Updated 1/30/09
Virology BIO 315/515 Spring 2009 Lecture Syllabus
Professor:
Office:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Dr. Teri Shors
HS 155
shors@uwosh.edu
9:10-10:10 a.m. MWF or by Appointment
E-mail communications will receive rapid responses.
Lecture:
MWF 8:00-9:00 a.m. HS 175
Textbook:
Understanding Viruses, 1st Edition, Jones and Bartlett Publishers by Shors 2008
Course Description: BIO 315/515 Virology (3+0) 3 cr. (Spring)
Principles of animal and human molecular virology. Topics include replication, expression, pathogenesis, methods of
diagnosis and detection, current uses of viruses in gene therapy and vaccine applications, viruses and cancer and
other diseases, persistent infections, and emerging viruses. Prerequisite: BIO 323 (Introduction to Molecular and
Cell Biology) or consent of instructor.
Podcasting
BIO 315/515 lecture podcasts will be available on D2L. Podcasts will consist of both a screen
capture of powerpoint presentations along with the voiceover from lecture. Films cannot
podcasted.
D2L
Please check D2L at least weekly for content posted for this course. All content posted is fair game
for exams questions.
Common courtesy: Please turn off all cell phones, ipods, pdas, other bluetooth devices and pagers
prior to class. Please remove ear buds.
Course Objectives:
 To present the historical perspectives of virology.
 To introduce the idea that viruses and all microorganisms, whether pathogenic or benign, are important members
of the biosphere and have an important impact on our daily and future activities. This impact goes both ways.
 Virology is biology “writ small.” The principles studied here apply to all biological sciences. Virology is
intimately linked with molecular biology and biochemistry.
 To discuss the prospects of using medical technology to eliminate specific viral and other infectious diseases.
Virology and Promoting the Liberal Arts: A liberal arts education refers to studies in a college or university intended to provide general
knowledge and develop intellectual capacities. A liberal arts education prepares students to work in a variety of jobs. This is different from other
types of education where students develop professional or vocational skills for a specific job. The Biology, Microbiology and Medical
Technology Majors are offered at UW-Oshkosh within the College of Letters and Sciences (COLS). The COLS emphasizes a liberal arts
education. It promotes a liberal arts education model proposed by Carol Geary Schneider, president of the Association of American Colleges and
Universities since 1998. Schneider stresses the idea that ALL students receive an education of lasting value, relevant for the 21st century.
In her model learning should be: 1) "analytical, contextual and holistic thinking;" 2) "effective communication using multiple literacies and
forms of expression;" 3) "critical reflection/informed action as citizens, producers, human beings;" 4) "ethical action for local and global
communities;" and 5) "integrative learning."
At UW-Oshkosh, you will have a broad exposure to the liberal arts, while focusing on a topic that you are particularly interested in such as a
biology or microbiology. BIO 315 (Virology), is an elective course within all three of the aforementioned majors. Virology is important in not
only the study of infections and their treatment and prevention, but also in the unraveling of the most fundamental aspects of biology. This is
because viruses have an intimate relationship with the basic machinery of their host cells. Thus, research on how viruses reproduce themselves
and spread has given us many insights into the way in which the cells of our bodies function, leading in turn to a better understanding of the
whole organism and of how infective diseases may be prevented or cured.
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Updated 1/30/09
EXAM POLICY: If a student misses an exam because of extreme circumstances (e.g. death of a close relative or a
medical excuse), the student will be allowed to make up the exam ONLY if the instructor has been contacted
BEFORE the exam date. For medical excuses etc, documentation must be provided to confirm illness or
emergency. If this cannot be provided, the student will not be allowed to make up the exam.
GRADING:
There will be three 100 pt. lecture exams and a 200 pt. COMPREHENSIVE final exam. Exam format will be
multiple choice. The grading system/point breakdown below will be used for both undergraduates and graduate
students, however, if you are a graduate student, exams will be modified and more detail will be expected in
answering questions (e.g. an essay question(s) will be added to your exam).
UNDERGRADUATE EXAMS/ASSIGNMENTS
3 lecture exams
Comprehensive Final Exam
Other assignments to be announced in class.
TOTAL POINTS
A
AB
B
BC
C
CD
D
F
100-92%
91-88%
87-82%
81-77%
76-71%
70-64%
63-60%
<60%
Points Possible
300 pts.
200 pts.
100 pts.
600 PTS.
*Instructor reserves the right to adjust grades of
the entire class if necessary (e.g. curve).
Assignments: Information about assignments will be announced periodically in class.
Late Assignment Policy: The instructor will not accept a late assignment.
Academic Dishonesty: Your instructor will not tolerate academic dishonesty, in any form, and any case of
academic dishonesty that is detected will be dealt with according to University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh regulations.
Graduate Students: Graduate students are allowed to take this course as a 500 level course. Therefore, they will be
treated differently than undergraduates in the course. Graduate students will have the same number and points on
exams---however, their exams will be modified such that they will have some questions that will require more
thought provoking questions and detailed answers. Some questions may overlap with the undergraduate exams,
however, these questions will be graded harder by the discretion of the instructor.
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Updated 1/30/09
Tentative Lecture Syllabus
Period
1
2
3
4
Date
M Feb. 2
W Feb 4
F Feb 6
M Feb 11
Chapter
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
W Feb 9
F Feb 11
M Feb 14
W Feb 16
F Feb 18
M Feb 20
W Feb 23
F Feb 25
M Mar 2
W Mar 4
F Mar 6
M Mar 9
W Mar 11
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
18
19
20
21
F Mar 13
M Mar 16
W Mar 18
F Mar 20
Chapter 9
Chapter 13
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
M Mar 30
W Apr 1
F Apr 3
M Apr 6
W Apr 8
F Apr 10
M Apr 13
W Apr 15
F Apr 17
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Chapter 14
Chapter 14
W Apr 22
F Apr 24
M Apr 27
W Apr 29
F May 1
M May 4
W May 6
F May 8
M May 11
W May 13
Chapter 16
Chapter 16
42
F May 15
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 8
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 15
Chapter 17
Chapter 21
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Topic
Syllabus/Intro to Course View 30 minutes of Global Health Challenge Film
What are Viruses? History/Origin of Viruses
What are Viruses? History/Origin of Viruses
What are Viruses? History/Origin of Viruses/Applications of Viruses
Disease Triangle: Nipah Virus Film
Molecular Biology/Constraints of Host Cells
The Viral Replication Cycle/Virus Structure and Architecture
Virus Structure and Architecture/Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Diseases
Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Diseases
NIH Slide Show/Methods Slide Show
EXAM 1
City Water DVD
Mechanisms of Infection and Spread of Viruses through the Body
Mechanisms of Infection and Spread of Viruses through the Body
Epidemiology of Viral Infections
Immune System Overview/Vaccines
Immune System Cont. Short film: Your Immune System
Xenotransplantation
Mechanisms of Viral Oncogenesis
EXAM 2
Film: My Shocking Story (Papillomaviruses)
Mechanisms of Viral Oncogenesis/Retroviruses
Rabies
Spring Break: March 23-27
Influenza: Winnebago County Study Virology Class 2001
Influenza: An American Experience Film
Film: Hunt for Killer Flu
Influenza
Influenza
Polioviruses
Polioviruses
Poxviruses
Poxviruses
EXAM 3
HIV
HIV
HIV: Film: Surviving AIDS
Herpes Viruses
Hepatitis viruses
Bacteriophages
Prion Diseases
Film: The Brain Eaters NOVA
Film: Emerging Viruses
REVIEW
FINAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
The instructor reserves the right to change this syllabus at any time in the semester.
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