Virology
Viruses are incredibly diverse, and it is impossible to cover that diversity in one semester. This class analyzes the scientific literature to understand how one virus from each of the Baltimore classes functions, as an example. In the laboratory, we attempt to isolate and characterize bacteriophages that infect soil bacteria.
Catalog Description
Introduction to molecular and cellular mechanisms mediating virus infection in bacteria, animals, and plants. Topics include specific virus life cycles, cellular and immune responses, evasion strategies, subviral entities, and viral evolution. Seminar component* focuses on reading/discussion of classic and current virology research papers. Three hours of lecture and three hours of seminar* per week.
*Note that I run this with a laboratory utilizing bacteriophages.