Viruses have enormous relevance across society. This topic provides students with a basic working knowledge of virology that can be applied in a broad range of disciplines, including microbiology, medicine, marine biology, public health, and biotechnology. The topic examines: the basics of virology - what is a virus? Viral classification, nomenclature, taxonomy. Viral strategies for attachment and entry. Viral strategies for replication, using as examples: herpes, pox, picorna-, orthomyxo-, reo- and retroviruses. Plant virology. Marine viruses: the single largest pool of biodiversity on earth. Viral strategies for pathogenesis and immune evasion. Viral latency. Viral ecology: epidemic and endemic persistence in populations. Viral evolution, as seen in influenza, HIV. Immune responses to viral infection. Intervention strategies, including vaccination and antivirals. Detection of viruses. Prion infectivity. Viruses shaping society, for example by epidemics or as objects of war or bioterrorism. Medically important viruses, including viruses and cancer, HIV/AIDS. Sexually transmitted viruses . Viruses as gene delivery vectors.
This topic aims to:
Timetable details for 2021 are no longer published.