Updated 1/25/10
Virology BIO 315/515 Spring 2010 Lecture Syllabus
Professor:
Office:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Dr. Teri Shors
HS 155
shors@uwosh.edu
Wednesday 11:30-1:30 or Thursday 8-9 am or by Appointment.
Please allow 48 hours for E-mail communications.
Lecture:
MWF 8:00-9:00 a.m. HS 175
Textbook:
Understanding Viruses, 1st Edition, Jones and Bartlett Publishers by T. Shors 2008. Students are
responsible for all material in each chapter unless specified by the instructor. Therefore, preparation for exams
should include reading the chapter material assigned for each lecture exam.
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 UWOshkosh 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
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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.
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 theses 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. Please give the instructor 48 hours
to respond to e-mails.
Undergraduate and Graduate GRADING:
There will be three 100 pt. lecture exams and a 200 pt. COMPREHENSIVE final exam. Exam format will be
multiple choice. Ten 10% of your grade is attendance. There will also be 40 points worth of assignment(s). 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
Attendance
Other Assignments (to be announced in class)
TOTAL POINTS
Points Possible
300 pts.
200 pts.
60 pts.
40 pts.
600 PTS.
GRADUATE EXAMS/ASSIGNMENTS
Points Possible
3 lecture exams
300 pts.
Comprehensive Final Exam
200 pts.
Essay Questions on Exams (1 per exam, 20 points each)
80 pts.
Attendance
60 pts.
Other Assignments (to be announced in class)
40 pts.
45 minutes Oral Presentation
100 pts.
Class Participation (5 pts per week)*
70 pts.
TOTAL POINTS
850 PTS.
*It is expected that graduate students will ask questions or contribute to lecture discussions each week.
GRADING BIO315/515:
A
100%-92%
A91%-88%
B+
87%-86%
B
85%-81%
B80%-78%
C+
77%-76%
C
75%-71%
C70%-69%
D+
68%-66%
D
65-63%
D62-60%
F
<60%
4.00
3.67
3.33
3.00
2.67
2.33
2.00
1.67
1.33
1.00
0.67
0.00
*Instructor reserves the right to adjust grades of
the entire class if necessary (e.g. curve).
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Assignments: Information about assignments will be announced periodically in class.
Late Assignment Policy: The instructor will not accept a late assignment. Assignments are due at the beginning
of the class period.
Attendance: Attendance will be taken randomly throughout the semester at the beginning of class. Students
will earn 5 points if they are present at the beginning of class (8 am).
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 must
adhere to specific objectives that are substantially more rigorous 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 an additional essay exam question (worth 20 points) that will require more thought and detailed
answers. Graduate students will also be required to give a 45 minute presentation on an assigned topic. More details
will be provided at a later date.
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Tentative Lecture Syllabus
Period
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Date
M Feb. 1
W Feb 3
F Feb 5
M Feb 8
W Feb 10
F Feb 12
M Feb 15
W Feb 17
F Feb 19
M Feb 22
W Feb 24
F Feb 26
M Mar 1
W Mar 3
F Mar 5
M Mar 8
W Mar 10
F Mar 12
M Mar 15
W Mar 17
F Mar 19
Chapter
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
M Mar 29
W Mar 31
F Apr 2
M Apr 5
W Apr 7
F Apr 9
M Apr 12
W Apr 14
F Apr 16
M Apr 19
W Apr 21
F Apr 23
M Apr 26
W Apr 28
F Apr 30
M May 3
W May 5
F May 7
M May 10
W May 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Chapter 17
Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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F May 14
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 8
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Chapter 13
Chapter 12
Chapter 15
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Topic
Syllabus/Intro to Course View
Disease Triangle: Nipah Virus Film What are Viruses?
What are Viruses? History/Origin of Viruses/Applications of Viruses
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
Dirty Jobs: Wild Goose Chase
EXAM 1
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
The History of Medicine, Clinical Trials, Gene Therapy, Xenotransplantation
Mechanisms of Viral Oncogenesis
Film: My Shocking Story (Papillomaviruses)
EXAM 2
Rabies
Influenza: An American Experience Film
Spring Break: March 21-27
Influenza: Winnebago County Study Virology Class 2001
Film: Hunt for Killer Flu
Influenza
Influenza
Polioviruses
Polioviruses/ The Final Inch HBO documentary on Polio Eradication in India (38 minutes)
Poxviruses
Hepatitis viruses
HIV
HIV
HIV: Film: Surviving AIDS
EXAM 3
Herpes Viruses
Viroids and Prion Diseases
Film: The Brain Eaters NOVA
Graduate Student Presentation: Yellow Fever Virus
Graduate Student Presentation: Chikungunya Virus
Graduate Student Presentation: Baculovirus
Graduate Student Presentation: Dengue Fever Virus
REVIEW
FINAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
The instructor reserves the right to change this syllabus at any time in the semester.
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