Virology

This course introduces the basic principles of virology. The focus will be on viruses that have been involved with epidemics, pandemics, and outbreaks, along with the strategies that they use to infect and propagate. The molecular biology of viruses and how viruses are able to accomplish so much with so little genetic information will be described. In addition, because viruses have had such an impact on our global societies, there will be an overview of the medical aspects of the diseases and the development of vaccines to immunize against the infection. The course will also introduce how viruses are used for targeted therapeutics (gene therapy). (ALS 488A)