Viruses and the Diseases They Cause

3 units

The goal of this course is to discuss different families of viruses that are important human pathogens. For each of these families of viruses we will discuss the following three aspects as it relates to their clinical significance. 1. The diseases that they cause. The clinical manifestations, the geographic extent of these infections, the consequences of these infections on the populations affected by the virus being discussed. 2. Mechanisms they use to evade host defense mechanisms. Each of these families of viruses have a unique set of factors that they produce that enable them to evade host responses. We will discuss these factors and how they specifically target our responses to the infections they cause. 3. Current therapies used to treat these viral infections. This would include both drug therapies, immunizations and even environmental aspects that predispose a particular geographic region to infection by a specific class of viruses. Each class will involve both lecture and discussion of relevant publications that are associated with the topic being discussed that class. There will be two exams, a mid-term and a final that will not be cumulative.