MICR337: Virology
18 points
Semester 2

Course description:

The replication of viruses from cell recognition to molecular aspects of replication and how viruses interact with the host and cause disease.

Course overview:

Viruses cause a wide array of diseases from influenza to polio to rhabies. They are ntracellular pathogens that must infect a host and manipulate it to their own purposes, while completing their replication and escaping their hosts to spread. The amazing diversity of viruses is underpinned by central themes of cell entry, genome replication, gene expression, virus assembly and dissemination.

The virology paper will give you an integrated and fundamental understanding of the principles of viruses and viral replication and their intimate interactions with the host they infect, including:

1. how viruses select and enter specific cells.

2. the molecular basis of how viruses control their own replication and the hosts they infect.

3. examination of the cellular and systemic effects of viral infection on the host.

This course is for students wanting a core paper on virology that includes course and team work on contemporary issues in virology from current diseases through to host virus interactions, including a lab course where you isolate, characterise and visualise by electron microscopy, your own virus.

Lecture course overview:

During the MICR337 lecture course you will:
• explore the process of cell attachment, entry and uncoating, viral coordination of assembly and viral egress from the host cell
• undertake team studies on contemporary issues in virology
• examine RNA and DNA virus replication process
• look at viral interactions with and manipulation of the host
• learn about particles such as prions and viroids

Lab course overview:

You will isolate your own virus from an environmental sample, characterise its growth, determine its host range and purify your own isolate by ultracentrifugation for analysis by electron microscopy.

Assessment:

1. Group presentation and individual essay on a contemporary topic in Virology (10%)
2. Lab report (20%)
3. A final exam in a 3-question either/or format (70%)

Course prerequisites:

Prerequisite:	One of MICR221, 223, 201, GENE221 or 211
Course Timetable:
Lectures:	Thursday, Friday 11:00 – 11:50 pm Room 408, Microbiology Building
Practicals	Tuesday 14:00 – 17:50, Wednesday 09:00 – 17:50 Room 302, Microbiology building Virology labs run for 4 weeks from September 13th, 2010 until October 8th, 2010 (weeks 9 – 12 of Semester 2).

There will be also be small amounts of work required on additional days of the week but this can be worked around other class commitments

Note: there are no lecture or practical clashes between any of the 300-level MICR papers

Textbooks:

Essential Text:	Introduction to Modern Virology, Dimmock et al. (6th Edition) 2007
Alternate reference texts:	Principles of Virology, Flint et al (2nd or 3rd edition) or Principles of Molecular Virology, Alan Cann (4th edition) 2005

Teaching Staff

Associate Professor Vernon Ward (Course convenor)
Dr Peter Fineran
Dr Alex McLellan
Professor Andy Mercer
Dr Julie Weaver

For more information on this course, please contact the Course Convenor Vernon Ward
(vernon.ward@otago.ac.nz) or the 3rd year Teaching Fellow Julie Weaver (479-8475,
julie.weaver@otago.ac.nz)

To find out information on the fees and other information on this paper, click here

To download a pdf of this page click here