Teaching code

4S003706

Teacher

Donato Zipeto

Coordinator

Donato Zipeto

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/11 - MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Period

Semester 2 dal Mar 6, 2023 al Jun 16, 2023.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

A: viruses as "enemies" Provide the student with basic notions about 1) major bio-health viruses, 2) zoonoses and underlying mechanisms 3) emerging and re-emerging viral infections: molecular, biological and environmental causes, 5) arrested zoonoses (SARS and MERS), at risk (avian influenza) and non arrested (HIV / AIDS), 5) pandemic risk, 6) antiviral vaccinations, 7) other control and intervention measures B: viruses like "tools" Provide the student with information on: 1) Principles and limits of gene therapy, 2) Approaches and types of vectors, 3) Non-viral vectors, 4) Editing genes, 5) Major viral vectors, Advantages and disad-vantages, 6) gene therapy clinical trials: disappointments and hopes, 7) current and future prospects At the completion of the course students: - will have a basic understanding of zoonoses and viruses - will have acquired the knowledge necessary to understand how viruses can be engineered and used as therapeutic agents (vectors for gene therapy, oncolytic viruses).

Prerequisites and basic notions

General, molecular and cellular biology. Biotechnology

Program

Molecular Virology:
• Arbovirus (West Nile, Chikungunya, Zyka)
• Paramyxovirus (Nipah and Hendra viruses)
• Monkeypox and smallpox
• Hantavirus
• Filovirus (Ebola, Marburg) and hemorrhagic fevers
• Coronavirus: SARS, MERS, SARS-CoV-2
• Influenza, origin of epidemics and pandemics
• Avian influenza and swine flu, determinants of pathogenicity
• HIV: Discovery, Origin, Epidemiology
• HIV: structure, infectious cycle, pathogenesis, natural resistance
• HIV: treatments and therapies (microbicides, vaccines, antivirals)
• AIDS: new therapeutic perspectives
• New vaccine approaches: biotechnology and virological applications, molecular approaches for the development of antiviral vaccines, adjuvants

Gene Therapy:
• Introduction to gene therapy
• Non viral vectors, siRNA and miRNA, peptide vectors
• Gene editing: ZFN, TALEN, Crispr / Cas9
• Viral vectors, generality
• Adenovirus (AV)
• Adeno-associated virus (AAV)
• Herpes and poxvirus vectors
• Retroviral and lentiviral vectors
• Clinical trials: hematologic, metabolic, neurodegenerative, neuromuscular and dystrophies, cystic fibrosis
• Antitumor Gene Therapy, Oncolytic Viruses

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Face-to-face lessons

Learning assessment procedures

oral exam, divided into two parts
First part: 2-3 general questions on the program.
Second part: you can access it only if you pass the first part
Short seminar of max 15 minutes, on a topic chosen by the student, inherent to the course. It can be a description of a virus or a gene therapy protocol not covered in class, or an in-depth study and update of a topic covered in class

Evaluation criteria

First part: it is necessary to answer the questions adequately and comprehensively to access the second part. Failure to reply affects the continuation of the test.
Second part: presentation, clarity, ability to organize and present the chosen topic, as well as the preparation and ability of the student to answer the questions posed by the commission during the seminar will be evaluated

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The overall grade is based on the combination of the first and second part of the exam

Exam language

italiano