Virology – Biology 3310/4310
Spring 2019
The complete 2018 virology course materials are available at virology.ws/virology-course-2018
This Columbia University virology course is offered each year in the spring semester.
Prerequisite: Two semesters of a rigorous, molecularly-oriented Introductory Biology course (such as C2005), or the Instructor’s permission (vrr1@columbia.edu).
Course Name: Virology
Sessions: M, W 4:10 – 5:25 PM
Start date: Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Points: 3
Location: Pupin 301
Course #: Biology UN3310.001 or GR4310.001
Instructor: Prof. V. Racaniello
Description
The basic thesis of the course is that all viruses adopt a common strategy. The strategy is simple:
1. Viral genomes are contained in metastable particles.
2. Genomes encode gene products that promote an infectious cycle (mechanisms for genomes to enter cells, replicate, and exit in particles).
3. Infection patterns range from benign to lethal; infections can overcome or co-exist with host defenses.
Despite the apparent simplicity, the tactics evolved by particular virus families to survive and prosper are remarkable. This rich set of solutions to common problems in host/parasite interactions provides significant insight and powerful research tools. Virology has enabled a more detailed understanding of the structure and function of molecules, cells and organisms and has provided fundamental understanding of disease and virus evolution.
The course will emphasize the common reactions that must be completed by all viruses for successful reproduction within a host cell and survival and spread within a host population. The molecular basis of alternative reproductive cycles, the interactions of viruses with host organisms, and how these lead to disease are presented with examples drawn from a set of representative animal and human viruses, although selected bacterial viruses will be discussed.
Textbook
The recommended textbook is Principles of Virology. Vol I: Molecular Biology, Vol. II: Pathogenesis and Control (S.J. Flint et al., Third Edition, ASM Press 2015).
Other course resources
1. Students should read Prof. Racaniello’s virology blog for information relevant to the course.
2. Students should listen to the weekly podcast “This Week in Virology”, produced by Prof. Racaniello, for additional material about viruses relevant to the course. You can subscribe to TWiV at iTunes.
3. Lecture slides (pdf) will be posted at this website before each class.
4. Videocasts of all lectures (slides plus audio) will be posted at this website.
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Thank you ever so much for making these materials available to the interested public. Â It is a terrific service.
Thanks for putting this up !
Great to be at home and take this in at your own pace.
I am a little disabled so all Internet services are a tremendous benefit !
Downloading slides 1-14 worked ok.
Downloading videocasts worked ok, except for lecture 9 and 13.
Would be great if I could get hold of these as well.
Best regards Aake from Sweden
I believe I have fixed the errant files, please try again. If not let me know.
 Lecture 9 and 13 are now fixed !
Dear Prof. V. Racaniello
Thank you very much for providing so many materials. But I can not download the pdf for Exam I.
Best wishes
Sorry, that file is fixed and should now be available.
I was wondering if there was anyway that the answer sheet may be posted for the two sets of review questions? I have done them, I am just wanting to check my answers to see if I am correct. Thanks
I can do that, but it will take a bit more time, perhaps a week or two.
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Dr. Racaniello,My boxing instructor was quizzing me on the questions in the study guide for the final exam today, and if I hadn’t before, I had really come to appreciate everything that I’ve learned in your course then. Most notably, I was so surprised to hear him say that he and his friends thought that HIV arose from humans having sex with monkeys, and that homeopathic medicine could cure HIV. Â In discussing and explaining the different topics to him, I really think that you are fulfilling a great need by educating the public about viruses. Â I am so thankful for everything that I’ve learned, and I appreciate the opportunity that your course has given me to bring the science and reality of viruses to others. Â Thanks!
Hello Proffesor
Is it possible to have the student questions on subtitles or something? i learn also from questios of the other students and if i dont have them i can get lost in the middle of the clas.
I am a biology student. I finished my undergraduate studies and I thank you for giving me something to do while I figure out where to study next as I can’t apply for anything sooner than Spring 2013 this year. Thanks a lot.
Hello professor,
Thank you for these lectures! These are great video lectures that really captivate me and help supplement my learning at UTSA. I was wondering if you had answer sheets you could post up for the review questions you have on here? That would be fantastic.
Thanks again!
Dr. Racaniello, I have a little suggestion, maybe you can keep us update with some of the good journal papers time by time? It will be a good kickstart for those who love to immerse themselve in fascinating virology. =)
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Hi, I’m new to this and absolutely thrilled to have found this course! Wondering if I’m too late to start or is this self-paced? Do we get a certificate at the end, like the Coursera or Udacity courses? Thank you.
Hi Prof Racaniello,
Would it be possible to upload the videocasts for the second half of the course again please? I’m studying Virology MSc in London, UK and find the videocasts extremely helpful learning material.
Many Thanks,
Phil
Phil, all the lectures from 2012 are still online – there is a link at the very top of this page. The lectures on the current page are from this year’s course which is still in progress.
Found it! Thank you.
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Thank you very much for making your lectures available to all. It’s a fantastic resource for my research group that is studying aerosol transmission and as an example as I think about moving my own courses at least partially online.
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Dear Prof Racaniello. Thank you for the very useful files! Unforunately, it looks like pdf’s9 and 12 are not available for download, though. Best wishes!
Thank you very muchï¼
I can’t download the pdf of lecture 9.
I’ve fixed the pdf of lecture 9, should be available now.
Fixed!
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sir may i get the English subs for these lectures?
RE particle/pfu ratio: How can a particle be considered a non-infectious virus if all viruses are considered to be infectious, obligate intracellular parasites? If i a particle isn’t infectious, it doesn’t have the 5 characteristics of a virus, so how can there be a non-infectious virus?
All viruses are not infectious – they are always a mixture of infectious ones (called virions) and non-infectious particles.
eIF4E (E is first letter of End, the cap is the end)
eIF4A (A for “ase” it’s the helicase)
eIF4G (the Great big protein in the middle that binds many others)
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this is valuable content for Online Learners…
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Hi,
Thank you so much for this wonderful course. I was wondering: do you teach a Virology Lab course? If yes, where and when?
Thanks.
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I’m currently a business major at UF (3rd year!) and discovered my passion for viruses about a year ago. I’ve been studying as much independently as I can; reading books, textbooks, taking notes, and generally falling in love with viruses and the science that comes with that love. I’ve never been big on science, but I find myself trying harder and going the extra mile to understand concepts previously insurmountable to me. I’m officially the weird girl who talks about Machupo and Lassa facts at parties because I don’t get how EVERYONE isn’t fascinated with the subject. Thank you so much for posting these videocasts! Since realizing how studying viruses makes my brain light up in a way no other subject has before, studying Business brings me little joy. I want to finish this degree since I’ve put so much time into it, and your lectures are a lovely reprieve between Macroeconomics classes.
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