BS310-6-SP-CO:
Principles of Molecular Virology
2024/25
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
04 July 2024
Requisites for this module
BS223
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BSC C555 Microbiology,
BSC C556 Microbiology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C557 Microbiology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C558 Microbiology (Including Placement Year),
MSCIC559 Microbiology and Biotechnology
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:
- Critically evaluate how molecular biology approaches have enhanced the study of viruses
- Have a systematic understanding of the strategies adopted by viruses to replicate and express their genetic information
- Have a systematic understanding the route of viruses in disease and how this relates to molecular interactions with the infected cells
- Critically evaluate how the understanding of virus infections opens up the possibility of novel, therapeutic approaches
- 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
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 180 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 180 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Efstathios Giotis, email: e.giotis@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Efstathios Giotis
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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