BIOLOGY 381: MEDICAL VIROLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON
COURSE SYLLABUS SPRING 2016
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Viral pathogens are responsible for a significant number of human diseases ranging from the mild
disease to HIV/AIDS. This upper level undergraduate course will cover the principles of virology,
including the structure, classification, replication, pathogenesis and viral diversity, disease
mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Students will learn about important viral diseases in
humans and animals. Students are introduced to current and potential future pandemic viral pathogens.
This provides insight into the principles that govern the emergence, evolution, transmission and
control of these viruses and viral vaccination. More specifically, the lectures will focus principally on
8 families of viruses that cause significant human diseases: Herpesviruses (Herpes Simplex), and other
dsDNA viruses, Reoviruses (Rotavirus) and other dsRNA viruses, Picornaviruses (Poliovirus), and
other ssRNA viruses Orthomyxoviruses (Influenza virus), Paraorthomyxoviruses (Respiratory
Syncytial Virus), Retroviruses (HIV) and other reverse transcribing RNA viruses, Hepadnaviruses
(Hepatitis B) and other reverse transcribing DNA Viruses and all other viral hepatitis, as well as
Human papillomavirus (HPV). This course will introduce students to transformation and oncogenesis
and will learn how viral infection can contribute to malignancy or congenital malformation. Students
will also learn about bacteriophages, prions, origin of viruses and emergence of new viruses.
Throughout this course, we will look at ways in which these viruses causes disease and how aspects
of their biology can be targeted for treatments. This course also provides an overview of the immune
system and provides the appropriate knowledge and understanding of the basis of immune system
response to viral infectious diseases.
Along with lectures, the students will also have an opportunity to study another virus group of their
choosing through a written paper and/or a short classroom presentation.
In summary: course will focus on areas of biology that very interesting, and students are introduced to
the clinically applied aspect of virology and the diagnosis of disease. Students will learn everything
from how viruses’ causes disease, induced cancer, or contribute to congenital malformation as well as
immune response to viral infectious diseases, viral diagnosis, and various approaches used to control
viral diseases, viral vaccination and treatment. Overall, students will gain a fundamental understanding
of viral structure, pathogenesis, epidemiology and control of important viral infection in human.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
On completion of these courses, students will be able to:
1
1. Explain the principles of virology, including the structure, replication, classification and
diversity of viruses.
2. Describe the viral virulence mechanisms, control, viral vaccination and therapeutic
intervention.
3. Describe the pathogenesis of selected viruses (eg. herpesviruses, rotaviruses, Flu viruses,
paramyxoviruses, polioviruses, HIV, HPV, and viral hepatitis) hat cause significant human
diseases across lifespan.
4. Describe how viral infection can contribute to malignancy or congenital malformation.
5. Describe how interactions among environmental context, heredity, age, and race/ethnicity
affect the incidence and prevalence of selected viral infection diseases.
6. Describe how interactions between the host immune response and viral infection.
7. Synthesize and apply current research based knowledge about the pathophysiologic
processes underlying important selected viral infection.
INSTRUCTOR:
Nazy Kermani DVM; MPH; PhD
Email: nazy.kermani@umb.edu
Office: Integrated Science Complex (ISC), Rm 4760, (4th floor ISC Building).
Phone: 617-287-3293
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12-1:00 pm, or by appointment.
Please feel welcome to talk with the instructor about any aspect of the course or your university
education in general. Please note that just before lecture is usually a busy time.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
You are responsible for understanding all of the course rules and regulations
that are described in this syllabus. Please read the syllabus carefully.
LECTURES:
Lectures times: Tues and Thurs, 4:00 – 5:15 pm.
Room: W-1-029 (1st floor Wheatley Building).
PREREQUISITES:
Bio 381 Medical Virology (3 credits) lecture course is designed for biology and sciences majors
students, as well as nursing and other health related fields students. The course will provide an
understanding of the scientific basis of established and novel medical virology concepts that are
required for students preparing for admission to professional schools in medicine, veterinary, dentistry,
2
pharmacy, and nursing and to graduate programs in health related fields.
The following prerequisites for Biology 381 must be met: Biol 210 or Biol 212 Cell Biology or
permission from Dr. Kermani.
This course will require a good understanding of cell biology (transcription, translation and DNA
replication). If you signed up for the course but have not met all of the prerequisites, you must see Dr.
Kermani. You may be dropped from the course at a later date.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Textbook Virology: Principles and Applications: by John Carter, Venetia Saunders,
2nd Edition, 2013. John Wiley, Publisher.
Some library research and PubMed searches to be done by students will also be required.
Reserve Room - Healey Library: A copies of the above Virology Textbook and the
Reference book of Virology: 2 Volumes by S.J. Flint, 3rd Edition, 2013, are on reserve at
Healey Library.
PowerPoint lectures will be posted on Blackboard.
TEACHING METHODS:
Lectures 3 hours/week: Lectures will present information on concepts that will be needed for
future lectures; therefore, regular class attendance is important. Lectures will emphasize and
expand on specific aspects of the book chapter and/or scientific journals. Students are expected
to bring questions and have in-depth discussions of class content.
Important note: Students should study lectures material that covered in the class, exams will
be based on class lectures (≈95%).
ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to attend all lectures. Participation accounts for 5% extra credit of your
final grade. Your lecture participation grade will be determined by your response to iClicker
questions. Questions will be asked during each class. Your response (regardless of accuracy) will
be used for your grade. In addition, if your answer is correct you also get extra points. Two
absences will be excused. This allows for any unavoidable absences or possible problems with
your iClicker; no additional consideration will be taken. It is your responsibility to come to class
with the iClicker. If you must miss a lecture, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed,
including any announcements.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
It is important that you read and study all of the assigned material.
EXAMS:
3 exams of multiple choice, true/false, and short essay questions. There will be 2 class exams
3
plus a final exam. The final exam will be given during the final exam period, it is
comprehensive, and that is, it covers material from the entire course. However, there will be
a more emphasis on material covered since the second exam.
CONFLICTS:
All students must take exams at the scheduled times. This policy is strictly enforced. It is your
responsibility to take exams at the scheduled times. If the examination time conflicts in an
emergency situation, please contact Dr. Kermani to arrange an alternate time. Usually, no
make-up exams will be given without a documented medical excuse.
GRADING:
Exam 1
25%
Exam 2
25%
Final Exam
40%
Scholarly Paper 10%
Your participation and correct answer to I clicker questions accounts for 5% extra credit of your
final grade. Also additional 5% extra credit can be obtained by giving a short classroom presentation.
SCHOLARLY PAPER:
Students will have the opportunity to write a 5-10 page paper on primary literature on a virus not
covered in the lecture. The paper will include:
1. Description of the exemplar (viral structure, classification, epidemiology).
2. Description of the pathologic process.
3. Control and therapeutic intervention of viral pathogen.
4. Current inconsistencies and debates in theoretical and empirical literature, if any
5. References.
Scholarly paper is required for the course and accounts for 10% of your final grade. It is due on
Thursday April 28th. You should upload on Blackboard (Paper assignment) before or on April
28th (11:59pm eastern time). Note: Past due paper will not be graded.
PRESENTATIONS (OPTIONAL):
Students will also have the opportunity to make a short classroom presentation for 5% extra credit.
INCOMPLETES:
The grade of incomplete is given only when a specific component of the course cannot be completed
due to illness or other extenuating circumstances. To request an incomplete, you must be passing the
course. These are University regulations.
BLACKBOARD LEARNS:
Blackboard learns will be used for distributing course materials (lecture slides, handouts, etc.) and
announcements. Students are encouraged to use the site regularly. Students can download lecture
4
materials and handouts before each lecture. Lecture materials will be posted on the Blackboard every
week for downloading.
CELL PHONES:
Use of cell phones and other electronic devices in class is strictly prohibited. They must be
POWERED OFF.
TIPS FOR DOING WELL IN THE COURSE:
 Go to every lecture. Pay close attention and take notes, making special note of concepts that are
confusing and questions you have about the material.
 Read the lecture and also textbook in advance of lecture but then review it again soon after
lecture in light of your lecture notes and lecture printouts.
 Know lecture material and your textbook: While studying, pay attention to the big picture—the
underlying concepts that tie the material together.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
The University of Massachusetts Boston is committed to providing appropriate academic
accommodations for all students with disabilities. If you have a disability and feel you will
need accommodations in this course, please contact:
The Ross Center for Disability Services Campus Center, Upper Level, Room 211 (617-287
7430). http://www.umb.edu/academics/vpass/disability
After registering with the Ross Center, a student should present and discuss the
accommodations with the professor. Although a student can request accommodations at
any time, we recommend that students inform the professor of the need for
accommodations by the end of the Add/Drop period to ensure that accommodations are
available for the entirety of the course.
CODE OF CONDUCT AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
It is the expressed policy of the University that every aspect of academic life--not only formal
coursework situations, but all relationships and interactions connected to the educational process-shall be conducted in an absolutely and uncompromisingly honest manner. The University requires
that any work submitted for academic credit is the student’s own and complies with University
policies, including policies on appropriate citation and plagiarism. These policies are spelled out in
the Code of Student Conduct, which can be found at this website: The Code is available online at:
http://www.umb.edu/student services/student rights/code conduct.html.
Students are required to adhere to the Code of Student Conduct, including requirements for academic
honesty. Penalties for academic misconduct in the course, including plagiarism and cheating, are
strictly enforced, and the penalties are very serious. Penalties include an F in the assignment or exam,
an F in the course, or suspension from the University. If you have questions about what constitutes
plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, see Dr. Kermani or the Teaching Assistant before
completing an assignment or exam.
5
Ignorance of the rules does not excuse any academic conduct violation.
The University defines violations to include, but not be limited to the following:








Submitting as one’s own an author’s published or unpublished work (e.g. material from a journal,
Internet site, newspaper, encyclopedia), in whole, in part, or in paraphrase, without fully and
properly crediting the author.
Submitting as one’s own work or materials obtained from another student, individual, or agency
without full and proper attribution.
Submitting as one’s own work material that has been produced through unacknowledged or
unauthorized collaboration with others.
Submitting substantially the same work to more than one course (i.e., dual or multiple
submissions) without prior approval from all instructors involved.
Using any unauthorized material during an examination, such as notes, tests, calculators, cell
phones, or other electronic devices.
Obtaining answers to examination questions from another person with or without that person’s
knowledge; furnishing answers to examination questions to another student; using or distributing
unauthorized copies of or notes from an examination.
Submitting as one’s own an examination taken by another person; or taking an examination in
another person’s place.
Interfering with an instructor’s ability to evaluate accurately a student’s competence or
performance; misleading any person in connection with one’s academic work.
QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS?
Or, just want to discuss the course, see Dr. Kermani. I am here to help you succeed.
6
BIOLOGY 381- MEDICAL VIROLOGY-SPRING 2016
Syllabus: Lecture Schedule
Week
Date
1
Jan. 26 (Tu)
3
Chapter 1
Feb. 2 (Tu)
Viral Diagnosis
Feb. 4 (Th)
Viral Replication and Life cycle
 Viral attachment
 Transcription, Translation, and
Transport
 Viral genome replication
 Viral assembly and exit
 Patterns of virus infections
(principles of pathogenesis)
Chapter 2
(Material covered in the
Lectures)
Partial Chapters 5, 6, 7
and 8
Material covered in the
lectures
Feb. 9 (Tu)
Viral Classification
Herpesviruses and other dsDNA
Viruses
 Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2
 Varicella-Zoster virus
 Epstein-Barr virus
 Human cytomegalovirus
 Haman herpesvirus 6 and 7
 Haman herpesvirus 8 (Kapopsi’s
sarcoma)
Chapters 10 and 11
Material covered in the
lectures
Picornaviruses and other ssRNA
viruses
 Poliovirus
 Rhinovirus,
 Foot-and-Mouth disease virus
 Coxsackieviruses
 Hepatitis A virus
Chapter 14
Material covered in the
lectures
Feb. 11 (Th)
4
Readings
Introduction to Virology
 What are viruses?
 Medical importance of viruses
 History and properties of viruses
 Human microbiome
Virus Structure
Virus transmission
Jan. 28 (Th)
2
Topic
Feb. 16 (Tu)
Fib. 18 (Th)
7
Chapters 3 and 4
Only material covered in
the lectures)
5
6
Feb. 23 (Tu)
Reoviruses and other dsRNA Viruses
 Rotavirus
Feb. 25 (Th)
EXAM 1 (75 minutes)
March 1 (Tu)
Orthomyxoviruses and other ssRNA
viruses

March 3 (Th)
7
March 8 (Tu)
11
12
Influenza Virus
Chapter 22
Material covered in the
lectures
Retroviruses and other Reverse
transcribing RNA Viruses
 HIV/AIDS (unique, major
worldwide impact)
 Pediatric AIDS (PAIDS)
Chapters 17 and 18
Material covered in the
lectures
March 31 (Th)
Hapadnaviruses and other Reverse
Transcribing DNA Viruses
 Hepatitis B Virus
 Other viral hepatitis (Hepatitis A,
C, D, E and E)
Chapter 19
Material covered in the
lectures
Partial Chapter 14
April 5 (Tu)

April 7 (Th)
EXAM 2 (75 minutes)
Chapter 23
Material covered in the
lectures
April 12 (Tu)
Transformation and Oncogenesis
Viruses and Cancer
 HPV-Linked cancer (HPV)
 Polyomavirus-Linked cancer
 Epstein-Barr- Linked cancer
 Kaposi’s Sarcoma
 Adult T Cell Leukemia
 HBV and HC- linked hepatocellular
carcinoma
March 22 (Tu)
March 24 (Th)
10
Chapter 16
Material covered in the
lectures
Paramyxoviruses
 Parainfluenza Virus
 Measles
 Mumps
 Respiratory syncytial virus
March 10 (Th)
9
Chapter 13
Material covered in the
lectures
March 29 (Tu)
April 14 (Th)
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
8
Chapter 23
Material covered in the
lectures
13
14
15
16
April 19 (Tu)
Viruses and Cancer continued
April 21 (Th)
Bacterial Viruses (Bacteriophage)
April 26 (Tu)
Origins and evolution of Viruses
April 28 (Th)
Emerging Viruses
Virus Vaccines
May 3 (Tu)
Anti-viral Drugs
May 5 (Th)
Anti-viral Drugs continued
Prion
May 10 (Tu)
Host defenses against viral infections
Chapter 23
Material covered in the
lectures
Chapter 20
Material covered in the
lectures
Chapter 21
Material covered in the
lectures
Chapters 22 and 25
Material covered in the
lectures
Chapter 26
Material covered in the
lectures
Chapter 27
Material covered in the
lectures
May 12 (Th)
16
May 16-20
FINAL EXAM WEEK
(Room W-1-034)
Note: Important dates:
Monday, February 1: Add/Drop Period Ends
Wednesday, April 20: Pass/Fail and Course Withdrawal Deadline.
Note: The Final Exam will be given during Final Exam Period, May 16-20. You must be available
during exam dates. The exact date and time are set by the Registrar’s Office and will be announced.
The Final Exam is comprehensive; that is, it covers the entire semester. However, there will be a more
emphasis on material covered since the second exam.
9