Syllabus:  BSCI 437.  Virology.  MWF 11:00 – 11:50.  Room 1243, BioPsy.

 

Textbook: Principles of Virology.  Molecular Biology, Pathogenesis, and Control.  Flint, S.J, Enquist, L.W., Krug, R.W., Racaniello, V.R., and Skalka, A.M.  ASM Press. 

ISBN 1-55581-259-7

 

Handouts and overheads:  These can be found on my lab website

 

http://dinmanlab.umd.edu/BSCI437.htm

 

Examinations:  Exams for each of the first three sections plus the final exam. Sectional exams:  Each sectional exam counts for 50 points and count for 60% of grade.  Final exam consists of 100 points and counts for 40% of grade. 

Note that if a student appeals the marking of a question on an exam, they must submit the entire exam for regrading.

 

Grading policy: 

In general: 

A:  90% - 100% of total points.

B:  80% - 89%.

C:  70% - 79%

D:  60% - 69%

F:  Below 60%.

 

Importantly however, the term “total points” will be defined as equal to the top score in the class (before extra credit) in order to correct for exams that may be too difficult.  Note that to keep the number of A+’s to a minimum however, students will require cumulative scores greater than or equal to the highest possible score for the class (i.e. > 250 points).

 

Extra credit.  Extra credit is added onto final scores and does not count toward redistribution.  There are two ways accrue extra credit:

  1. 5 points of extra credit are awarded for attending a minimum of 32 of the 35 lectures.  No exceptions will be made for excuses of any kind.    
  2. Up to 10 points of extra credit will be awarded for a report discussing a classic research paper in virology.  The paper to be discussed must be pre-approved by me.  The report is limited to 10 pages, double spaced (anything more will be penalized).  It will be due by no later than December 1, 2006.

 

40 Class days

35 lecture days

3 Exams

1 Final exam

 

 

Date                Topic

 

Part 1:  general virology

Aug. 29            Introduction

  1. Aug. 31                        History and terminology

Sept. 3:       Labor Day Holiday

 

 

  1. Sept. 5              Viral genomes, proteins, and lipids. Chapter 3 (Jessica Neeriemer)
  2. Sept. 7              Structure.  Chapter 4.  (Dr. Brenda Fredericksen) 
  3. Sept. 10            Physical characterization.  (Dr. Brenda Fredericksen) 
  4. Sept. 12            Taxonomy    (Dr. Brenda Fredericksen)
  5. Sept. 14             Viral Evolution.  Chapter 20   (Jessica Neeriemer)
  6. Sept. 17             Animal Virology    (Jessica Neeriemer)
  7. Sept. 19            Plant viruses (Dr. Anne Simon)
  8. Sept  21            Viruses of simple eukaryotes

Sept. 24       Review/Q&A Session

Sept. 26        EXAM 1

                       

Part 2:  Molecular virology          

  1. Sept. 28            Attachment to host cells.  Chapter 5, pp. 127 – 151
  2. Oct  1               Virus entry into host cells.  Chapter 5, pp. 151 – 180.
  3. Oct. 3               Genome Replication and mRNA production by RNA viruses.  Chapter 6.

13.   Oct. 5               Retroid viruses: Reverse transcription.  Chapter 7.  (Guest lecture/Dinman @ NIH)

  1. Oct. 8               Transcription strategies: DNA templates.  Chapter 8.
  2. Oct. 10             Genome replication:  DNA viruses.  Chapter 9.
  3. Oct. 12             Processing of viral pre-mRNA.  Chapter 10.
  4. Oct. 15             Translational control of viral gene expression.  Chapter 11 
  5. Oct. 17             Intracellular transport of viral components:  prelude to assembly.  Ch. 12
  6. Oct. 19             Assembly, exit and maturation of progeny virions.  Ch. 13

Oct. 22             Review/Q & A session

Oct 24             EXAM 2

 

Part 3:  Real life

  1. Oct. 26             Infection
  2. Oct. 29             Dissemination, virulence and epidemiology.  Ch. 14
  3. Oct. 31             Virus offense meets host defense: innate immunity.  Ch. 15
  4. Nov. 2              Virus offense meets host defense: acquired immunity. Ch 15
  5. Nov. 5              Patterns of infection: a delicate balance.  Ch. 16
  6. Nov. 7              HIV pathogenesis.  Ch. 17 (Dr. Jeffery DeStefano, confirmed)
  7. Nov. 9              Hepatitis (Dr. Deborah Taylor, confirmed)
  8. Nov. 12                        Influenza (Dr. Daniel Perez, confirmed)
  9. Nov. 14                        Papillomaviruses (Dr. Chris Buck, confirmed)
  10. Nov. 16                        Viral transformation and oncogenesis.  Ch. 18 Vaccines

Nov. 19                        Review/Q & A session

Nov. 21                    EXAM 3.

 

Nov. 23                    Thanksgiving Recess

 

  1. Nov. 26                        Prevention and control:  Ch. 19   (Dr. Julie Martin, Vaccine Res. Ctr. NIAID.  Confirmed)
  2. Nov. 28                        Pharmacology & Gene therapy

32.   Nov. 30            Emerging viruses:  Myxomatosis, Influenza, SARS

  1. Dec. 3              Bioterrorism
  2. Dec. 5              Prions and Viroids
  3. Dec. 7              Biotechnology – nanotechnology (Dr. James Culver, confirmed)

Dec. 10            Review/Q & A session

 

Final Exam:  Saturday, Dec 16.  8:00am-10:00am