Courses > Semester 6 - Elective courses

Human Genetics

  • Basic principles (traits-genes-alleles-mutations-mosaicism-homo/hetero/hemizygotes, genotype/phenotype-
  • Pedigree analysis
  • Patterns of Inheritance-Mendelian Inheritance- Non-Mendelian Inheritance
  • Autosomal dominant disorders
  • Autosomal recessive disorders
  • x-linked Inheritance (dominant, recessive)
  • Cytogenetics-chromosomes
  • Testing methods (cytogenetic-molecular)
  • Linkage analysis
  • Dynamic mutations
  • Congenital changes
  • Multifactorial inheritance
  • Epigenetics

Biochemical Pharmacology and Toxicology

Elective subject

Responsible:

(A) Marios Marselos, MD, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology
(B) Maria Konstandi, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology
(C) Periklis Pappas, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

Topics discussed and evaluated by an exam at the end of the course

A. Biochemical Pharmacology

1. Human Pharmacokinetics (Absorption, Distribution, Excretion and Metabolism of Xenobiotics)
2. Pharmacodynamics (Mechanisms of pharmacological action, Theory of Receptors, Synergy and Antagonism, Dose-Response curves, Factors affecting the pharmacological response)

B. Biochemical Toxicology

1. Untoward effects and toxicity (Idiosyncrasy reactions, Reactions due to pharmacochemical factors – Pharmaceutical allergy, Drug dependence, Carcinogenicity, Teratogenicity)
2. Exprimental and epidemiological techniques for the evaluation of risk factors in terms of chemical toxicity

C. Biotechnology Pharmaceutical Products

1. Hormones, Cytokines, Vaccines
2. Monoclonal antibodies (preparation, current applications in therapeutics

D. Development and Licensing of New Medicinal Products

1. Contents of the "Dossier" for a new product (Pharmacochemical data, Preclinical experiments, Results of the Clinical Trials, Evaluation of Endpoints and Surrogate Criteria)
2. Procedures for Licensing New Pharmaceutical Products in the European Union (National procedures, European procedures, Procedures of Mutual Recognition)

Molecular Biology of Plant-Microbe Interactions

General introduction

Types of interactions: Parasitism (Compatible interactions), Resistance (incompatible interactions), Symbiotic interactions (Mutualism), Saprophytic interactions.

I. Molecular Biology of plant-microbe compatible interactions:

A) Molecular Biology of the mechanisms of bacterial plant pathogens, during a compatible interaction (hrp/hrc genes, Molecular Genetics of phytotoxin production). Examples: (Pseudomonas syringae pathovars, Agrobacterium tumefaciens). Molecular Biology and Genetic Analysis of the mechanisms of plant pathogenic fungi and pseudofungi during a compatible interaction. Examples.
B) Molecular Biology and Biochemistry of the plant reaction during a compatible interaction. Comparison with the case of the system, human – Helicobacter pylorii.

II. Molecular Biology of plant-microbe incompatible interactions:

A) Molecular Biology of the action of bacteria plant pathogens during incompatible interactions (avr genes). Molecular Biology and Genetic Analysis of the mechanisms of plant pathogenic fungi during an incompatible interaction.
B) Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of plant reaction during an incompatible interaction: Molecular Biology of preexisting and induced resistance, R genes, the hypersensitivity reaction of plants.

III. Molecular Biology of mutualistic plant-microbe interactions:

A) Symbiotic nitrogen fixation, molecular biology of the interaction in the system legume – Rhizobia (signaling, nodule formation).
B) Molecular Biology of the symbiotic interaction plants-fungi: signaling formation of ecto- and endomycorrhizae.

A different system: Lichenes.

IV. Saprophytic interactions:

Saprophytes and opportunistic infections, saprophytes and plant protection.

V. Applications:

Application of microorganisms and viruses in biological control: cross protection, pathogen-derived resistance.

Ecophysiology of Mediterranean Plants

The Mediterranean climate. Plants and climate origin. Biodiversity. Endemism. Species extinctions. Biological invasions. Climate and vegetation of Mediterranean ecosystems. Stresses, Responses and Adaptations (water, light, nutrients, decomposition). Plant –animal interactions. The role of fire.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture Lectures

  1. Introduction to aquacultures: General, types of aquacultures, appropriate conditions, environmental aspects and protection, quality of water
  2. Weeds culture, Artemia, sponges, molluscs, crustaceans, freshwater fishes (Cyprinidae, Salmonidae, Asipenceridae) Sea fishes (Moronidae, Sparidae)
  3. Rearing technology
  4. Fish cultures
  5. Principles of genetic improvement
  6. Fish hatchery stations
  7. Physiology, diet and reproduction
  8. Fish feeding technology
  9. Fish pathology
  10. Organic fishes
  11. Market
  12. Filosophy ,technology, outcome and problems of aquaculture on Earth

Laboratory courses

  1. Artemia: Developmental stages of Artemia, Preservation of cystes, Diapause, Apochloriosis. Hatching characteristics
  2. Observation and participation in artificial reproduction of freshwater fishes
  3. Freshwater fishes culture, Estimation of growth
  4. Observation and recording of physicochemical water parameters in ponds
  5. Study of fish developmental stages ( Cyprinidae, Salmonidae, Sparidae, Moronidae)
  6. Zebrafish

Field exercises

  1. Visit on fish hatchery stations. Observation of reproductive cycle, culture, developmental stages. Observation on fishing, packaging, preservation
  2. Visit in traditional fisheris (divari). Visit in mollusc culture (mussels, oysters)
  3. Visit oi aquacultures. Observation of diel culture cycle
  4. Vist on Louros hatchery station. Visit on salmon station
  5. Visit on fish hatcheries DELI in lake pamvotis

Environmental Technologies

  1. Water management for drinking water production
    • Production of drinking water from ground water
    • Production of drinking water from surface water
    • Disinfection of drinking water
  2. Management of municipal wastewaters
    • Primary sedimentation
    • Aerobic treatment of municipal wastewaters
    • Anaerobic treatment of wastewaters
    • Tertiary treatment of municipal wastewaters-Elimination of nitrogen and phosphorous
  3. Chemical methods for the treatment of wastewaters
  4. Municipal solid waste management
    • Definition of solid wastes
    • Physical and chemical properties
    • Sanitary landfills
    • Management of solid wastes with thermal processes

Special Topics in Entrepreneurship

Stem Cell Biology

Marine Biology

Membrane Biophysics

Food Microbiology