Year 3 Medical Virology (MBMM 3333)

Viruses as disease-causing agents: structure, replication, pathogenesis, laboratory diagnosis, antivirals, vaccines, and the major DNA and RNA virus families. 42 contact hours.

Basic virology & antivirals

• Week 1 The virus — Classification, structure, atypical virus-like agents, slow viruses and prions, replication and the growth curve; Baltimore classification.
• Week 2 Viral infection of the host cell — Lytic, lysogenic, latent and persistent infections; host defences; laboratory diagnosis (cell culture, microscopy, serology, nucleic acids).
• Week 3 Antiviral agents and vaccines — Classification and mechanisms of antivirals, selective toxicity, classes of vaccines and how cells fight back.

DNA & RNA viruses

• Week 4 DNA and RNA viruses — differences and clinical implications
• Week 4 DNA enveloped viruses — Herpes viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV, EBV, CMV, HHV-8); smallpox.
• Week 5 DNA non-enveloped viruses — Adenovirus, papillomavirus, parvovirus.
• Week 5 First sit-in CAT
• Week 6 RNA enveloped viruses — Influenza, measles, mumps, RSV, parainfluenza, rubella, rabies.
• Week 7 RNA non-enveloped viruses — Poliovirus, coxsackievirus, rhinovirus, rotavirus.
• Week 7 Hepatitis viruses — Hepatitis A, B, C, E.

Arboviruses, oncogenic viruses & HIV

• Week 8 Arboviruses and yellow fever — Classes, diseases, transmission, control; yellow fever vaccine.
• Week 8 Tumour development and oncogenic viruses — Apoptosis, proto-oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes; DNA and RNA tumour viruses.
• Week 9 Viral encephalitis and haemorrhagic fevers
• Week 10 HIV — Life cycle, epidemiology, antiretroviral therapy and its mechanisms, vaccine challenges.
• CAT End-of-term CAT

Compiled by Abongo Davis · Ompath Study · shared for MBChB students at Mount Kenya University and other universities.