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VIROLOGY

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VIROLOGY

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Academic year 2023/2024

Course ID
SVB0046
Teacher
Giorgio Gribaudo
Degree course
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Year
1st year
Teaching period
To be defined
Type
Distinctive
Credits/Recognition
6
Course disciplinary sector (SSD)
BIO/19 - general microbiology
Delivery
Formal authority
Language
English
Attendance
Lessons optional and laboratories mandatory
Type of examination
Written
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of General and Applied Microbiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology (First level degree).
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Sommario del corso

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Course objectives

This course contributes to the realization of the learning objectives of the Biomedical and Biomolecular study areas of the Master Degree Course in Cellular and Molecular Biology, by providing students with an advanced knowledge of cell and molecular biology of animal viruses, of the interactions between viruses and cells in which they replicate, and of the applications of viruses to deliver and express either their own or foreign genes.

 

Specific objectives are to learn:

  • the repertoire of viral strategies for genome replication and expression;
  • the principles of viral pathogenesis: from the infection of single cells in the laboratory to the interplay with their host organisms and spread in populations;
  • how to cultivate and assay viruses in the laboratory;
  • the principles involved in developing methods of treatment and control of viral infections;
  • how to engineer viral genomes to deliver and express specific genes.
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Results of learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, students will have to prove:

- to know:

  • the diversity of the molecular strategies of virus replication;
  • the principles of viral pathogenesis
  • the basic methodology for virus cultivation and assay;
  • the principles of control and prevention of viral diseases;
  • the most important applications of viruses to deliver and express genes of interest;

 -  to understand:

  • how to design and develop a candidate antiviral drug or vaccine;
  • what methodological approach based on engineering of viral genomes should be used to deliver and express genes to answer a specific problem;
  • how to exploit this knowledge to develop a potential vaccine or therapeutic strategy.

 Acquisition of this knowledge and understanding will be assessed through the Multidisciplinary Midterm Test (MMT), the evaluation of the Multidisciplinary Research Project (MRE), and the Final exam.

Applying knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, students are expected to be able:

  • to integrate the theoretical and methodological knowledge acquired with the course of Virology with those learned in the courses of Advanced Cell Biology and Biotechnology, and Cell Physiology;
  • to carry out literature searches on topics of the course;
  • to analyze and understand scientific papers and technical reports;
  • to select methodological and technical approaches among those learned for planning a research project to answer a specific scientific question;
  • to organize and present a written report dealing with the development of a research project that address a specific scientific problem.

Acquisition of these skills will be tested through both discussion during lessons and evaluation of the Multidisciplinary Research Project (MRE).

 Making judgements: Students will be able to integrate data from the scientific literature with the acquired knowledge, to formulate independent judgements about the choice of methodologies and technical approaches relevant to the preparation of the Multidisciplinary Research Project (MRE).

Verification of judgement will be carried out through evaluation of Multidisciplinary Research Project (MRE).

Communication skills: Comprehension and practice of English language for oral and written communication. Preparation and presentation of the Multidisciplinary Research Project (MRE).

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Program

  1. Cell and molecular biology of animal viruses: the infectious cycle, the diversity of replicative strategies of DNA and RNA viruses. The SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  2. Basic techniques for virus cultivation and assay. Principles of diagnostic virology.
  3. Virus-host cell interactions. Pathogenesis of viral infections: dissemination, virulence and epidemiology. Oncogenic viruses and mechanisms of transformation and oncogenesis.
  4. Selected DNA virus lifecyles.
  5. Selected RNA virus lifecycles
  6. Prevention and control of viral infections and diseases. Antiviral drugs: mechanisms of action of approved molecules. Examples of the design, discovery, and validation of candidate antiviral compounds. Development of SARS-CoV-2 antivirals.
  7. Vaccine: a proven defense against viral infections. Examples of the discovery and development of candidate viral vaccine targets. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
  8.  Engineering viral genomes to deliver and express genes of interest. Rational design, development and applications of the most common viral vectors. Examples of viral vectors: AAV, Adenovirus, Baculovirus, Poxvirus, Retrovirus and Lentivirus, VSV). Examples of applications of viral vectors for protein expression, gene delivery, gene therapy, and vaccine development.
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Course delivery

All lectures will be delivered in presence, subject to updates on the measures adopted by UniTo which can be found on the University portal under "Provisions for those who study and work at UniTo" (see https://en.unito.it/studying-unito)
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Learning assessment methods

Exams will take place in presence, subject to updates on the measures adopted by UniTo which can be found on the University portal under "Provisions for those who study and work at UniTo" (see https://en.unito.it/studying-unito)
 
Academic conduct: The penalty for course-related dishonesty (ei. cheating on exams, plagiarism, etc) will be a failure for the entire course.
 
The final Virology grade may result from the following three activities: 

Midterm Multidisciplinary Test (MMT, optional) - This test will be in common with the courses of Advanced Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Cell Physiology, Oncology and Molecular Pathology, and Virology. It will be a Moodle-based test of 30 questions (8 for each course): 28 with a variety of formats (multiple choice, true/false, filling in checklists) and four open questions. The optional midterm Multidisciplinary test will give rise to additional points to the final grade of final exam of all courses, provided this will be passed in the first session (January-February 2023). Correspondence between Midterm Multidisciplinary Test vote and additional points for final exams is as follows: 22-23/32, 0.5 points; 24-25/32, 1 points; 26-27/32, 1.5 points; 28-30/32, 2 points. 

Multidisciplinary Research Essay (MRE, optional) - This at-home assignment will be in common with the courses of Advanced Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Cell Physiology, Oncology and Molecular Pathology, and Virology, and will refer to methodologies and technical approaches relevant to all courses. The essay (up to 2000 characters + figures, tables and references) will be prepared by groups of normally three students and orally presented for discussion with Teachers at the end of courses. The optional Multidisciplinary Research Essay will give rise to additional points to the final grade of final exam of each of the three courses, provided this will be passed in the first exam session (January-February 2023). Correspondence between vote to the Multidisciplinary Research Essay and additional points for final exams is as follows: 22-23, 0.5 points; 24-25, 1 points; 26-27, 1.5 points; 28-30, 2 points. 

Final exam - This exam will be a Moodle-based test of 11 questions with different formats (multiple choice, true/false, filling in checklists) and 6 open questions for a maximum grade of 32/30. Grading 31 and 32 will give rise to " 30 cum laude". Any additional points obtained by MMT and MRE will be added to the final exam of the first exam session (January-February 2023). 

 
 

 

 

Suggested readings and bibliography

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The material presented in class is available at the E-Learning (Moodle) platform (http://cmb.i-learn.unito.it/).

The following textbook is recommended and available at the DBIOS library:

Flint J., Racaniello V.R., Rall G.F., Hatziioannou T., Skalka AM. et al., Principles of Virology, vol. 1 and 2, 5th Ed. Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-683-67358-3, 2020.

 

 



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Class scheduleV

Notes: See the timetable at the Class Schedule Page

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    Enrollment opening date
    01/10/2022 at 00:01
    Enrollment closing date
    31/01/2023 at 23:59
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