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Unit outline_

VIRO3902: Medical and Applied Virology (Advanced)

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit is based on the VIRO3002 course with inclusion of tutorials, including with leading research medical virologists, enabling students to gain additional experience with cutting edge virology research. The content of this unit may change from year to year based on research interests within the department.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
A mark of 70 or above in 6cp from (BMED2404 or IMMU2101 or MEDS2004 or MIMI2X02 or MICR2X22)
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
VIRO3002�
Assumed knowledge
? 

Fundamental concepts of microorganisms and biomolecules

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Barry Slobedman, barry.slobedman@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Allison Abendroth, allison.abendroth@sydney.edu.au
Barry Slobedman, barry.slobedman@sydney.edu.au
Mainthan Palendira, umaimainthan.palendira@sydney.edu.au
Cameron Webb, cameron.webb@sydney.edu.au
Edward Holmes, edward.holmes@sydney.edu.au
Mark Douglas, mark.douglas@sydney.edu.au
Megan Steain, megan.steain@sydney.edu.au
Selmir Avdic, selmir.avdic@sydney.edu.au
Timothy Newsome, timothy.newsome@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Open book) Type C final exam Theory exam on the lecture course
Written exam on the lecture course
40% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Final exam (Open book) Type C final exam Theory exam on the Practical Course
Theory exam on the Practical Course
25% Formal exam period 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Presentation Oral presentation
Oral presentation
15% Multiple weeks 17 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5
Participation Tutorial participation
Tutorial participation
5% Ongoing n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO7
Assignment Written assignment
Written assessment
15% Week 06 1800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO6
Type C final exam = Type C final exam ?
Type C final exam = Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Lecture exam - theory: This exam assesses the lecture course material.
  • Practical exam - theory: This exam will cover demonstrated practical material, the theory behind practical classes and the implementation of processes used in practical sessions.
  • Written assignment: A review article that students write on their chosen area of interest under 1 of 2 broad topics.
  • Oral presentation: Presentations will take the form of an invited symposium presentation at an international conference. Students will present findings from a scientific publication provided to them.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. Introduction to UoS; 2. Viruses as pathogens Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 1. Receptors; 2. Transport Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Human cytomegalovirus latency and pathogenesis Tutorial (2 hr) LO7
Week 03 1. Immune responses to viral infection; 2. Diagnosis of viral infections Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Workshop on continuing assessments Workshop (4 hr) LO5 LO6
Virally induced cancers in humans Tutorial (2 hr) LO7
Week 04 1. Gastroviruses; 2. Emergence of Coronaviruses Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Unravelling the means by which varicella zoster virus causes disease in humans Tutorial (2 hr) LO7
Cell Techniques 1 Practical (4 hr) LO3
Week 05 1. Viral infections of the CNS; 2. Dengue virus Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Insights into the development of vaccines against COVID-19 Tutorial (2 hr) LO7
Cell Techniques 2 Practical (4 hr) LO3
Week 06 1. Antivirals; 2. Viruses and cancer Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Cell Techniques 3 Practical (4 hr) LO3
Week 07 1. Alpha herpesviruses; 2. Beta and gamma herpesviruses Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Cell Techniques 4 Practical (4 hr) LO3
Week 08 1. Epidemiology and outbreak control; 2. Influenza virus Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Student presentations Presentation (2 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 09 1. Vaccines against viruses; 2. Vector-borne viral diseases Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Student presentations Presentation (2 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 10 1.Virus specific immunotherapy; 2. HIV/AIDS Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Molecular virology 1 Practical (4 hr) LO3
Week 11 1. Oncolytic viruses; 2. Hepatitis viruses Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Molecular virology 2 Practical (4 hr) LO3
Week 12 1. Gene therapy; 2. Make up lecture slot Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Molecular virology 3 Practical (4 hr) LO3
Week 13 1. Ethical considerations in virology; 2. Medical virology in the 21st Century Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Molecular virology and exams review session Practical (4 hr) LO3

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: For this unit of study, satisfactory attendance is defined as ≥ 80% which means that if you miss more than 2 practical class sessions (including oral presentation sessions), without approved special consideration for illness or misadventure, or pre-approved special arrangement, you will not be allowed to pass this unit of study. Students who arrive more than 30 min late to a practical class will be recorded as being absent. An attendance roll will be taken.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • Fields Virology. 6th Edition. Edited by David M Knipe, Peter M Howley et al. Published in 2013.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate a thorough understanding of the scientific foundations and clinical applications of medical and applied virology
  • LO2. define prevention strategies to the control of viral infections
  • LO3. demonstrate knowledge of, and training in, laboratory techniques used to diagnose infections caused by viruses
  • LO4. develop effective skills in problem-solving and self-directed learning
  • LO5. demonstrate advanced oral communication skills as a presenter in a virology conference style setting
  • LO6. demonstrate the capacity to critically evaluate the scientific literature on a virology topic and present this in a written form as a scientific review article
  • LO7. demonstrate the capacity to work in a tutorial setting to question key aspects of current medical virology research.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Minor changes to the practical content as well as changes to some of the lectures.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.