Course: Virology

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Course title Virology
Course code KBB/OBVSB
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Exercise
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory, Compulsory-optional, Optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Grycová Aneta, Mgr. Ph.D.
  • Navrátil Milan, prof. RNDr. CSc.
  • Jiravová Jana, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
Lecture of General Virology: - Introduction and history to virology, subcellular pathogens. - Basic characteristics of subviral pathogens (viroids, satellites, viriforms, prions). - Virus structure and architecture, organisation of the viral genome, taxonomy and classification of viruses, the quasi-species theory, the origin and evolution of viruses. - The viral life cycle, the Baltimore classification system; replication, transcription and translation strategies of DNA and RNA viruses. - Viral pathogenesis and the host's immune response, innate and adaptive immunity, antiviral strategies. - Vaccines and prevention (live, attenuated and inactivated vaccines; subunit, mRNA and viral vector platforms); collective immunity and eradication strategies. - Virus ecology, epidemiology of viral infections, natural foci, transmission and spread of viruses in time and space. - Oncogenic viruses, mechanisms of viral transformation, inactivation of tumour suppressors and activation of oncogenes, virus-associated tumours in humans. - Laboratory methods in virology, immunochemical and molecular methods for virus detection (ELISA, PCR, RT-qPCR, sequencing), isolation and maintenance of viral isolates. Practical seminar: Safety and standards of work in virological laboratory. Electron microscopy in the study of viruses. Mechanical transmission of plant virus. Determination of viral antigen by double immunodiffusion. Virus detection by DAS-ELISA. Determination of IgG antibodies against varicella virus by ELISA. Determination of the concentration of phage particles by plaque method. Excursion to microbiological diagnostic laboratory.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming)
Learning outcomes
The aim is to provide students with knowledge of viral and subviral pathogens, focusing on their molecular properties, structure, organisation and expression of the genome, life cycle, pathogenesis, defence mechanisms and preventive measures, and their ecology. Emphasis is placed on the ability of the student to independently and accurately realize the experiment according to written instructions.
Student is able to (after attending the course): - Describe the sub-cellular organiosms and principles of their classification (viruses, viriods, satellites, priones). - Describe the reproduction cycles of viruses. - Describe the interactions virus-host and main phases of pathogenesis. - Describe the principles of defence against and preventive measures against viral infections. - Describe the main factors for understanding the epidemiology of viral diseases. - Perform basic experiments focused on detection of viruses by immunoenzymatic methods. - Write the protocol/report and discuss the results.
Prerequisites
A general knowledge of biology and genetics.

Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam

credit: Attendance at practical seminar, protocols elaboration. exam: Written test extent of the lectures, min. 70%.
Recommended literature
  • Bednář, M., Fraňková, V., Schindler, J., Souček, A., Vávra, J. (1996). Lékařská mikrobiologie. Marvil.
  • Kůdela, V. a kol. (1989). Obecná fytopatologie. Praha.
  • Navrátil M. (2011). Základy virologie: Obecná virologie. Olomouc.
  • Votava, M. (2005). Lékařská mikrobiologie obecná. Brno.
  • Žemla, J., Čiampor, F., Labuda, M. (1995). Špeciálna virologie. Bratislava.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (2019) Category: Chemistry courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Molecular and Cell Biology (2021) Category: Biology courses 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Biology and Ecology (2020) Category: Biology courses 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Winter