Virology (Theory)

Paper Code: 
24DMBL803
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
04
Objective: 

The aim of this course is to acquaint the students with versatile tools and techniques employed in Virology.  Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: Contrast differences in virus architecture and classification, distinguish characteristics of normal cells and virus-infected plant, animal and bacterial cells. The course will also help to train students in strategizing research methodologies employing virology techniques.

12.00
Unit I: 
General Virology

Brief outline on discovery of viruses; nomenclature and classification of viruses- Baltimore and schemes of ICTV/ICNV; distinctive properties and ultra-structure of viruses (plant, animal and prokaryote); Virus related particles – viroids, prions.

12.00
Unit II: 
Cultivation and Assay of viruses

Cultivation in embryonated eggs, Experimental animals, cell cultures; primary, secondary, suspension and monolayer cell culture, Cell lines and transgenic systems; serological methods-Haemagglutination& HAI, complement fixation; immunofluorescence methods, ELISA and Radioimmunoassay; assay of viruses-physical and chemical methods (protein, nucleic acid, radioactivity tracers, electron microscopy)-infectivity assay (plaque method end point method)- Infectivity assay of plant viruses.

12.00
Unit III: 
Viruses of Prokaryotes

Bacteriophages: Structural organization, Replication of phages (Lytic and Lysogeny cycle), Stages of one step growth curve, Burst size, bacteriophage typing, Application of bacteriophage in bacterial genetics, Salient features of M13, T7, T4, Lambda  P1 and General account of Cyanophages.

12.00
Unit IV: 
Plant viruses

Effect of viruses on plants- internal and external symptoms; virus disease of plants-Rice Tungro, Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl and Sugarcane Mosaic; Transmission of plant virus with vectors (insects, nematodes, fungi) and without vectors (contact, seed and pollens), Prevention of crop loss due to virus infection- virus free planting material; vector control.

12.00
Unit V: 
Animal viruses

Epidemiology, life cycle, pathogen city, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of RNA viruses- Picorna virus family- Poliomyelitis, Orthomyxoviruses- influenza, Paramyxoviruses- Mumps, Measles, HIV; DNA viruses; Pox virus- Variola and Vaccina, Herpes virus- Varicella Zoster virus, Hepatitis viruses, Arthropod borne (arbo) Viral disease- Dengue, Coronovirus- SARS-CoV-2, Filovirus- Ebolavirus, Henipavirus- Nipah, interferon and antiviral drugs.

ESSENTIAL READINGS: 

ESSENTIAL READINGS:

  • Dimmock, N.J. and Primrose, S.B. Introduction to Modern Virology. VI. Edition, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. 2007.
  • Pelczar, M. J., Reid, R. D., & Chan, E. C. Microbiology (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. 2001.
  • Willey, J. M., Sherwood, L., Woolverton, C. J., Prescott, L. M., & Willey, J. M. Prescott’s Microbiology. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2011.
  • Matthai, W., Berg, C. Y., & Black, J. G. Microbiology, Principles and Explorations. Boston, MA: John Wiley & Sons. 2005.
  • Mehrotra, R.S. and Aneja, K.R. An Introduction to Mycology, New Age International Publishers. 2015.
  • Mathews, R.E. Functionals of plant virology. Academicpress, San Diego. 2012.
  • Principles of Virology, Fourth Edition by J Flint & V Racaniello & G Rall & A M Skalka. ASM Press, 1752 N St., N.W., Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA 2008.

 

REFERENCES: 

SUGGESTED READINGS:

  • Fields Virology Vol 1 and 2. B.N. Fields, D.M. Knipe, P.M. Howley, R.M. Chanock, J.L. Melnick, T.P. Monath, B. Roizman, and S.E. Straus, eds.), 3rd Edition. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Principles of Virology: Molecular Biology, Pathogenesis, and Control of Animal Viruses. S. J. Flint, V. R. Racaniello, L. W. Enquist, V. R. Rancaniello, A. M. Skalka. Latest edition / Pub. Date: December 2003 Publisher: American Society Microbiology--- Chapters 3-13.
  • Laboratory Animal Medicine: Principles and Procedures. Margi Sirois. Latest edition / Pub. Date: November 2004. Publisher: Elsevier Health Sciences.
  • Guides for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. National Research Council. Latest edition / Pub. Date: January 1996. Publisher: National Academy Press.
  • Virology: 1994. 3rd ed. FrankelConrat et al, Prentice Hall.
  • Introduction to Modern Virology. 2001. 5th ed. Dimmock et al., Blackwell Scientific Publ.
  • Plant viruses (III edition) Kenneth M.Smith.
  • Universal Book Stall,New Delhi.2012
  • Plant Diseases of viral, viroid, Mycoplasma and uncertain etiology- Karl.Maramarosch. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta.
  • An Introduction to Mycology (IV edition) Alexopoulos CJ and Mims CW, Wiley Eastern Ltd., New Delhi, 2007.

e RESOURCES:

JOURNALS:

  • Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences
  • Indian Journal of Microbiology
  • Indian Journal of Medical Research 
Academic Year: 
2024-2025
  • Printer-friendly version
  • PDF version