Veterinary virology

Duration

14h Th, 6h Pr, 2h Mon. WS

Number of credits

Lecturer

Alain Vanderplasschen

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

1/ General introduction: self-presentation; practical aspects of the course, importance of virology in a veterinary cursus

2/ History of virology

3/ Common characteristics of viruses

4/ Origin and evolution of viruses

5/ Diversity of viruses revealed by the virospher (structural virology) and by the classification of Baltimore (genomic virology and viral replication cycle)

6/ Virus-host interactions: viruses are maestros of biology

7/ Pathogeny of viral diseases

8/ Diagnostic, treatment and prophylaxis of viral infections

9/ Roles of virus in ecosystems and in the evolution of host species

10/ Biotechnological uses of viruses

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Viruses are by far the most numerous biological entities on earth. They are also the most important infectious agents in plant, animal or human health. This observation fully justifies their study in the cursus of doctor in veterinary medicine. The importance of a virology course in this course is supported by other observations: the evolution of viruses is associated with host jumps from "animal to human" species and vice versa, the biology of viruses reveals the complexity of virus-host interactions, and finally many biotechnological innovations, too often ignored, are based on the exploitation of viruses.

 

This series of courses will aim to take you on a journey into the fascinating world of virology. You will discover the common characteristics of viruses, what differentiates them from other infectious agents, the structural and genomic diversity that the viral world includes, how viruses evolve but also how they contribute to the evolution of the species they infect. Finally, we will discuss the mechanisms by which they cause disease. We will also discuss diagnostic methods to identify them. These methods will also be covered during the practical classes (TPs) which will give rise to an evaluation at the end of the practical work week.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Cytology, genetic, immunology, biology and biochemistry.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Laboratory of virology: practicals on virological methods ; to bring a scientific calculator; practical exercices are carried out on floor 0 of building B43b.Participation to practicals is stricly conditioned by the previewing of videos on regular manipulations in a virology laboratory and succeeding a MC test related to these videos. Videos and related tests can be accessed at the following address: http://www.ecampus.ulg.ac.be/. You will find there the rules of the tests as well as information on the practicals.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

14 hours of lecture in auditorium.
The interactive lectures are illustrated by computer-assisted presentations.
The lecturer is at the disposal of the students to answer the questions at the end of the lecture or on appointment.
Workshop: 6 hours of laboratory practices preceeded by two hours of supervised work.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Lecture notes on veterinary virology

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam

Other : Evaluation during the week of practical classes


Further information:

The evaluation of the knowledges covered during the courses will consist of a written exam with open answers. The questions will be a mix of: - open questions to which we will ask you to answer clearly, precisely and concisely, in a defined space. Your answer must be adapted to the space proposed. - open questions with short answers. Some questions of this type will involve explaining concepts, make sure to use the key words that illustrate them. - a few true/false questions for which your choice must be associated with a short justification. The exam will represent an approximate response area of 4 A4 sides.

 

The written exam and the evaluation of the praticals will contribute to 16 and 4 points of the final score on 20.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

As the participation to the TD-TP is mandatory, unjustified absence of a student can involve his/her inadmissibility to the examination at the end of the year according to the rules related to the organisation of the examinations.

Contacts

Professor

Prof. Alain Vanderplasschen
E-mail: a.vdplasschen@uliege.be

Mobile: 0486/451353

 

Secretary

Mme Christina Espert

Email: Christina.Espert@uliege.be

Tel: 04/3664263

 

Assistant
Sophie Fourny
E-mail: Sophie.Fourny@uliege.be
Tel: 0478/811135

Association of one or more MOOCs

Items online