Program Overview

Program Overview

The VIRO3901: Virology (Advanced) unit is designed for students who have performed well in Intermediate Microbiology and is based on VIRO3001. This unit introduces students with a basic understanding of molecular biology to the rapidly evolving field of virology.

Unit Description

Viruses are some of the simplest biological machinery known, yet they are also the etiological agents for some of the most important human diseases. New technologies have revolutionized the discovery of viruses, revealing a hitherto unappreciated abundance and diversity in the ecosphere, and a wider role in human health and disease. Developing new gene technologies have enabled the use of viruses as therapeutic agents, in novel vaccine approaches, gene delivery, and in the treatment of cancer.

Unit Details and Rules

• Study level: Undergraduate
• Academic unit: Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
• Credit points: 6
• Prerequisites: A mark of 65 or above in (MIMI2X02 or MEDS2004 or MICR2X22 or BMED2404)
• Corequisites: None
• Prohibitions: VIRO3001
• Assumed knowledge: Fundamental concepts of microorganisms, biomolecules, and ecosystems

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. LO1. Define the key characteristics of viruses that distinguish them from other agents of disease such as bacteria, sub-viral particles, and prions. Describe the role of viruses as agents of disease, their function in the ecosphere, abundance, and diversity.
2. LO2. Explain how different classes of viruses replicate, and the impact of genome type on replication and virus structure.
3. LO3. Explain how the immune system is able to combat viral infections and confer immunity, and the various ways viruses have evolved to circumvent this control mechanism. Explain how viral diseases emerge and the threat posed to public health. Explain how anti-viral drugs and vaccination act to limit virus replication.
4. LO4. Perform basic cell culture, fluorescence microscopy, diagnostic and molecular techniques used in a modern virology laboratory, and explain the scientific principles behind these techniques. Students are provided with a creative space to apply the principles of experimental design and relate their results to the existing literature.
5. LO5. Appraise new advances within the context of pre-existing knowledge and critically evaluate the primary literature in virological research.

Unit Availability

This unit is available in various sessions, including Semester 1 of different years, with different modes of attendance and locations. The unit outline, which includes assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities, is published two weeks before the first day of teaching. Previous outlines can be viewed for a guide to the details of the unit.

Additional Advice

Students are strongly advised to complete VIRO3001 or VIRO3901 before enrolling in VIRO3002 or VIRO3902. The unit will be taught by the Discipline of Microbiology within the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, with the involvement of the Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology within the Sydney Medical School. Students will engage directly with virology researchers at the University of Sydney and their primary research, developing their communication and critical thinking skills.