antibodies, scFv)
10.2 therapeutic and diagnostic applications of monoclonal antibodies
11. Production of pharmaceutical proteins by transgenic animals
12. gene therapy
12.1 vectors
12.2 Haematopietic stem cells applications in gene therapy
13. Vaccine biotechnology
13.1 Vaccines containing live-attenuated organisms
13.2 subunit vaccines
13.3 Conjugate vaccines
13.4 DNA vaccines

The student must demonstrate to have gained the knowledge inherent to the teaching program and to be able to implement/use this knowledge in the field of biotechnology, to describe and/or hypothesize experimental approaches aimed to produce molecular diagnostics test and therapeutics.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures

Course books

Buckingham L., Flaws M.L. "Molecular diagnostics. Fundamentals, methods and clinical applications". 2007. Ed. F.A. DAVIS

Calabrò ML. "Compendio di biotecnologie farmaceutiche" 2008. Ed. Edises

The slides will be made available online (moodle platform). Scientific articles (reviews) could be indicated during classes.

Assessment

oral examination

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

Buckingham L., Flaws M.L. "Molecular diagnostics. Fundamentals, methods and clinical applications". 2007. Ed. F.A. DAVIS

Calabrò ML. "Compendio di biotecnologie farmaceutiche" 2008. Ed. Edises

The slides will be made available online (moodle platform). Scientific articles (reviews) could be indicated during classes.

Assessment

oral examination

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.