General provisions

Part of the Bachelor program in biomedicine.

Entry requirements

45 credits completed courses at the biomedical program from school year 1 and 35 credits completed courses from school year 2 as well as completed courses in Cell- and Molecular Biology, 15 credits in (3MU123), Immunology, 4.5 credits in (3KB031), Bacteriology, 7.5 credits in (3KB032), Tissue biology with embryology, 15 credits in (3MU122) or the equivalent.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

The student is expected on completion of the course to be able to:

- describe the basics of taxonomic subdivision of viruses and for the properties of the most important virus families with a focus on human pathogenic vriuses.

- describe the infection process on cell and organism level for a number of medically important viruses.

- describe pathogenesis and epidemiology in relation to the properties of viruses and the function as well as influence on the growth control of the host cell and of the immune system.

- describe general mechanisms during viral infection of cells: virus uptake, genome replication, gene regulation, protein synthesis, virus assembly, egress.

- describe the properties of zoonotic viruses as well as new viruses.

- describe the modes of action of virus vaccines and antiviral drugs.

Skills and ability

- acquired practical laboratory experience in molecular virology.

- acquired skills to be able to plan experiments to study how viruses interact with its host.

Critical thinking and attitude

- acquired an understanding of, and be able to, in an adequate way relate to ethical issues with regard to work with pathogenic viruses as well as the spread of virus infections.

Content

Virus taxonomy, important human pathogenic viruses, virus structure and assembly, stages in the infection process at both the cell and organismal level, pathogenesis, epidemiology, zoonotic viruses and new virus infections, molecular interactions between a virus and its host, the immune response to a virus infection, virus vaccines and antiviral therapies, practical laboratory work and training in presentation.

A continuous evaluation of the course design is ongoing and may result in some changes in the structure and content of the course.

Instruction

The course includes lectures, seminars, practical laboratory work and training in presentation skills. Attendance is compulsory at seminars and the practical laboratory work.

Beside the teaching methods specified in the syllabus other ways of teaching may be used during the course.

Assessment

A pass for all compulsory elements of the course and a passed written examination are required for a pass for the course as a whole.

A chance to complete a failed laboratory course can be given only at the next occasion at which the course is given and only in case of a vacancy.