BIOL2761 Virology - Flinders University

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Overview

Viruses have enormous relevance across society. This topic provides students with a basic working knowledge of virology that can be applied in a broad range of disciplines, including microbiology, medicine, marine biology, public health, and biotechnology. The topic examines: the basics of virology - what is a virus? Viral classification, nomenclature, taxonomy. Viral strategies for attachment and entry. Viral strategies for replication, using as examples: herpes, pox, picorna-, orthomyxo-, reo- and retroviruses. Plant virology. Marine viruses: the single largest pool of biodiversity on earth. Viral strategies for pathogenesis and immune evasion. Viral latency. Viral ecology: epidemic and endemic persistence in populations. Viral evolution, as seen in influenza, HIV. Immune responses to viral infection. Intervention strategies, including vaccination and antivirals. Detection of viruses. Prion infectivity. Viruses shaping society, for example by epidemics or as objects of war or bioterrorism. Medically important viruses, including viruses and cancer, HIV/AIDS. Sexually transmitted viruses . Viruses as gene delivery vectors.

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Tuition pattern

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Aims

This topic aims to:

Familiarise students with basic concepts in virology: definition of a virus, classification of viruses, types of viral genomes, viral replication strategies, viral strategies for persistence, viral evolution
Familiarise students with the strategies used to contain, control, and intervene in viral infections, and the means used to detect viral infections
Give examples of the importance of viruses in a wide variety of situations and environments
Give students perspectives on the approaches necessary to conduct cutting-edge virology research, including research that involves indigenous peoples
Give students perspective on the impacts of viruses on indigenous Australians

Learning outcomes

On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:

Understand viral structure, viral taxonomy, types of viral genomes, viral replication strategies

Understand the many different ways in which viruses cause disease

Understand viral strategies for persistence, both in infected individuals and in populations such as Endemic vs epidemic spread, Viral evolution

Understand the relevance of viral infection to plants, animals, marine organisms, viruses and medicine

Understand immune responses to viral infections in mammals, and how viruses evade immune responses

Understand strategies for containing and controlling viral infections such as hygiene, public health measures, vaccination, antiviral drugs

Have enhanced oral and written communication skills

Better understand the effects of viral diseases on Australian indigenous peoples

Assessments

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Requisites information

Pre-requisites:

Handbook

Virology

BIOL2761