Virology - Biology W3310
Spring 2012
Virology - Biology W3310
Spring 2012
| This is a virology course offered each year in the spring semester. All course materials for the 2011 session are archived elsewhere. |
| Prerequisite: Two semesters of a rigorous, molecularly-oriented Introductory Biology course (such as C2005), or the Instructor's permission (vrr1@columbia.edu). |
| Course Name: Virology |
| Sessions: M, W 4:10 - 5:25 PM |
| Start date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 |
| Points: 3 |
| Location: Hamilton Hall 517 |
| Course #: Biology W3310.001 |
| Instructors: Prof. V. Racaniello, Prof. S. Silverstein |
| Description |
| The basic thesis of the course is that all viruses adopt a common strategy. The strategy is simple: 1. Viral genomes are contained in metastable particles. 2. Genomes encode gene products that promote an infectious cycle (mechanisms for genomes to enter cells, replicate, and exit in particles). 3. Infection patterns range from benign to lethal; infections can overcome or co-exist with host defenses. Despite the apparent simplicity, the tactics evolved by particular virus families to survive and prosper are remarkable. This rich set of solutions to common problems in host/parasite interactions provides significant insight and powerful research tools. Virology has enabled a more detailed understanding of the structure and function of molecules, cells and organisms and has provided fundamental understanding of disease and virus evolution. The course will emphasize the common reactions that must be completed by all viruses for successful reproduction within a host cell and survival and spread within a host population. The molecular basis of alternative reproductive cycles, the interactions of viruses with host organisms, and how these lead to disease are presented with examples drawn from a set of representative animal and human viruses, although selected bacterial viruses will be discussed. |
| Textbook |
| The recommended textbook is Principles of Virology. Vol I: Molecular Biology, Vol. II: Pathogenesis and Control (S.J. Flint et al., Third Edition, ASM Press 2009). |
| Other course resources |
| 1. Students are expected to read Prof. Racaniello's virology blog which will contain information relevant to the course. |
| 2. Students are expected to listen to the weekly podcast "This Week in Virology", produced by Prof. Racaniello, for additional material about viruses relevant to the course. You can subscribe to TWiV at iTunes or at the Zune Marketplace. |
| 3. Lecture slides (pdf) will be posted at Courseworks and at this website before each class. |
| 4. Videocasts of all lectures (slides plus audio) will be posted at Courseworks, at this website, and at iTunes University. |
| Lecture Schedule, Spring 2012 |
| Note on videocast files: Several file types are available - right-click and save as to download. |
| Date | Topic | Reading | Lecturer | Slides | Videocast (right click, save as) |
| 1/18 | Lecture 1 What is a virus? |
Flint vol 1 chapter 1 Are viruses living? What is a virus? Are viruses alive? (take the poll on the last webpage) |
VRR | iPod iPhone iPad mac pc |
|
| 1/23 | Lecture 2 The infectious cycle |
Flint vol 1 chapter 2 Influenza virus growth in eggs Influenza hemagglutination inhibition assay The amazing HeLa cells of Henrietta Lacks |
VRR | iPod iPhone iPad mac pc |
|
| 1/25 | Lecture 3 Genomes and genetics |
Flint vol 1 chapter 3 Simplifying virus classification: The Baltimore system Clinical benefit of lentiviral gene therapy in two patients with a rare neurological disease |
VRR | iPod iPhone iPad mac pc |
|
| 1/30 | Lecture 4 Structure of viruses |
Flint vol 1 chapter 4 Structure of influenza virus Virus images at ViperDB |
VRR | iPod iPhone iPad mac pc |
|
| 2/01 | Lecture 5 Attachment & entry |
Flint vol 1 chapter 5 Influenza virus attachment to cells Influenza virus attachment to cells - Role of different sialic acids |
VRR | iPod iPhone iPad mac pc |
|
| 2/06 | Lecture 6 RNA-directed RNA synthesis |
Flint vol 1 chapter 6 Influenza viral RNA synthesis The error prone ways of RNA synthesis |
VRR | iPod iPhone iPad mac pc |
|
| 2/08 | Lecture 7 Replication of DNA virus genomes |
Flint vol 1 chapter 9 | SJS | iPod iPhone iPad mac pc |
|
| 2/13 | Exam I | Lectures 1-7 | Review questions (pdf) |
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| 2/15 | Lecture 8 Transcription and RNA processing |
Flint vol 1 chapters 8, 10 | SJS | ||
| 2/20 | Lecture 9 Reverse transcription and integration |
Flint vol 1 chapter 7 A retrovirus is invading the Koala genome Unexpected endogenous viruses |
VRR | ||
| 2/22 | Lecture 10 Translation |
Flint vol 1 chapter 11 | VRR | ||
| 2/27 | Lecture 11 Assembly |
Flint vol 1 chapters 12, 13 Packaging of the segmented influenza RNA genome |
VRR | ||
| 2/29 | Lecture 12 Infection basics |
Flint vol 2 chapters 1,2 Transmission of influenza Chikungunya, an exotic virus on the move |
VRR | ||
| 3/05 | Lecture 13 Host defense |
Flint vol 2 chapter 4 The inflammatory response Natural antibody protects against viral infection |
VRR | ||
| 3/07 | Lecture 14 Viral evasion strategies |
Flint vol 2 chapters 3, 4 | SJS | ||
| 3/12 - 3/14 | Spring Recess | ||||
| 3/19 | Lecture 15 Virus-host interactions |
Flint vol 2 chapters 2, 4 Immunopathology - Too much of a good thing Severe cases of pandemic influenza |
VRR | ||
| 3/21 | Exam II | Lectures 8-15 | |||
| 3/26 | Lecture 16 Persistent infections |
Flint vol 2 chapter 5 Persistent viral infections |
SJS | ||
| 3/28 | Lecture 17 Acute infections |
Flint vol 2 chapter 5 Acute viral infections Chronology of an acute infection |
VRR | ||
| 4/02 | Lecture 18 HIV pathogenesis |
Flint vol 2 chapter 6 | VRR | ||
| 4/04 | Lecture 19 Transformation and oncogenesis |
Flint vol 2 chapter 7 | VRR | ||
| 4/09 | Lecture 20 Vaccines |
Flint vol 2 chapter 8 Influenza virus-like particle vaccine Poliovirus vaccine safety |
VRR | ||
| 4/11 | Lecture 21 Antiviral drugs |
Flint vol 2 chapter 9 New hepatitis C virus antiviral drugs An antiviral for enveloped viruses |
VRR | ||
| 4/16 | Lecture 22 Viral evolution |
Flint vol 2 chapter 10 pp 311-333 Virulence: A positive or negative trait for evolution? Increased fidelity reduces viral fitness |
VRR | ||
| 4/18 | Lecture 23 Emerging viruses |
Flint vol 2 chapter 10 Lujo virus, a new hemorrhagic fever virus from Southern Africa The zoonotic pool |
VRR | ||
| 4/23 | Lecture 24 Unusual infectious agents |
Flint vol 2 Appendix A Virophages engineer the ecosystem |
VRR | ||
| 4/25 | Lecture 25 XMRV, a new human retrovirus? |
Flint vol 1 chapter 7 Why John Coffin doesn't sleep well Authenticity of XMRV integration sites A tale of two viruses |
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| 4/30 | Lecture 26 TBA |
VRR | |||
| 5/07 | Final exam | Lectures 16-27 |
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