University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 15

ECTS credits : 7

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 1

Availability restrictions: Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable: To be arranged.

Viruses as a group include many important human and veterinary pathogens such as influenza virus, hepatitis C virus, foot and mouth disease virus as well as emerging viruses like Ebola virus, and remain a continuing threat to human and animal welfare. This module will consist of a mixture of lectures, tutorials and personal-based learning on aspects of RNA virus host interactions. The topics covered will include comparison of the molecular mechanisms employed by enveloped and non-enveloped viruses to enter and exit from cells, discussion of how small RNA viruses maximise their coding capacity, comparison of the replication of positive and negative strand RNA viruses, discussion of how selected viruses reprogram the host cell to ensure their own replication, description of how RNA viruses intercede with innate immune responses, and understanding of how selected viruses interact with their vectors. In addition, discussion of virus-related topics that have made headline news in recent years will be addressed, and an understanding of the more commonly used molecular techniques to study viruses will be expected.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass BL3311

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 2 x 1-hour seminars (x 5 weeks), 1 x 1-hour seminar (x 2 weeks), 2 x 3-hours seminars across the semester

Scheduled learning hours: 14

Guided independent study hours: 136

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 3-hour Written Examination = 60%, Coursework = 40%

As defined by QAA
Written examinations : 60%
Practical examinations : 0%
Coursework: 40%

Re-assessment: 3-hour Written Examination = 60%, Existing Coursework = 40%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr J Tilsner
Module teaching staff: Team taught
Module coordinator email jt58@st-andrews.ac.uk