Faglig innhold

The course will give an overview of medically important virus families, their replication strategies and mechanisms for development of viral infectious diseases. Topics will include replication strategies, pathogenicity and transmission of viruses and, additionally, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of viral diseases and the engineering and use of therapeutic viruses. Antiviral immunity and viral evasion will also be covered. Common human viral infections will be the main focus of the course, and emphasis will be put on virus-host interactions as a key to understanding the diversity of viruses and viral diseases.

Læringsutbytte

Knowledge

The candidate can

• describe and review the elements of the viral life cycle
• explain the rationale behind the Baltimore classification system of viruses and present example viruses for each Baltimore group
• explain viral replication strategies; and compare and contrast replication mechanisms used by viruses relevant for human disease
• explain host antiviral immune mechanisms at a cellular and molecular level
• describe major viral strategies to evade host immune and cellular factors
• discuss principles of virus pathogenesis
• explain vaccine strategies and mechanisms of antiviral drugs
• describe strategies for therapeutic use of viruses in cancer and gene therapy

Skills

The candidate can

• discriminate between replication cycles of different classes of viruses
• evaluate and discriminate between pathogenic features of viruses and the host
• interpret data from scientific papers within virology-immunology
• understand principles underlying engineered viruses and the foundations for therapeutic use of viruses

General competence

The candidate can use the knowledge and skills to

• analyze questions and present arguments based on scientific findings on viruses
• discuss on the emergence of and differences between coronaviruses
• evaluate advantages and disadvantages of vaccines and antivirals
• evaluate principles of virotherapy; i.e. viral-based cancer and gene therapy

Læringsformer og aktiviteter

Lectures and alternative methods of teaching. Teaching and exam will be in English. Teaching throughout the semester.

Anbefalte forkunnskaper

Basic knowledge in cell biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology.

Kursmateriell

Will be presented at the start of the semester.