Biotechnology

Code	12870
Year	1
Semester	S1
ECTS Credits	6
Workload	TP(60H)
Scientific area	Biotecnologia
Entry requirements	Not applicable.
Mode of delivery	Face to face.
Work placements	Not applicable
Learning outcomes	The unit of Biotechnology aims to provide students with a global perspective of biotechnological processes, with emphasis on the production and purification of biomolecules for therapeutic application. At the end of this course the student should be able to: -Describe the importance of Biotechnology in the current context and explain their applications, focusing on health. -Demonstrate an integrated view of bioprocesses, including the processes of production in bioreactors, isolation and purification of biomolecules and apply the techniques / unit operations used in different stages to obtain bioproducts for therapeutic applications with high yield and purity. -Demonstrate strategy and autonomy in making decisions regarding the resolution of concrete problems in Biotechnology, based on the scientific and technical capacity and critical thinking.
Syllabus	A-Theoretical 1- Introduction to Biotechnology. Recombinant DNA technology. Expression systems in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. 2- Biological Reactors Main state variables to be controled in a bioreactor. Fermentation general concepts . Introduction to biological systems mass balances. Growth, consumption and production kinetics. 3- Recovery and Separation of Biological Products 4- Separation and Purification of Biological Products Solid-liquid. Liquid-liquid. Cell desintegration. Membrane processes. Chromatographic processes used in the purification of biological products. Overview of the steps of a biotechnological process. 5- Applications of Biotechnology: Gene Therapy and DNA Vaccines B-Experimental Production and purification of plasmid DNA for therapeutic applications: 1 – Plating, selection and batch production; 2 – Cell disintegration and recovery; 3 - Purification by chromatography; 4 - In vitro analysis of the gene expression.
Main Bibliography	- Crommelin D.J. A., Sindelar, R D., Meibohm “Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Fundamentals and Applications”, 3rd Edition, CRC Press, 2016. - Ho R. J. Y., Gibaldi, M “Biopharmaceutical Technologies and Processes in Drug Development”, Wiley, 2003. -Lima N, Mota M. (Eds) “Biotecnologia: Fundamentos e Aplicações”. Lidel, Lisboa, 2003. - Stanbury P., Whitaker, A. Hall, S. “Principles of Fermentation Technology” 3rd Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2016. -Fonseca M M, Teixeira JA (Eds) “Reactores Biológicos-Fundamentos e Aplicações”, Lidel, 2007. -Nicholl, D “An Introduction to Genetic Engineering”, 3ª Ed., Cambridge, 2008, Pg. 51-89 e pg 202-225. -Blankenstein T, “Gene Therapy: Principles and Applications”, Birkhäuser Verlag, 2003. -Selected scientific papers
Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria	A.1- The evaluation of Learning Modules (TP) corresponds to 70% of the final mark and includes 3 tests where it will be necessary to obtain an average minimum grade of 9.5 (Val) for approval to this component: 1st test: Mod 1: Mod 1:18 % + Mod 2: 24% . 2nd test: Mod 3: 24 % . 3rd Test: Mod 4: 34 % and Mod 5: 10 % A.2 -Assessment of the practice PL (15%): 1st test (5 pt), 2nd test (5 pt), 3rd test (5pt + 5 pt) A.3- The evaluation of the Seminar component (15%) includes a presentation and oral discussion of a scientific paper tried by a jury of Biotechnology professors, respecting an evaluation grid previously provided to the students. It is necessary to obtain a minimum grade of 9,5 pt for approval to this component Final Frequency Mark: 70% Mod TP + 15 % Mod PL + 15% Seminar The exam corresponds to Mod TP or Mod PL Final Exam mark: 70% Mod TP + 15 % Mod PL + 15% Seminar
Language	Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.