Syllabus - Viruses -

This will be finalized in conjunction with the class, reflecting their particular needs and interests, and will include both student and faculty presentations.

Week

Topics and Activities

Readings

Week 1

Introductions: brief statement of backgrounds and particular focus.

Bacteriophages as models: basic phage biology chapter linked to program web page

Definitions, general classification, ecological and evolutionary overview

http://www.tulane.edu/~dmsander/WWW/224/Classification224.html,

http://www.virology .net/Big_Virology

(Cann, Ch. 1 and 2 – pg. 1-53 or Flint, pg. 1-61)

Week 2

Writing and small-group discussion: what do you know; what do you want most to learn?

Defining the questions -- your choice of a book about influenza epidemics, AIDS, or another emerging viral pathogen, used particularly to define some of the questions and problems and put viruses in a social context. (I encourage you to start this reading in advance, but I will have some books available that can be borrowed if you need one.) You will first hold discussions in smaller groups related to your particular virus, then present and discuss further with the whole class. Some suggestions:

1. Influenza (1918 pandemic to current Bird Flu concerns): John Barry; Pete Davies; Gina Kolata

2. HIV/AIDS; examples:

3. Extremely lethal, fast-acting viruses, such as Ebola, Lassa, Hanta: Virus Hunters of the CDC; Coming Plague

Coming Plague 281-390; Virus Hunters of the CDC 9-25 and 162-195; Randy Shilts (Band Played On) – and a number of others. [also recommended: first reading of Flint ch. 17 – 623-651, HIV pathogenesis, or HIV pieces in Cann]

Week 3

First integration paper due, setting your own stage after weeks 1 and 2.

Discussion of potential research topics and interests – begin to set up teams for projects, which will be presented in weeks 9 and 10.

Introduction to Immunology and viruses:

Macrophages, dendritic cells, epitope presentation and superantigens; T-cell responses

Snacks: Felix, Jessica D, Savahn

Janeway, 1-43, 69-85

Flint Ch. 15

Week 4

Large DNA Viruses: Herpes and Adenovirus
--> Herpes Packet for printing <-- (2.5Mb)

**Skim assigned book readings with particular attention paid to Herpes, Flu, Adeno, and Filoviridae.

Molecular Mechanisms of Phage Infection <-- (~13.9Mb) and other chapters from...

(Bacteriophages: Biology and Applications. CRC Press 2004, Ed. Kutter & Sulakvelidze)

Snacks: Diana, Heather, Josh

Flint 65-80; 109-124; 182-212; 253-324. Genomes Replication and Transcription. Cann 56-156.

Week 5

Shapes recognition and the course of the adaptive immune response to infection.

Snacks: Seamus, Jessica L, Teresa U.

Janeway 102-131; 665-681 (evolution) focus on shapes and recognition. Also of course the adaptive immune response to infection: Ch. 10 -esp. viral, T-cell

Week 6

T cell gene development and function; Vaccines

Immunology Workshop 2 <-- (20kb)

2nd Integration paper due

Snacks: Issac, Mike, Sonia

Janeway 319-361; Vaccines 642-657; Flint 703-725; Ch. 19; Cann see: Vaccine refs.

Week 7

Snacks: ?, Carly, Dealla

Week 8

Guest Speaker:

Heather Zwickey, Director of Research, Assistant Professor (immunology, research and statistics); Ph.D., from National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Portland, will be speaking about virsues and the immune system

Snacks: Kari, Brian, Trevor

Flint 540-545, 550-556

Week 9

Abstract
-annotated bibliography
-key papers

1 original article
-critique
-does it prove?
-questions it leaves
-well written

Copy of ppt.
-relevant readings for class

Jason, Savahn
Josh, Felix
Kari, Heather, Diana
Seth, Mike
Seamus

Snacks: Andrea, Emily, Chris

Week 10

Dealla, Jessica L, Jessica D, Teresa
Emily, Andrea
Adam, Chris, Trevor
Brian
Issac, Sarah

Snacks: Sara, Jason