BSc Microbiology / Course details

Virus infections can range from a brief, superficial interaction between the virus and its host to a lifelong infection from before birth. Many different tissues and organs may be affected. Although only a small minority of virus infections give rise to any disease symptoms, this minority is of major medical importance. This unit will provide you with an introduction to viral structure and function and explain how viruses subvert host cell function to generate viral factories. Details of the pathogenic mechanisms used by viruses to cause disease will be explained using examples such as the influenza virus and HIV. The design of viral vaccines will also be covered and their use in eradicating viral infections such as polio discussed.

The aim of this unit is to provide an understanding of viruses and viral disease. It will provide an introduction to viral structure and function and explain how viruses subvert host cell function to generate viral factories. Details of the pathogenic mechanisms used by viruses to cause disease will be explained using examples such as the influenza virus and HIV. The design of viral vaccines will also be covered and their use in eradicating viral infections such as polio discussed.

At the end of the course students will have an appreciation of:

• viral structure
• the interaction of virus and host
• the mechanisms of viral replication in host cells
• viral pathogenesis
• immune response to viral infections
• acute, chronic and latent viral infections
• viral vaccines and anti-viral drugs
• viral epidemiology

• What is a virus?
• Viral structure
• Viral genomes and replication
• Viral interactions with the host
• Acute viral infections
• Latent and persistent viral infections
• Viruses and immunodeficiency
• Viruses and Cancer
• Viral vaccines
• Anti-viral therapy
• Viral evolution
• Emerging viral infections
• Zoonotic viral diseases

e-Learning Activity

HIV doesn’t cause AIDS – The Duesberg phenomenon. Students will be asked to address the nine points made by Duesberg and produce a rebuttal of his contention, made in his original Science article, that “HIV is not the cause of AIDS because it fails to meet the postulates of Koch and Henle, as well as six cardinal rules of virology.”

1.5 hour written examination at the end of the unit (75%); E-learning project (20%); weekly MCQ test (5%).

Feedback will be provided on the e-learning activity. Knowledge will also be assessed by weekly formative MCQ exams.