| Course ID: | PATH 3020E. 3 hours. |
| Course Title: | Viruses: Biology and Impact |
Course
Description: | Viral epidemics have had and continue to have major effects on
world history and human affairs. Using case studies of primarily
animal and plant viruses, students will develop a better
understanding of virus biology and how viral diseases impact food
production, health, and society. |
| Oasis Title: | Viruses Biology and Impact |
| Nontraditional Format: | This course will be taught 95% or more online. |
| Prerequisite: | [(BIOL 1103 or BIOL 1103E) and BIOL 1103L)] or [(BIOL 1104 or BIOL 1104H) and BIOL 1104L) or [(BIOL 1107 or BIOL 1107E or BIOL 1107H) and BIOL 1107L] or [(BIOL 1108 or BIOL 1108H) and BIOL 1108L] or (PBIO 1220 and PBIO 1220L) |
Semester Course
Offered: | Offered summer semester every year. |
| Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
|
| Course Objectives: | The course is designed for students with science and non-science
majors to develop an appreciation and a better understanding of
viruses and how viruses have impacted and continue to impact
civilization by causing plant and zoonotic diseases. It will
provide students with a basic knowledge of virology, an
understanding of the threats imposed by viruses, and the social
and economic implications and costs of virus diseases. Students
will also gain insight into how newly emerging virus diseases
could affect the global population and trade. Students will be
able to read and understand news stories about viruses and virus
diseases and be able to hold an intelligent conversation about
the subject in professional and non-professional environments.
The student, as a future leader in society, will be able to make
informed decisions and choices for the allocation of one-health
resources in society. |
| Topical Outline: | Topic 1: Introduction to virology
Historic outline of viruses and virus diseases
Topic 2: What are viruses?
Architecture of plant and animal viruses
Nucleic acid composition of viruses
Topic 3: Taxonomy and disease symptomatology
Nomenclature (ICTV); symptomatology
Topic 4: Virus diseases and global change
Topic 5: Animal virus reservoirs: can your pets be sources of
viruses?
Topic 6: Animal virus vectors
Topic 7: Vaccines and controlling viral diseases
Topic 8: Plant viruses: Tobacco mosaic virus - 100 years of
plant virology
Topic 9: Insect or plant virus: Bunyaviruses
Topic 10: Do plant viruses cause diseases in humans?
Topic 11: Transgenic plants and controlling plant virus diseases
Topic 12: Diagnosis of virus diseases - conventional and
molecular techniques
Topic 13: Economic impact of virus diseases
Topic 14: Movement of viruses by vectors and virus management in
the age of globalization
Topic 15: Emerging/recent outbreaks of virus diseases in plants
and animals
Topic 16: Viroids and prions - Infectious agents smaller than
viruses |