CMBS2405 Advanced course in microbiology (2–6 cr)

The course focuses on current topics in virology and deepens students’ skills in laboratory work.

The lecture part examines the stages of the virus reproduction cycle in the host cell using model viruses as an example. The course also highlights the diversity of the entire virus world, including bacteriophages and giant viruses, and introduces the use of different types of viruses in the fight against and treatment of diseases. Virus purification methods are reviewed and issues affecting the purity and yield of the virus are discussed.

In the laboratory part, you will learn the basic methods of environmental microbiology by isolating bacteria and bacteriophages from an environmental sample, and by performing basic analyzes on them. In addition to this, we practice measuring and analyzing the infectivity and replication of viruses. In the course, you will learn simple screening methods for anti-viral analysis and practice the calculation of key concepts (IC50/CC50, SI).

The course can be completed either completely (lectures and laboratory work, 6 ects) or by attending only the lecture part (2 ects).

After completing the course, the student is familiar with the following key topics in virology:

- The interaction of viruses and cells during the viral reproductive cycle

- Diversity and function of bacteriophages

- Use of different types of viruses in applications

- Large viruses and their reproduction

After completing the laboratory part, the student

- knows the main principles for isolating microbes (bacteria, bacteriophages) from environmental samples

- is more experienced in aseptic work

- knows the basic methods of microbiology in practice

- understand the steps of virus purification and the characterization of infectivity

- understand how to analyze the activity of antiviral compounds

For the laboratory part, priority is given to students majoring in cell and molecular biology who have completed a bachelor's degree.

Esitietoryhmä 1: required previously completed courses for laboratory part (6 ects)

Esitietoryhmä 2: required previously completed courses for lectures (2 ects)

Materials distributed by teachers