Learning objectives
By the end of the course, students will have acquired knowledge related to the study of microbiomes, including next-generation sequencing techniques, bioinformatics and biostatistical analysis, and the role of microbiomes in food systems, including the link to food quality and risk assessment.
Course unit content
1. General introduction to the study of microbiomes: microbiomes and metagenomes (definitions, importance and applications), main technical aspects of next-generation sequencing assessment
2. Next-generation sequencing: 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics and other omics, operational steps (sampling, DNA extraction from different matrices (e.g., soil, air, water and biological samples), library preparation, sequencing)
3. Bioinformatics and biostatistical analysis: demultiplexing, quality filtering, binning into OTUs/ASVs, alpha and beta diversity, read mapping, contig reconstruction, taxonomic/functional assignment (Greengenes/SILVA, KEGG, etc.), multivariate statistics and microbial networks
4. Microbiomes in food systems: microbiomes of food system actors, microbiome circulation in food systems and link to food quality and safety, microbiomes and risk assessment in food and food production, modulation of food system microbiomes for better food
Bibliography
Lecture notes and scientific publications
Teaching methods
Lectures supported by explanatory slides
Assessment methods and criteria
Theoretical knowledge will be verified by an oral test
Other information
https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/silvia.turroni/en
