(a) A biotechnological approach for an ecosustainable production of energy from lignocellulosic residues; (b) Pathogenicity determinants unveiled: from in silico analysis to mutagenesis and functional characterization; (c) Phytopathology Diagnostic Lab for healthy plants and preservation of their biodiversity in a changing world.
Scientific articles provided by the Academic staff on digital support (Moodle) and independent research by the students on scientific databases and ISI journals online.
Learning Objectives
Providing theoretical-practical tools and evaluation elements to tackle with multidisciplinary approach some issues of interest of agri-environmental biotechnologies, outlining possible solutions starting from the acquired skills and from bibliographic research on the most recent scientific-technical literature
Prerequisites
It is strongly recommended to have acquired the knowledge related to the courses of the three previous semesters of the CLM BIO-EMSA
Teaching Methods
Lectures / Seminars = CFU 1 (8 hours)
Laboratory = CFU 5 (40 hours)
The course is based on some introductory lectures and on following collective meetings for the contextualization of the lab work done and the verification of the experimental protocols adopted. The activities in the lab will be carried out in single or in groups of two.
Further information
Compulsory attendance for lab activities
Type of Assessment
Written report and oral examination with a presentation (15 min) on the international scientific context in which the experience is located, on the experimental activities carried out and on the results obtained, discussing the possible applications in the agro-environmental field
Course program
Topic (a)
Lectures:
Expression profiles (PCR-real time) for the selection of genotypes of white poplar with low production of cellulose and hemicellulose. Continuous and semi-continuous fermentation procedures for the production of hydrogen.
Laboratory
Design of the experimental scheme.
PCR-real time for the study of expression profiles
Production of fermentable substrates from lignocellulose residues
Production of hydrogen from the substrates produced
Energetic and bio-economic assessments of the process designed
Topic (b)
Lectures:
- Mutagenesis techniques for Gram negative and positive bacteria, materials and instruments, including bioinformatics.
Laboratory:
- Design of an experimental scheme of site-directed mutagenesis
- Sequence analysis and primers drawing for construct construction
- Production of the recombinant construct and its verification
- Production of mutants and their verification
- Genotypic and phenotypic analysis of the mutants obtained.
Topic (c)
Lectures:
- The production, distribution and use of healthy plant propagation materials, including seeds, are among the most effective approaches to disease management, as well as the only able to avoid the entry, spread and establishment of quarantine and alien plant pathogens. In this course, the development and application of innovative, highly specific, sensitive, rapid, low cost molecular diagnostics for several phytopathogens are described and experienced, with plants for planting, fruit plants and seeds used as main model systems. In addition, protocols will be also implemented for environmental samples from fields, nurseries and orchards, such as growing media and irrigation water
Laboratory
- Design of an experimental scheme of molecular diagnostic for several plant pathogens used as a model
- Bioinformatic: analysis of the putative specific sequences identified in silico.
- Choice of the most suitable "PCR-based" technique to be used and, accordingly, design of the specific primers and their in vitro verification.
- In planta application of the diagnostic protocol and its optimization.