Undergraduate - UnitMIC3022 - Molecular virology and viral pathogenesis

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Science
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Associate Professor Hans Netter

Synopsis

The unit will cover molecular aspects of virus replication and introduce the students to the mechanisms used by viruses in causing disease in infected hosts. The focus will be on human and animal viruses. The molecular properties of RNA- and DNA-containing viruses will be presented. The lecture material will be supported by practical experiments which demonstrate both classical techniques in animal virology and the methods of recombinant DNA used to analyse virus replication.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

Describe the interactions between viral and cell components that lead to disease in animal and human hosts;

Explain the different expression strategies used by RNA- and DNA- containing viruses and the methodology used to study viral genomes;

Evaluate the suitability of viruses as gene delivery vectors;

Describe the threat to world health of emerging viral diseases;

Demonstrate practical skills in the purification and assay of animal viruses and molecular virology techniques used to analyse viral genomes;

Develop skills in the proper preparation and submission of laboratory reports.

Assessment

Written theory examination (2 hours): 48%
Theory of practical examination (2 hours): 26%
Laboratory reports, practical and theoretical class assessment: 26%