Unit APPLIED MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY
- Course
- Biotechnology
- Study-unit Code
- A000990
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Marco Gargaro
- Teachers
-
- Marco Gargaro
- Hours
- 57 ore - Marco Gargaro
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2020
- Offered
- 2022/23
- Learning activities
- Affine/integrativa
- Area
- Attività formative affini o integrative
- Academic discipline
- BIO/14
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- The course consists of lectures aimed at understanding the molecular basis of the function and production of endogenous molecules, and practical classes concerning the techniques that are employed for the production of new biotechnological drugs such as recombinant proteins and enzymes.
- Reference texts
- Farmacologia Generale e Molecolare" (Clementi-Fumagalli)
Rang, Dale, Ritter, Moore “Farmacologia” C.E.A, Milano. - Educational objectives
- The main objective of course module is to provide students with the foundation for understanding the importance of the molecular and genetic studies in the design of biopharmaceuticals.
The main acquired knowledge will be:
• The molecular mechanisms of immune responses;
• The molecular basis of the use of endogenous engineered proteins as drugs.
The main gained skills will be:
• Construction of specific primers also using specific bioinformatic tools;
• Techniques of validation of the molecular functions of a specific drug. - Prerequisites
- In order to be able to understand and take the exam of the course, it is mandatory to have successfully taken previously the Physiology and Biochemistry exams.
- Teaching methods
- Theoretical lessons and practical training.
- Other information
- Following classes is optional but strongly advised.
- Learning verification modality
- The exam consists an oral examination. This test consists in a discussion lasting about twenty minutes aimed at ascertaining the level of knowledge and understanding achieved by students on the theoretical and practical content of the program (Applied molecular pharmacology). The oral exam will also allow to check the communication skills of the student and his/her autonomy in the organization and exposure of theoretical topics.
- Extended program
- Theoretical lessons:
Molecular aspects of immune responses and immune tolerance. Cytokine receptors as targets for immunomodulatory agents. Drugs for rare genetic diseases. Pharmacotherapy of diabetes. Intracellular receptors.
Pharmacological use of synthetic oligonucleotides. Gene therapy. The vectors and methods of gene transfer.
Practical lessons:
PCR-mediated amplification of a gene encoding a biodrug. Purification of RNA, cDNA synthesis, ligation reaction, bacteria transformation. Colony PCR for screening of positive colonies. Miniprep and enzyme digestion. Cell cultures and cells transfection with a cloned gene, expression validation in the target cells. Purification of cell subsets by specific cell separation methods. ELISA and hints of analytical techniques of cytokine multiplex analysis by Luminex Assays.