Virology (MSc)

Compulsory Course

• in  MSc Biomedical Sciences, 2^nd Semester
• 6h/week (2L/2E/2P)
• Credits: 8 ECTS

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the course, students have the following knowledge:

• Taxonomy as well as structure and replication mechanisms of the most important human pathogenic viruses
• Occurrence and dissemination of viral diseases
• Adaption of the virus to the host: host change, zoonosis, “shift and drift”, evolution

Content:

• The course focuses on the different viral families with respect to the following aspects: Worldwide infection, the different forms of hepatitis, childhood diseases, prion diseases, viruses and cancer, viruses and gene therapy, “emerging viruses”, viral zoonoses, bio terrorism.
• Students are to develop an understanding of human and animal pathogenic viruses with respect to the following issues relevant to medicine and biology: taxonomy, history, morphology of virions, replication strategies (Baltimore classification), transmission, host and risk groups, symptoms, diagnostic methods, protection against the immune system, specific immune reactions, acute and chronic diseases, complications, medication.
• The cosmopolitan and endemic occurrence of viral diseases is discussed with respect to the following aspects: climatic and social factors of dissemination, epidemiology, eradication measures, and prevention.