course-details-portlet

MOL3020

Virology

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 7.5
Level Second degree level
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

The course will give an overview of medically important virus families, their replication strategies and mechanisms for development of viral infectious diseases. Topics will include taxonomy, replication strategies, pathogenicity and transmission of viruses and, additionally, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of viral diseases. Antiviral immunity and viral evasion will also be covered. Common human viral infections will be the main focus of the course, and emphasis will be put on virus-host interactions as a key to understanding the diversity of viruses and viral diseases.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate can

  • describe and review the elements of the viral life cycle
  • explain the rationale behind the Baltimore classification system of viruses and present example viruses for each Baltimore group
  • explain viral replication strategies; and compare and contrast replication mechanisms used by viruses relevant for human disease
  • explain host antiviral immune mechanisms at a cellular and molecular level
  • describe major viral strategies to evade host immune and cellular factors
  • discuss principles of virus pathogenesis
  • explain vaccine strategies and mechanisms of antiviral drugs

Skills

The candidate can

  • discriminate between replication cycles of different classes of viruses
  • evaluate and discriminate between pathogenic features of viruses and the host
  • interpret data from scientific papers within virology-immunology

Competence

The candidate can use the knowledge and skills to

  • discuss questions from and present arguments based on scientific findings
  • discuss on the emergence of and differences between coronaviruses

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and alternative methods of teaching. Teaching and exam will be in English. Teaching throughout the semester *longitudinal.

Further on evaluation

Written exam. The language of instruction is English, and the exam must be answered in English. If few candidates sign up for the re-sit exam, oral examination may be considered and used.

Students with legitimate leave of absence at the final examination and students who receive the grade F may re-sit the examination in the following semester.

Course materials

Will be presented at the start of the semester.

Subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Cell Biology
  • Medicine

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Re-sit examination - Autumn 2025

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code E Date 2025-11-22 Time 09:00 Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room for school exam

The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

Sluppenvegen 14
Room SL310 turkis sone
1 candidate

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code E Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.