VIDEOS FOR THE INTRODUCTORY PART
Learning outcomes
1. Define virology and explain its scope and importance in the broader field of microbiology.
- Key Points:
- Understand the definition of virology as the study of viruses and virus-like agents.
- Recognize the role of virology in understanding infectious diseases and its impact on human health, agriculture, and ecosystems.
2. Articulate the significance of studying virology in modern science and medicine.
- Key Points:
- Describe how viruses impact human health, agriculture, and global ecosystems.
- Explain the importance of viruses in genetic research, vaccine development, and biotechnology.
- Understand the role of viruses in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
3. Summarize the key historical milestones in the discovery and study of viruses.
- Key Points:
- Identify the early discoveries of viruses, such as the work of Dmitri Ivanovsky and Martinus Beijerinck on the Tobacco Mosaic Virus.
- Discuss the significance of the discovery of bacteriophages by Félix d’Hérelle and Frederick Twort.
- Explore the development of the electron microscope and its impact on visualizing viruses.
- Understand the role of pivotal moments, like the discovery of the HIV virus and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, in shaping modern virology.
4. Differentiate between conventional viruses and unconventional infectious agents like prions and viroids.
- Key Points:
- Define and describe prions, viroids, and other unconventional infectious agents.
- Explain how prions differ from traditional viruses in structure and mode of infection.
- Understand the diseases associated with prions (e.g., Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) and viroids (e.g., plant diseases like Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid).
- Discuss the implications of these unconventional agents for public health and agriculture.
Overall Course Goal
- By the end of this course, students should be able to define key concepts in virology, understand the historical context and significance of viruses, and distinguish between conventional viruses and unconventional infectious agents. They should be able to critically assess the impact of virology on science, medicine, and society.