Module Directory

Viruses have a major impact on humanity. They cause a number of acute human and animal diseases, which can be serious of even life-threatening but can also cause long-term complications such as paralysis.

Viruses can also lead to certain types of cancers and may even cause some forms of diabetes and heart disease. Plant viruses cause considerable economic losses and are a threat for sustainable agriculture. Research over the past 20 years has transformed our understanding of viruses and has provided a number of vaccines and anti-virus therapies and prophylactics. This module will give an introduction to the diversity, unique nature and importance of viruses then will show, using a number of detailed specific examples, how molecular biology approaches are used in their study and in diverse applications. The module will highlight molecular features of disease and current approaches to control viral infections.

The aims of this module are:

• To introduce students to the diversity and complexity of viruses, virus architecture and nomenclature.


• To provide students with an understanding of virus replication cycles, mechanisms of viral entry and spread of infection.


• To provide students with an understanding of host responses to viral infections


• To provide students with an understanding of laboratory research, diagnosis and therapy of viral diseases and the applications of viruses in science.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Critically evaluate how molecular biology approaches have enhanced the study of viruses


2. Have a systematic understanding of the strategies adopted by viruses to replicate and express their genetic information


3. Have a systematic understanding the route of viruses in disease and how this relates to molecular interactions with the infected cells


4. Critically evaluate how the understanding of virus infections opens up the possibility of novel, therapeutic approaches


5. Demonstrate critical competence in written communication and data analysis and interpretation

The module will focus on different families of animal, plant and human viruses, principally those that cause cancers, epidemics and occasionally pandemics to humans. Specific virus families that will be covered in depth include coronaviruses, influenza viruses, poxviruses, filoviruses, oncogenic and plant viruses. For each type of viruses the following will be discussed: discovery and history, characteristics, pathogenesis, disease occurrence, transmission, replication cycles, vaccination and therapeutic approaches. Aspects of virus epidemiology and virus architecture will also be covered in lectures as well as the emergence of recent viruses that cause disease in humans, animals and plants. Finally, the forensic detection for the origin of viruses, plant and animal reservoirs will be discussed, which will include an introduction to viral evolution as well as describing the principles of a range of modern analytical techniques.

This module will be delivered via:

• Lectures: 18x 1hr
• 2 hr data analysis
• Interpretation lecture/revision