The course of Microbial Biotechnology for the Environment falls within the scope of the biology and fermentation chemistry training activities of the bachelor degree in Sciences for the Protection of Nature and Environmental Sustainability. The main educational goals of the course are: acquisition of knowledge on the use of microbial biotechnologies for the resolution of environmental problems generated by anthropic activities, with particular reference to industrial productions with low environmental impact, production of non-fossil green fuels, biodegradation of toxic substances, environmental bioremediation, waste-water treatment and bio-fertilizers; acquisition of applied knowledge for drafting, executing and analysing experiments aimed at identifying environmental microorganisms with beneficial impact on agriculture or capable of degrading pollutants; acquisition of knowledge to retrieve and critically analyse scientific publications related to microbial biotechnologies. The expected learning outcomes are the increase of the student theoretical knowledge in the field of microbial biotechnologies for environmental sustainability, of his/her practical skills for the design and execution of laboratory experiments, and of his/her critical ability to search and evaluate scientific literature data.
teacher profile teaching materials
- knowledge about the use of natural and engineered microorganisms, and enzymes/molecules of microbial origin, for the resolution of environmental problems generated by human activities;
- basic methods for the selection, identification and exploitation of microorganisms with beneficial impact on environmental sustainability.
The course will cover the following topics:
• Introduction to microbial biotechnologies
• Microbial bioremediation
• Microbial waste water treatment
• Air biofiltration
• Organic waste composting
• Microbial leaching and mineral recovery
• Sustainable production of biofuels, chemicals and enzymes
• Plastics degradation and bioplastics production
• Agricultural and industrial waste recycling
• Microbial biosensors for environmental monitoring
• Microbial biotechnologies for sustainable agriculture
• Exploitation of microorganisms for carbon neutrality
Innovative teaching will be promoted by cloud-sharing of power-point presentations illustrating the main topics of the course. Moreover, students will be encouraged to make use of web-based resources and databases to autonomously increase their knowledge on specific advanced topics.
Students will be received at the best of their convenience if an appointment has been fixed at the end of the lessons or by email.
Programme
The course aims at providing to the student:- knowledge about the use of natural and engineered microorganisms, and enzymes/molecules of microbial origin, for the resolution of environmental problems generated by human activities;
- basic methods for the selection, identification and exploitation of microorganisms with beneficial impact on environmental sustainability.
The course will cover the following topics:
• Introduction to microbial biotechnologies
• Microbial bioremediation
• Microbial waste water treatment
• Air biofiltration
• Organic waste composting
• Microbial leaching and mineral recovery
• Sustainable production of biofuels, chemicals and enzymes
• Plastics degradation and bioplastics production
• Agricultural and industrial waste recycling
• Microbial biosensors for environmental monitoring
• Microbial biotechnologies for sustainable agriculture
• Exploitation of microorganisms for carbon neutrality
Prerequisiti
Previous knowledge in “Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Microbiology” is recommended.Core Documentation
Selected topics will be available on suggested Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology books, as indicated in the following reference list. Specific research papers and experimental protocols will be provided during theoretic lessons on advanced research topics and laboratory practices.Innovative teaching will be promoted by cloud-sharing of power-point presentations illustrating the main topics of the course. Moreover, students will be encouraged to make use of web-based resources and databases to autonomously increase their knowledge on specific advanced topics.
Students will be received at the best of their convenience if an appointment has been fixed at the end of the lessons or by email.
Reference Bibliography
- Microbiologia ambientale ed elementi di ecologia microbica. Barbieri, Bestetti, Galli, Zannoni. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. - Brock – Biologia dei Microrganismi. Madigan, Martinko, Bender, Buckley, Stahl. Casa Editrice Pearson. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/Type of delivery of the course
The course is based on theoretical lessons and laboratory practice. All communications will be sent to students via email and through the Moodle platform (https://scienze.el.uniroma3.it), from which students can also download the slides of the lessons (also available on Microsoft Teams).Attendance
Attendance at lectures and practical laboratory activities is strongly recommended, although not mandatory. However, only students who have attended at least 4 of the first 6 lectures of the course will be allowed to take part in the laboratory practical sessions. Attendance will be monitored at the beginning of each of these lectures through QR code scanningType of evaluation
Theoretical and practical concepts discussed during the lessons will be objects of the oral exam. Particular attention will be given to the ability of the student to apply the knowledge acquired during the course to solve new problems in the biotechnological scenario. Final mark will be attribute as follow: - 20% communication skills; - 40% acquisition of knowledge and understanding; - 20% ability to connect different topics; - 20% capacity to apply the knowledge for problem-solving. Outstanding students will be certified with honours (lode). teacher profile teaching materials
The topics covered include:
- Introduction to microbial biotechnology and its main areas of environmental application.
- Microbial bioremediation of contaminated sites and biodegradation of pollutants.
- Sustainable production of biofuels, chemicals and enzymes.
- Plastic degradation and bioplastic production.
- Recycling and valorisation of agricultural and industrial waste through fermentation processes.
- Microbial biosensors for environmental monitoring.
- Microbial biotechnology for sustainable agriculture.
Practical laboratory sessions focus on the design and implementation of protocols for isolating microorganisms from natural samples that may be useful in agriculture or pollutant degradation. These activities enable students to connect theoretical principles with the main stages of experimental work and the interpretation of results.
The presentations used during lectures will be made available to students in digital format as supplementary study materials. Relevant websites and online resources for independently searching scientific publications will also be introduced and discussed, with the aim of fostering critical exploration of the more advanced topics covered in the course.
The instructor is available to provide clarification on course content and examination procedures by appointment, arranged at the end of lectures or via email.
Programme
microorganisms, as well as enzymes and molecules of microbial origin, to address environmental issues associated with human activities. In parallel, practical activities contribute to the development of methodological skills related to the isolation, selection and study of microorganisms of interest for environmentally sustainable processes.The topics covered include:
- Introduction to microbial biotechnology and its main areas of environmental application.
- Microbial bioremediation of contaminated sites and biodegradation of pollutants.
- Sustainable production of biofuels, chemicals and enzymes.
- Plastic degradation and bioplastic production.
- Recycling and valorisation of agricultural and industrial waste through fermentation processes.
- Microbial biosensors for environmental monitoring.
- Microbial biotechnology for sustainable agriculture.
Practical laboratory sessions focus on the design and implementation of protocols for isolating microorganisms from natural samples that may be useful in agriculture or pollutant degradation. These activities enable students to connect theoretical principles with the main stages of experimental work and the interpretation of results.
Prerequisiti
To successfully follow the course, students are advised to have acquired the knowledge and skills covered in the Integrated Course in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Microbiology, which provide a useful foundation for understanding microbial processes and their biotechnological applications. This recommendation concerns the expected background knowledge and does not establish any formal prerequisite requirements.Core Documentation
The basic concepts related to some of the course topics can be further explored using textbooks on Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology listed in the course bibliography. Specific monographs and experimental protocols will be provided to students for the more advanced theoretical topics and laboratory sessions.The presentations used during lectures will be made available to students in digital format as supplementary study materials. Relevant websites and online resources for independently searching scientific publications will also be introduced and discussed, with the aim of fostering critical exploration of the more advanced topics covered in the course.
The instructor is available to provide clarification on course content and examination procedures by appointment, arranged at the end of lectures or via email.
Reference Bibliography
- Microbiologia ambientale ed elementi di ecologia microbica. Barbieri, Bestetti, Galli, Zannoni. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. - Brock – Biologia dei Microrganismi. Madigan, Martinko, Bender, Buckley, Stahl. Casa Editrice Pearson. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/Type of delivery of the course
The course is based on theoretical lessons and laboratory practice. All communications will be sent to students via email and through the Moodle platform (https://scienze.el.uniroma3.it), from which students can also download the slides of the lessons (also available on Microsoft Teams).Attendance
Attendance at lectures and practical laboratory sessions is strongly recommended, although it is not compulsory. However, participation in practical laboratory sessions requires attendance at least four of the first six lectures of the course. Attendance at these lectures will be recorded at the beginning of each session by scanning a QR code.Type of evaluation
Learning assessment consists of an oral examination in which students are asked to present and discuss selected topics covered in the course. The examination aims to assess not only the knowledge acquired, but also students’ understanding of the processes, their ability to establish connections between different topics, and their ability to apply the principles and methodologies learned to new practical problems. The assessment takes into account students’ knowledge and understanding, their ability to apply knowledge, their critical judgement and reasoning, and their communication skills. The final grade is determined according to the following criteria: 20%: Clarity, appropriate use of scientific terminology, and ability to present the topics effectively. 40%: Acquisition of knowledge and understanding of the topics covered. 20%: Ability to establish relevant connections between the different topics addressed in the course. 20%: Ability to apply the knowledge acquired to the analysis and resolution of new problems. Honours (cum laude) may be awarded to students who demonstrate particularly in-depth knowledge, excellent reasoning skills, and a thorough understanding of the connections between the different topics.