Micro 424/524: Medical and Veterinary Virology
Instructor:
Xiuqing Wang and
Christopher Chase
FALL - 2004
Course: Medical and Veterinary Virology, Micro 424/524 4(3,4) S odd years
Current Instructor: Xiuqing Wang
Course Description: Basic course discussing the characterization, structure, and replication of viruses and the pathogenesis of viral disease in man and animals. Laboratory exercises emphasize techniques in virus isolation, characterization, and detection by immunological assays.
Course Objectives:
Lecture: Medical and Veterinary Virology is a fundamental course that introduces the student to the physical, chemical, morphological and genetics of animal viruses and the mechanisms via which these microorganisms cause disease. The course also examines the role of the host, cellular processes and the immune system in the causation and prevention of viral diseases. The structure of the lecture provides a forum for interactive discussions; for individuals to work cooperatively with others from diverse backgrounds and majors to solve "real-life" problems in virology; to enhance scientific writing skills; and to develop and use critical thinking skills. The information gained in this course educates the student on risk relative to viral infections, and prepares them to be better informed citizens on infectious viral diseases.Laboratory: The purpose of the laboratory is to provide the student with "hands-on" experience in most modern methods used for the isolation, detection, and characterization of viruses. Students also receive limited experience in the art of preparing and culturing mammalian cells. This laboratory gives students an opportunity to be exposed to a variety of instrumentation such as laminar-flow hoods, filtration apparatus, fluorescent and inverted microscopes, transmission electron microscope, and the ultracentrifuge. Overall, the laboratory gives students an appreciation of the complexity, expense, and limitations of current methodology in virology.
Placement in Curriculum: Microbiology. The contents of this course ties together many of
the general concepts that
the student learns on cellular structure and function like replication of nucleic acids; nucleic
acid and protein structure; biochemistry; molecular biology; and immunology. The laboratory will
provide experience with previous basic skills such as dilutions, cell counting, aseptic technique,
and unknown identification; and will provide specialized skills in cell culture, immnoassays,
serology, and virus purification. This course also serves as an excellent introductory course in
virology for students in pre- medicine, pre veterinary, nursing and medical technology fields that
usually encounter virology as part of the infectious disease curricula.
Return to Undergraduate Programs