Virology and Epidemiology Course

Lesson 1 • Viral Replication Cycle

Details attachment, entry, replication, assembly, and release stages. Understanding this cycle is prerequisite for studying antiviral targets and immune evasion.

Lesson 2 • Host-Virus Interactions at the Cellular Level

Examines how viruses exploit host cell machinery and trigger cytopathic effects. Connects molecular events to observable cellular damage used in diagnostics.

Lesson 3 • Viral Structure and Morphology

Covers capsid architecture, envelope composition, and surface proteins. Provides the structural vocabulary needed for all subsequent replication and pathogenesis topics.

Lesson 4 • Viral Genome Classification

Introduces the Baltimore classification system and genome polarity. Links genome type to replication mechanism, enabling prediction of viral behavior.

Lesson 1 • Viral Immune Evasion Strategies

Examines MHC downregulation, interferon antagonism, and antigenic variation. Evasion mechanisms explain treatment failures and vaccine design challenges.

Lesson 2 • Routes of Viral Entry and Spread

Maps respiratory, fecal-oral, vector-borne, and parenteral entry routes. Entry route determines transmission dynamics covered in later epidemiology chapters.

Lesson 3 • Innate Immune Defenses Against Viruses

Covers pattern recognition receptors, interferon signaling, and NK cell activity. Innate responses set the stage for adaptive immunity discussed next.

Lesson 4 • Adaptive Immunity to Viral Infection

Details CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, CD4+ helper responses, and neutralizing antibody production. Adaptive immunity forms the basis for vaccine-induced protection.

Lesson 1 • Measures of Association and Effect

Teaches relative risk, odds ratio, attributable risk, and confidence intervals. These statistics quantify exposure-disease relationships in surveillance data.

Lesson 2 • Surveillance Systems and Data Sources

Surveys passive, active, and sentinel surveillance architectures and their data quality trade-offs. Surveillance data feeds directly into outbreak detection methods.

Lesson 3 • Core Epidemiological Concepts

Defines incidence, prevalence, morbidity, and mortality with precise formulas. These measures underpin every analytical method in the course.

Lesson 4 • Bias, Confounding, and Causality

Identifies selection bias, information bias, and confounding variables. Applying Bradford Hill criteria enables causal conclusions from observational data.

Lesson 1 • Epidemic Curve Interpretation

Teaches construction and reading of epi curves to infer source type and exposure timing. Curve shape directly guides hypothesis generation in field investigations.

Lesson 2 • Transmission Routes and Modes

Distinguishes direct contact, airborne, droplet, fomite, and vector-borne transmission. Accurate mode identification drives targeted control measures.

Lesson 3 • Outbreak Investigation Methodology

Walks through the ten-step outbreak investigation framework from case definition to report. Systematic methodology ensures reproducible and defensible findings.

Lesson 4 • Compartmental Transmission Models

Introduces SIR, SEIR, and SIRS frameworks with differential equations. Model outputs inform intervention timing and resource allocation decisions.

Lesson 1 • Specimen Collection and Handling

Covers swab types, transport media, cold chain requirements, and biosafety levels. Proper pre-analytical steps are prerequisite for valid diagnostic results.

Lesson 2 • Next-Generation Sequencing in Virology

Introduces whole-genome sequencing workflows, metagenomics, and phylogenetic analysis. NGS enables pathogen discovery and real-time genomic surveillance.

Lesson 3 • Serological and Antigen Detection Methods

Explains ELISA, lateral flow assays, neutralization tests, and Western blot. Serology distinguishes acute from past infection and measures immune response.

Lesson 4 • Viral Culture and Isolation

Describes cell line selection, cytopathic effect observation, and plaque assay quantification. Culture remains essential for phenotypic characterization and antiviral testing.

Lesson 1 • Combination Therapy and Treatment Strategies

Covers rationale for combination regimens, treatment duration, and adherence monitoring. Combination strategies suppress resistance emergence in chronic viral infections.

Lesson 2 • Antiviral Resistance Surveillance

Describes phenotypic and genotypic surveillance networks and reporting frameworks. Surveillance data guides formulary decisions and public health treatment guidelines.

Lesson 3 • Classes of Antiviral Agents

Surveys nucleoside analogs, protease inhibitors, polymerase inhibitors, and entry blockers. Drug class knowledge is prerequisite for understanding resistance mechanisms.

Lesson 4 • Mechanisms of Antiviral Resistance

Explains mutation-driven resistance, fitness costs, and cross-resistance patterns. Resistance mechanisms directly inform combination therapy rationale.

Lesson 1 • Vaccine Platform Technologies

Compares live-attenuated, inactivated, subunit, viral vector, and mRNA platforms. Platform selection determines immunogenicity, safety profile, and manufacturing scalability.

Lesson 2 • Immunization Program Design

Addresses schedule design, cold chain logistics, coverage targets, and equity considerations. Program design translates vaccine efficacy into population-level protection.

Lesson 3 • Vaccine Immunogenicity and Efficacy

Defines correlates of protection, immunogenicity endpoints, and efficacy vs. effectiveness. These concepts underpin clinical trial design and post-licensure evaluation.

Lesson 4 • Vaccine Safety and Adverse Event Monitoring

Covers pre-licensure safety trials, post-market surveillance, and causality assessment. Safety monitoring maintains public trust and informs risk-benefit communication.

Lesson 1 • Health System Surge Capacity

Addresses ICU capacity planning, supply chain resilience, and healthcare worker protection. Surge capacity determines a health system's ability to absorb pandemic impact.

Lesson 2 • International Health Regulations and Coordination

Explains the International Health Regulations framework, PHEIC declaration, and WHO coordination roles. Regulatory compliance enables cross-border response and resource sharing.

Lesson 3 • Pandemic Risk Assessment and Early Warning

Covers zoonotic spillover risk factors, pandemic potential scoring, and early warning indicators. Early detection is the first line of defense against pandemic emergence.

Lesson 4 • After-Action Review and Lessons Learned

Teaches structured after-action review methodology and translating findings into preparedness improvements. Systematic review closes the preparedness cycle for future threats.