Bi7036 Genetics and Taxonomy of Viruses

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jiří Kohoutek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jiří Kohoutek, Ph.D.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Mgr. et Mgr. Michal Dvořák
Supplier department: Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
Bi4020 Molecular biology && Bi5420 General virology
The lectures are held for students of biological disciplines, especially for virology students, eventually for others interested in virology.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The intention of the course is to introduce students to the basic aspects of genetic processes involved in viral replication, evolution and transmission, and then to use this knowledge to acquire practical skills for proper virus taxonomy. The intended goal is also to gain practical experience in the taxonomy of selected viruses.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to categorize, classify and name a given virus using a systematic framework used to classify and name viruses based on their common characteristics and evolutionary relationships. The student will understand the mechanisms and principles of virus evolution by mutation, recombination, genetic drift and natural selection and their impact on the emergence of new viral strains. The student will understand the basal concept of viral genetics with respect to their structure, replication, evolution and interaction with the host. Last but not least, the student will have a practical understanding of the analysis of sequencing data and its use for the construction of phylogenetic trees as a basis for determining evolutionary relationships between viruses studied in basic or applied research.
Syllabus
  • 1. History and milestones of the study of virus genetic and classification/taxonomy of viruses.
  • 2. Status of genetic and taxonomy in the study of viruses, viroids and satellite viruses.
  • 3. Definition of the genetic material and genetic processes involved in viral replication, evolution and transmission.
  • 4. Specific strategies for viral replication in different host types.
  • 5. Structure, morphology and chemical composition of the viral particle for taxonomic classification purposes.
  • 6. Rules for classifying and categorizing viruses into hierarchical groups based on their common characteristics and evolutionary relationships.
  • 7. Basic principles of virus taxonomy based on morphology, virion size, surface envelope, genomic nucleic acid structure and type, capsid proteins, and host circuit.
  • 8. Creation and evaluation of phylogenetic relationship trees from sequencing studies.
  • 9. Practical training in the preparation, analysis, evaluation and construction of phylogenetic trees.
  • 10. Practical evaluation of data from sequencing analyses.
  • 11. Tracing the evolutionary relationships among viruses by comparing genetic sequences and phylogenetic trees to understand the evolutionary history, spread, transmission patterns and diversification of viruses.
  • 12. The principles of virus evolution by mutation, recombination, genetic drift and natural selection, and the impact of these changes on the emergence of new viral strains.
  • 13. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) as the authority responsible for establishing and maintaining the official taxonomy of viruses.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • The International Code of Virus Classification and Nomenclature. https://ictv.global/about/code
  • KOTRBASOVÁ, Anna and Silvia PASTOREKOVÁ. Biosyntéza vírusov. Univerzita Komenského v Bratislavě, 2017. ISBN 978-80-223-4402-9. info
  • Virus taxonomy : classification and nomenclature of viruses : ninth report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Edited by Andrew M. Q. King. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2012, x, 1327. ISBN 9780123846846. info
  • FLINT, S. Jane. Principles of virology. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: ASM Press, 2009, xx, 419. ISBN 9781555814809. info
Teaching methods
The lectures will be prepared in Microsoft Office PowerPoint and will be accompanied by the projection of diagrams, illustrations, pictures and videos. During the practical lectures students will learn how to employ online tools and resources commonly used for the analysis of sequencing data and their use for the preparation of phylogenetic trees.
Assessment methods
Oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
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