The conditions for graduation of Applied virology is active participation on practical classes, elaboration of protocols and written test with score with more than 51%.

Students become familiar with the mechanisms of virus infections and methods used in virus diagnostics.

• Overview of virus diseases in different animal species, including zoonoses.

• Pathogenetic mechanisms of virus infection (persistent infections, virus induced immunosuppression, oncogenesis).

• Mechanisms of virostatics.

• Diagnostic approaches in antigenic and genetic characterisation of viruses.

Lectures (2 hours)

1. Past, present and future. Pathogenesis of virus infection (virulence, pathogenicity, host-pathogen interaction, course of virus infection)

2. Antivirus immunity. Factors of host resistance. Cell receptors and cytokines involved in the fight against virus infection. Avoiding of host immunity.

3. Antivirotics.

4. Oncogenesis and oncogenic viruses.

5. Non-enveloped DNA viruses (adeno-, papiloma-, polyoma-, parvo- and circoviruses).

6. Enveloped DNA viruses (herpes-, asfar- and poxviruses).

7. Non-enveloped icosahedral RNA viruses (picorna-, calici-, astro-, reo- and birnaviruses).

8. Enveloped icosahedral RNA viruses (toga-, flavi-, borna- and arteriviruses).

9. Enveloped helical RNA viruses (ortomyxo-, paramyxo-, rhabdo-, corona-, arena- and bunyaviruses).

10. Food-borne viruses.

11. Arboviruses.

12. Causative agents of spongiform encephalopathies I.

13. Causative agents of spongiform encephalopathies II.

Practical labs (2 hours)

1. Characterization of a virological laboratory.

2. Preparation and cultivation of cell cultures. Cell counting and viability assessment.

3. Sampling for virological examination. Transport and saving of samples. Preparation of inoculum for isolation of viruses.

4. Characterisation and division of methods for virological diagnosis.

5. Virus quantification: virus titration, plaque formation test.

6. Detection virus antigens and anti-virus antibodies employing erythrocytes (hemagglutination test, hemagglutination inhibition test).

7. Detection anti-virus antibodies employing cell lines (virus neutralization test).

8. Detection of virus antigens by immunofluorescence.

9. Detection of virus antigens by immunochemistry.

10. Detection of virus antigens by immunoenzymatic reaction.

11. Molecular methods in viral diagnostics – PCR, RT PCR, real-time PCR, in situ hybridisation.

12. Flow cytometry in virus diagnostics.

13. Credit.

MacLachlan N. J. and Dubovi E. J.: Fenner´s Veterinary virology, fourth edition. Elsevier Inc., 2011, ISBN 978-0-12-375158-4

Lectures – actual themes.

Content prerequisite:

Students should have basic knowledge on cell biology, microbiology and immunology.

Continuous assessment:

Active participation on practical classes and elaboration of protocols.

Conditions for completion of course:

The conditions for graduation of Applied virology is active participation on practical classes, elaboration of protocols and written test with score with more than 51%.

Final assessment:

Credit, written test (evaluation: 51-100%)

Applied virology is a subject of summer semester. The condition for opening is minimum of 5 and maximum of 6 students.