GENERAL VIROLOGY

 

Instructor: Dr. Judy Kandel

Contact information: Office: 364 MH Phone: 278-2546; e-mail jkandel@fullerton.edu

Office hours: Tues, Thurs 10 - 12

Text: Internet textbook resources:

Other online resources: http://www.tulane.edu/~dmsander/garryfavweb.html - All the Virology on the Web

Recommended if you want to purchase a text (available at Amazon.com):

Selected readings from the primary literature

Each class period will begin with an overview of the designated topic. You will be given a study guide for most topics. The online or text reading will serve as a resource for background; it will not be the primary focus of the course. You should be capable of determining the relevant sections to read. Ask for help if you have problems.

The course will emphasize exploring the primary literature as a way to introduce you to the techniques used to study viruses. You will be expected to have read each paper prior to class.

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TOPICS

 

DATE

The Concept of Viruses – Loeffler and Frosch; Beijerinck; La Scola et al.

 

Feb. 1

Structure of Viruses – Crick and Watson/One-step growth- Ellis and Delbruck

PowerPoint

Feb. 8

How to Isolate and Identify Viruses            PowerPoint

 – SARS paper

 

Feb. 15

 

Attachment - SARS receptor

PowerPoint

Module Article approved (5 points)

 

Feb. 22

Entry and exit mechanisms - Ebola entry

Module introduction due (5 points)

PowerPoint

Mar. 1

Replication - DNA viruses - Herpes simplex virus

PowerPoint

Mar. 8

Replication - RNA viruses – Flavivirus

Module First Experiment due (10 points)

PowerPoint

Mar. 15

Latency/Lysogeny/Symbiotic Viruses – Varicella Zoster virus

PowerPoint

Exam 1 distributed – due April 5

Mar. 22

The Challenge of Infecting Humans: Pathogenesis

PowerPoint

Apr. 5

Natural recovery and viral evasion strategies

Module First Draft due ( 10 points)

PowerPoint

Apr. 12

Minisymposium 1

 

Apr. 19

Effective vaccines/ Antiviral chemotherapy

PowerPointvacc       PowerPointchemo

Apr. 26

Minisymposium 2

Module second draft due

 

May 3

Tumor viruses/ Viruses and Gene Therapy

PowerPointtumor      PowerPointgt

Module Critique due (10 points)

 

May 10

Minisymposium 3        pdf

Exam 2 distributed – Due May 24

May 17

GRADES:

EXAMS: The exams will be distributed in class and must be typed (except for graphs or equations) and returned at the next class period. NO LATE EXAMS will be accepted. Unless otherwise indicated, the exams are to be completed on your own. Clarification of the questions should be addressed to the instructor.

PARTICIPATION: I expect you to attend class (2 pts each week for a total of 13 meetings and 26 points) and be prepared by having read the appropriate material. For some readings/weeks, there will be some homework due at the beginning of the class period. Five homework assignments, each worth 5 points, will be counted for a total of 25 points. Some of the class period will be spent on clarification of difficult concepts addressed in the reading, presentation of new information, and application of the conceptual material through discussions of the primary literature. You are expected to have read the papers and be prepared to discuss the question and/or hypothesis being tested, the background information leading to the hypothesis, methods used to generate data presented in tables and graphs, and the interpretation of the data. Participation in class discussions is a subjective grade worth 14 points. Three class periods will be conducted as minisymposia, where students read different papers related to a topic, and some material from each paper is presented. Each student will be responsible for one presentation. Participation in the three symposia counts for 35 points.

Grade distribution

§       A+ = 95%

§       A   = 90%

§       A-  = 88

§       B+ = 84

§       B   = 80%

§       B-  = 78

§       C+ = 74

§       C   = 70

§       C-  = 68

§       D+ = 64

§       D   = 60

§       D-  = 58

§       F >    58

I encourage you to give me feedback often. Occasionally I may ask for specific information about the clarity of material/presentation and the value of activities. You may also leave comments (anonymously if you wish) in my mailbox. If you prefer, you may e-mail me at jkandel@fullerton.edu

University drop policy states that if you want to drop after the drop deadline, you may drop with a W only if there is an emergency reason that is documented. Poor grades are not considered a reason to drop and you will receive an F for any course for which you have not received an official drop.

Cheating will not be tolerated in this course. Anyone found cheating on any assignment will receive a zero for that assignment and may be removed from the course with academic discipline. It is not worth it - if you have the appropriate prerequisites, attend class, read the material and study you will pass the course.

Biology majors can complete the University upper division writing requirement by successfully passing two biology elective courses that have been approved by the Writing Board. BIOL 426 is designated as a biology elective that can be used in partial fulfillment of the upper division writing requirement. Any student who has not completed the upper division writing requirement prior to completing this class must pass the writing assignment with a grade of C (70%) or better in order to pass the class and receive writing credit.

IF YOU ARE A SENIOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE MAJOR WHO IS PLANNING TO GRADUATE IN JUNE, AUGUST, or DECEMBER 2005/January 2006: You are required to take the Major Fields Test in Biology in order to graduate. There is no cost to you to take the exam, which is paid for by the Department of Biological Science. The exam will be offered on Thursday March 17 from 4 to 7 pm and Friday March 18 from 1 to 4 pm so please save one of these dates. You can sign up in the Department office MH282.

Sample modules at http://biology.fullerton.edu/biol302/Browser/litexplore.html