COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course will emphasize on the reproductive mechanisms of viruses within a host cell and survival and spread within a host population. The molecular basis of alternative reproductive cycles, the interactions of viruses with host organisms, and how these lead to disease are presented with examples drawn from a set of representative animal and human viruses, although selected bacterial viruses will be discussed.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (CLO)

CLO: 1. To describe the essential concepts of virology to demonstrate the nature and major components of viruses, classification of viruses, replication and principles of viral diagnostic procedures.
CLO: 2. To explain the human viruses causing the most important diseases and virus-host interactions
CLO: 3. To apply the use of viruses for medical benefits (i.e. gene therapy and anti-cancer)

COURSE CONTENTS

1 General introduction of virology and viruses
2 Classification of viruses, architecture and nomenclature
3 Replication of viruses
4 Virus-host interactions
5 Host resistance to viral infection • Immune responses
6 • Polioviruses • Rabies • Influenza
7 • Herpes viruses • Poxviruses • Hepatitis B viruses
8 • Basic virological methods • Principles of viral diagnostic procedures
9 • HIV and other retroviruses • Emerging viruses of zoonotic and veterinary importance
10 Viruses and cancer • Oncoviruses and oncolytic viruses
11 • Plant Viruses • Bacteriophages (bacterial viruses)
12 • Epidemiology • Exploiting viruses as gene therapy and vaccines vectors
13 Antiviral Agents, viral prophylaxis
14 Interferon and Chemotherapeutic agents
15 Viruses and bioterrorism