Virology

Study in Virology is offered in partnership between the Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology in the Sydney Medical School and the Discipline of Microbiology in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences in the Faculty of Science. Units of study in this minor are available at standard and advanced level.

About the minor

A minor in Virology will equip you with knowledge and skills relating to the role of viruses in human, animal and plant hosts.

Requirements for completion

A minor in Virology requires 36 credit points, consisting of:

(i) 6 credit points of 1000-level core units
(ii) 6 credit points of 1000-level selective units
(iii) 12 credit points of 2000-level core units
(iv) 12 credit points of 3000-level core units

First year

BIOL1XX7 From Molecules to Ecosystems and 6 credit points from a selection of: CHEM1XX1 Chemistry or Human Biology BIOL1XX8 or MEDS1X01 (MEDS1X01 is only available to students enrolled in the Medical Science stream, students outside the Medical Science stream take BIOL1XX8).

Second year

IMMU2101 Introductory Immunology and MICR2X22 Microbes in Society OR for students enrolled in the Medical Science stream only: BMED2404 Microbes, Infection and Immunity and BMED2405 Gut and Nutrient Metabolism.

Third year

Core: VIRO3X01 and VIRO3X02.

In your third year you must take at least one designated project unit.

The final year embraces the study of viral causative agents, outbreak epidemiology and host response. Central to this lies the impacts and outcomes of infection with viral pathogens for humans and other hosts: animals and plants. Even with development of improved treatment and control processes for infectious diseases, viruses remain important pathogens today. Two 3000-level units cover in-depth study of viruses: what they are, their classification, how they replicate, how they infect and damage cells, how hosts respond to viral infection, diagnostic processes and vaccination strategies.

Contact and further information

W sydney.edu.au/medicine/infectious-diseases-immunology/contact/index.php

Address:
Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Level 5 (East), Charles Perkins Centre hub (D17)
University of Sydney NSW 2006

Helen Agus
E

Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate from Virology will be able to:

1. Describe the role of viruses as agents of disease, their function in the ecosphere, abundance and diversity
2. Define the key characteristics of the classes of viruses that distinguish them from each other
3. Perform culture, microscopy, diagnostic and molecular techniques used in the modern diagnostic virology laboratory, and explain and critically evaluate the scientific principles behind these important techniques
4. Have a detailed knowledge of virus virulence mechanisms and their role in invasion, establishment and progression of infection
5. Know the major causes of important viral diseases in the general community and hospital environments
6. Explain how viral diseases emerge or re-emerge to impact human and global health
7. Explain the ways in which important viral pathogens pose a challenge for public health
8. Be familiar with the measures that have been developed to control viruses and the conceptual basis of the control strategies
9. Critically evaluate the research literature dealing with pathogenic processes of viruses and epidemiology and apply this knowledge to virology research