Epidemiology and Natural History of Human Viral Infections 



 
 November 7, 2009

 
Course Syllabus

Course Prerequisites | Course Description | Course Objectives | Course Topics | Course Materials | Evaluation | Course Grade and Assessment Components | Contact Information | Help | Ethical Conduct


 

Course Prerequisites

To participate in this course, you should have an understanding of basic biological sciences equivalent to an undergraduate biology course. Basic epidemiologic principles and other quantitative skills will prove helpful in understanding the distribution of the disease and in interpreting research findings.


Course Description

Emphasizes biology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of diseases caused by human viruses. Discusses virus interaction with host, diagnostic methodologies, immunization, and treatment of viral infections. Examines relationships between viral infections and oncogenesis such as hepatitis/liver cancer, HPV/cervical cancer, EBV/lymphoma, and HTLV/leukemia. Also covers biology and natural history of major viral families such as retroviruses, rabies, and others.


Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the common structures and functions of viruses and their components, including genetics, etc.
  • Identify the main steps of viral pathogenesis
  • Discuss virus-host interactions
  • Recognize the advantages and limiting factors related to antiviral treatment options
  • List several viruses and describe the processes by which they can cause cancer
  • Recall the interaction between viral agents and other factors in the disease pathway
  • Compare the pathogenesis of retroviruses with other viruses, including the mechanisms of invasion and integration and synthesis of new viral particles
  • Recognize and describe the issues of treatment, prevention, and future concerns of human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS
  • Compare and contrast the epidemiology and natural history of other human viral pathogens, including influenza, herpes simplex virus, bovine spongiform encephalitis and others

Course Topics

Module 1: An Overview of Viruses: How They Work, How The Host Responds, and Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment

  • Structure and functions of viruses
  • Transmission, dissemination, and pathogenesis of viruses
  • Host response to viral infection
  • Viral Vaccines
  • Diagnostic virology in epidemiology
  • Antiviral drugs

Module 2: Viral Infections and Cancer

  • Hepatitis viruses and aflatoxin
  • Viral hepatitis agents
  • Epstein-Barr virus, Burkitt's lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Module 3: Retroviruses

  • Retroviruses/HTLV I and HTLV II adult T-cell leukemia/TSP/HAM
  • Pathogenesis and natural history of HIV/AIDS
  • HIV pandemic and vaccine issues

Module 4: Neuronal, Airborne, and other Interesting Viruses

  • Influenza virus
  • Herpes simplex virus
  • Arboviruses
  • Epidemiology of spongiform encephalophathies
  • Schizophrenia and other complex human brain disorders
  • Mumps and measles
  • Rabies

Course Materials

Recommended textbook: Patrick R. Murray, Ken S. Rosenthal, and Michael A. Pfaller. Medical Microbiology 6th Edition (Student Consult). Philadelphia: Mosby Elsevier, 2009.

Additional, OPTIONAL reading materials are stored in E-Reserves. The password is 340654sph.

Evaluation

Lecture and instructor evaluation: We value your input in evaluating this course. An online evaluation form is attached to each lecture page for you to complete. This information will be given serious attention in future updates to the course.

  

Course Grade and Assessment Components

Your course grade is based on the following percentages:

  • Bulletin board (BBS) exercise: 10%
  • Midterm online exam : 20%
  • LiveTalk group presentation: 20%
  • Final paper: 30%
  • Overall course participation (lectures and LiveTalk attendance): 20%

BBS Exercise: There is one discussion exercise in the course (see schedule for due date). Responses are posted in the course bulletin board (BBS).

Midterm Exam: The midterm is a multiple-choice, online exam with roughly 20 questions based on the course lectures.

LiveTalk Presentation: Students will be divided into small groups, each of which will prepare a 10-12-minute presentation to be delivered during one of the scheduled course LiveTalks. Groups should use the Wiki Projects tool, in addition to any other communication tools, to conduct group work. Your presentation must be submitted to the course email address 48 hours before the LiveTalk during which you present.

Final Paper: The course culminates in a final paper, which should be submitted via the course Drop Box.

Overall Class Participation: It is imperative that you listen to all the lecture materials in the course and look at all the corresponding slides. Your participation grade is contingent on having viewed and listened to at least 90% of the lectures before the end of the course. Points will be deducted proportionate to the number of lectures not viewed, listened to, or completed.

Four LiveTalk sessions are scheduled to provide you with opportunities to interact in real time with the instructor, the teaching assistants, and fellow students to discuss the lecture materials. We highly recommend that you attend these Q&A/discussion sessions. We will also use this LiveTalk sessions for group presentations. All LiveTalk sessions and chat logs are archived on the LiveTalk main page for your review.

Please be advised that in order to monitor your progress, we track your access of the lecture materials, the review questions, and your participation in LiveTalk events and archives.


Contact Information

Primary Faculty:
Homayoon Farzadegan, PhD (hfarzade@jhsph.edu)
Johns Hopkins University
615 Wolfe Street, Room E6004
Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: 410-955-3786

Additional Faculty:
 Keri Althoff, PhD (kalthoff@jhsph.edu)
Jay Bream, PhD (jbream@jhsph.edu)
Patti E. Gravitt, MS, PhD (pgravitt@jhsph.edu)
Diane E. Griffin, MD, PhD (dgriffin@jhsph.edu)
John Groopman, PhD (jgroopma@jhsph.edu)
Craig W. Hendrix, MD (chendrix@jhmi.edu)
Richard T. Johnson, MD (rtj@jhmi.edu)
Shruti Mehta, PhD (smehta@jhsph.edu)
Anne Rompalo, MD (arompalo@jhsph.edu)
Robert Yolken, MD (yolken@jhmi.edu)

Teaching Assistants:
Meghan Davis  (hviweb@jhsph.edu)
Hasina Samji  (hviweb@jhsph.edu)


Help

Concerns
Contact
Concerns about course topics and assignments
Technical concerns about the functionality and operation of course Web pages (before emailing, please make sure that you can replicate the problem)
  • DEHelp, the central help system for all tech support inquiries related to DED courses
Technical help on weekends
  • JHSPH User Support: 410-955-3781
Concerns about your Internet connection
  • Your Internet service provider (e.g., AT&T, Erols, etc.)
Concerns about your personal software
  • Your software vendor


Ethical Conduct

The academic ethics code, as discussed in the Policy and Procedure Memorandum for Students, March 31, 2002, will be adhered to in this class.


Disability Support Services

If you are a student with a documented disability who requires an academic accommodation, please contact Betty H. Addison in the Office of Career Services and Disability Support: dss@jhsph.edu, 410-955-3034, or Room E-1140.

 

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