Twenty-six lectures in virology

In the spring of each year I teach a virology course to undergraduates and masters students at Columbia University. I produce video recordings of all my lectures not only for students in the course, but for anyone else who is interested in learning about viruses.

You can find my virology lectures in several locations: at this blog and at iTunes University, where lecture slides are also available as pdf files, or at YouTube.

This is the fifth year that I have taught my virology course (current class is in the photo), and every version is different. This year, in addition to updating the material, I’ve added a new lecture on viral gene therapy, and include new lectures on immune defenses, viral virulence, acute and persistent infections.

The goal of my virology course is to provide an understanding of how viruses are built, how they replicate and evolve, how they cause disease, and how to prevent infection. The first half of the course explores the viral replication cycle, including attachment and entry, genome replication, protein synthesis, and assembly. In the second half of the course we explore viral pathogenesis: how viruses cause disease, defenses against infection, antivirals, vaccines, and much more. After taking the course, some students might want to become virologists. The course will also provide the knowledge required to make informed decisions about health issues such as immunization against viral infections.

If you have read this blog in the past you know that it is my goal to be Earth’s virology professor. I also teach two virology courses at Coursera (these are completed but the material is still accessible), and my colleagues in Mexico have translated my 2012 lectures into Spanish. Next year I plan to each a new virology course, focused on individual viruses, which will build upon knowledge obtained in my first offering – and of course you will be able to find the lectures online.