Bi5420 General virology

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Ivo Rudolf, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Ivo Rudolf, Ph.D.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Ivo Rudolf, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
( Bi4020 Molecular biology || NOW( Bi4020 Molecular biology )) && ( Bi4090 General microbiology || NOW( Bi4090 General microbiology ))
Course has been established for students of orientation Biology (special biology, molecular biology and genetics) and also to other potential participants interested in virology.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course, participant should repeat, translate and apply general terms operating in virology, describe basic structure and morphology of viruses, define and translate strategy of replication of viral genome and interpret current taxonomy of viruses. Participant of the course should also characterize important viral diseases of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates including humans and interpret state of the art methods and diagnostic tools used in virology. Participant will employ acquired skills in basic and applied research in virology or in diagnostic laboratories.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, participant should repeat, translate and apply general terms operating in virology, describe basic structure and morphology of viruses, define and translate strategy of replication of viral genome and interpret current taxonomy of viruses. Participant of the course should also characterize important viral diseases of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates including humans and interpret state of the art methods and diagnostic tools used in virology.
Syllabus
  • Introduction to general virology; specific terms in virology; history of virology; basic characteristic of viral particles (morphology and structure of viruses, enveloped and non-enveloped viruses); chemical composition of viruses (nucleic acids, proteins, other components of viral particles); stability of viruses in environment and inactivation of viruses (effect of temperature, pH, chemical reagents, radiation); strategy of replication of viral genome - on basis of nucleic acid type (dsDNA, ssDNA, dsRNA, +ssRNA; -ssRNA, +ssRNA-RT, dsDNA-RT); bacteriophages (lytic and lysogenic cycle); virophages; cyanophages; plant viruses; viroids; viruses of invertebrates; pathogenesis of viral diseases (definition of terms: disease, virulence, viraemia, persistent and latent infection); typical modes of virus spread in host organism including subsequent excretion of viruses from host; viral diseases of animals; imported viral infections; oncoviruses; host response to viral infection (nonspecific and specific immunity); immunization against viral diseases (active and passive approach); basic principles of vaccination; composition and types of vaccines; vaccination strategy; chemotherapy of viral diseases; direct and indirect diagnostics of viruses in clinical virology; surveillance of viral diseases; safety measures in virological laboratory; good laboratory praxis - handling with viruses; viruses and biotechnology; classification and nomenclature of viruses - characteristic of particular virus families with emphasis on medically important agents; prions and prion ´s diseases.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • King, A.M.Q., Lefkowitz, E., Adams, M. J., Carstens, E. B. (2011). Virus Taxonomy: Ninth Report of the International Comittee on Taxonomy of Viruses, 1338 p.
  • COLLIER, L. H., Paul KELLAM and J. S. OXFORD. Human virology. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011, xiv, 365. ISBN 9780199570881. info
  • HUBÁLEK, Zdeněk and Ivo RUDOLF. Microbial Zoonoses and Sapronoses. 1st ed. Dordrecht-Heidelberg-London-New York: Springer, 2011, 457 pp. ISBN 978-90-481-9656-2. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9657-9. URL info
    not specified
  • CARTER, John B. and Venetia A. SAUNDERS. Virology : principles and applications. 2nd ed. Chichester: Wiley, 2013, xxix, 364. ISBN 9781119991434. info
  • NORKIN, Leonard C. Virology : molecular biology and pathogenesis. Washington, D.C.: ASM Press, 2010, xxiii, 725. ISBN 9781555814533. info
  • MAHY, B. W. J. A dictionary of virology. 4th ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2009, 510 s. ISBN 9780123737328. info
  • FLINT, S. Jane. Principles of virology. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: ASM Press, 2009, xx, 419. ISBN 9781555814809. info
  • RAJČÁNI, Július and Fedor ČIAMPOR. Lekárska virológia. 1. vyd. Bratislava: VEDA vydavateľstvo Slovenskej akadémie vied, 2006, 574 s. ISBN 8022409111. info
  • ROSYPAL, Stanislav. Úvod do molekulární biologie. Třetí inovované vydání. Brno, 2000, 300 pp. Díl III. Molekulární biologie virů. ISBN 80-902562-2-8. URL info
Teaching methods
Powerpoint presentation (slide projection) accompanied by showing of illustrations, schemes, photos and video projection. Students are continuously informed with "News in the field of Virology".
Assessment methods
Final evaluation is based on written test (Success rate 60%).
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/Bi5420