dr. Raoul de Groot (course coordinator and content): R.J.deGroot@uu.nl
dr. Kristin Denzer (course registration): secretary.iimaster@umcutrecht.nl
Course description:
Aim of this course is to provide an overview of the field of virology.
After a general introduction on structure, replication cycle and virus taxonomy, the entry, replication and assembly of specific examples of DNA, RNA and retrovirusses are studied in greater detail.
Furthermore pathogenesis and epidemiology will be part of the course and virus-host interactions are studied on the level of cells, individual hosts and host populations. This will lead to the topics of prophylaxis and therapy of viral diseases (vaccinatie, antiviral therapeutics). Finally, the use of viruses is in molecular biology, vaccin development and gene therapy is discussed.
Exam
The learning material of the complete course will be assessed by means of multiple choice and open questions. In order to successfully complete the course, the grade for the end-of-term exam has to be at least a 5.5. (Dutch grade, equivalent of 50% correct). Only if this prerequisite is met, the grades of tutorials and class room assessment are taken into account. In order to pass for the course a minimum average score of 5.5 is required (Dutch grade, equivalent of 55% correct).
Students that have taken the BMW Infection and Immunity Bachelor course are excused from the lectures on day 1 (An introduction to Virology; HC1-4). During the remainder of the course, presence is compulsory and will be checked after each session. If the overall presence is below 80%, the student is excluded from participation in the written exam.
Tutorials: presentations and active participation
The aim of the tutorials is to deepen and broaden the student’s knowledge by means of presentation assignments and round-table discussions. The sessions are chaired by experienced virologists from the Veterinary Medicine Virology division. This offers the opportunity to ask questions about the learning material and the lectures. In the lectures and in the accompanying text book (Principles of Virology), the various aspects of virology are treated with the main emphasis on general mechanisms, processes and concepts. It is, however, also instructive to get an overview of the biology of individual viruses. During the tutorials, the “virus-of-the-day” will be discussed on the basis of fixed assignments
Literature/study material used:
Mandatory :
Principles of Virology, Molecular Biology, Pathogenesis, and Control of Animal Viruses.
S.J. Flint, V.R. Racaniello, G.F. Rall and A.M. Skalka, 5rth edition 2020, ASM Press,ISBN 9781683670322.
Prescott’s Microbiology, 8th edition 2011, Mc Graw Hill
Fields Virology, 6th edition 2013, Knipe and Howley, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Registration:
Automatically after acceptance to the I&I programme.
You can register for this course via
Osiris Student. More information about the registration procedure can be found
here on the Students' site.
Mandatory for students in own Master’s programme:
Yes
Optional for students in other GSLS Master’s programme:
Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences
Prerequisite knowledge:
Basic Cell Biology and Immunology.