1. komponenta

Lecture type	Total

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Classifying different viral cycles through exemplifying (cases from different viral families).
2. Differentiating viral genome types regarding their structure, information content, and transcription strategies, as well as linking them with different translation mechanism and gene products through pinpointing the most important examples.
3. Applying molecular virology knowledge in virus symptomatology and epidemiology through assessing and foreseeing the host virus interactions in a single host and a host population.
4. Linking general biology and virology concepts in evolution, phylogeny, taxonomy and genetics by using viruses as models.
5. Understanding the impact of viruses in the origin and evolution of life, the development of bimolecular life sciences and innovative disease therapies through interpretation of different seminar topics and discussions.
6. Assessing the importance of virology in general, understanding its development dynamics and potential applications via interpreting the course lecture data at the exam and seminar execution.
7. Advancing practical laboratory skills through the application of molecular methods in viral nucleic acids and protein analyses.
8. Literature searching skills development, presentation skills development for expert public through creating review papers data presentation.
9. Developing critical thinking and reading skills, realizing the need for following current science trends through preparation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of the seminar topic.
10. Assessing the importance of others original research results, developing team work and furthering public speaking and presentation design skills through seminar execution.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
LECTURES
1. and 2. The replication of viruses from different taxonomic groups (studies of genome types and replication mechanisms).
3. Viral transcriptomes.
4. Viral proteomes, translation mechanisms and functions of proteins.
5. Viruses and RNA silencing (VIGS).
6. Viruses as cloning vectors and research tools.
7. Virus diversity (molecular mechanisms and concepts).
8. Virus origin and evolution, RNA virus quasispecies.
9. Emerging viruses, virus epidemiology.
10. Retroviruses (molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis, new insights, evolution and origin of HIV).
11. Immune responses to viral infection.
12. New insights into vaccine development (recombinant vaccines, DNA vaccines, etc.).
13. Interferon and the treatment of viral diseases.
14. Chemotherapy of viral diseases.
15. Molecular phylogeny of viruses.
LABORATORY:
Practical laboratory training (groups of maximum 4 students) develops generic laboratory skills and skills in solving research problems through training in molecular virology methods.
1. Virus genomes (nucleic acid) isolation methods
2. Electrophoretic analysis of viral RNAs
3. Different methods for the detection and identification of virus nucleic acids after gel electrophoresis (RTPCR, PCR, isothermal amplifications e.g. LAMP);
4. Virus proteins extraction
5. Electrophoretic analysis of viral proteins (SDSPAGE)
6. Viral proteins detection in polyacrylamide gels, determining their molecular weight
SEMINAR:
Literature study of a virological topic related to the course contents (decided through consults with the lecturer) with oral presentation (seminar) carried out in pairs.
1. Choosing the topic through preliminary literature search (in consultation with a lecturer) and pairing up in teams.
2. Literature search and analyses for a general introduction to the subject (e.g. virus species or a family, discovery) and in depth analysis of a particular aspect (problem in a disease etiology, virus evolution, genome structure and function, etc.)
3. Creating a power point presentation and an outline for its (ten minutes) oral execution plus the discussion preparation (with a partner)
4. Executing a presentation and discussion within the group of peers and a teacher.