INTEGRATED COURSE OF MOLECULAR VIROLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY FOR BIOTECHNOLOGIES
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2021/2022
- Teacher
- PEGGY CARLA RAFFAELLA MARCONI
- Credits
- 6
- Curriculum
- Biotecnologie per la salute
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
Training objectives
- Molecular Virology’s part
The Molecular Virology’s course aims to provide the student with advanced notions on the molecular biology of viruses through an in-depth study of the molecular mechanisms underlying the replication cycle of the various viruses. The general strategies adopted by viruses for their own replication are illustrated through the characterization of the main pathogenic viruses for humans. The host-pathogen interactions will be analyzed, through the host factors that influence resistance and susceptibility to infection and the course of the diseases themselves to familiarize students with both the mechanisms of pathogenesis and with the different strategies for developing vaccines and antiviral drugs.
The potential and limits in the use of viruses as vectors for gene therapy for the treatment of genetic and degenerative diseases will also be investigated.
The main knowledge acquired will be:
• know about viruses;
• to know, through the viral genome, their replicative strategy;
• know the molecular interactions between virus and cell;
• know the course of the various viral infections;
• know the molecular basis of antiviral therapy and genetic manipulation of viruses
The main skills (i.e. the ability to apply the knowledge acquired) will be:
• identify possible molecular targets for antiviral therapy
• identify possible molecular targets for the development of antiviral vaccines
• identify the main genetic manipulations of viruses and the use of some of these viruses as vectors for gene therapy.
Biotechnological drugs’ part
This part examines the general pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects characterizing the biotechnological drugs, dealing with general concepts, structures, mechanisms of action, therapeutic basis and administration routes of approved biotechnological drugs. The course integrates concepts of general pharmacology, cellular pharmacology and molecular pharmacology.
On completion of the Course a student should be able to:
• understand the general concepts of pharmacokinetics and issues related to biotechnology drugs;
• understand the general issues related to the use of biosimilar drugs;
• know the different classes of biotechnological drugs and their general aspects;
• understand the use of biotechnology drugs under a specific pathological condition;
• know the biotechnology drugs in clinical development.
The skills that will be acquired are as follows:
• to understand the patient information leaflets of biotechnological drugs;
• to identify potential molecular targets and to design new biotechnological drugs. Prerequisites
- Molecular Virology’s part
It is necessary to have acquired and assimilated the following knowledge:
• basic aspects of General Microbiology;
• basic aspects of cell biology;
• basic concepts of Biochemistry;
• fundamental concepts of Immunology.
Biotechnological drugs’ part
The following knowledges are required:
• basic aspects of general and organic chemistry;
• basic aspects of biochemistry;
• general pharmacology aspects. Course programme
- Molecular Virology - Introduction to Virology
Virus particle structure, classification, viral replication and gene expression Viral pathogenesis and aspects related to the host's reaction to infection (immune response and immune-evasion).
Antiviral drugs. General rules for the laboratory diagnosis: serologic and molecular diagnosis (4 hours).
Antiviral vaccines. Biotechnology vaccines and their design. (4 hours)
Viral vectors in gene therapy and immunotherapy (4 hours).
Viruses: Papillomavirus and vaccines, Adenovirus and viral vectors, Polyomavirus, Herpesvirus and viral vectors, Parvovirus and viral vectors, Human retroviruses (Lentivirus: HIV) and viral vectors, Reovirus (Rotavirus), Picornavirus (Enterovirus, Rinovirus), Togavirus, Coronavirus and vaccines, Hepatitis virus (HBV, HDV, HCV, HAV, HEV), Paramyxovirus, Orthomyxovirus and vaccines (12 hours)
Biotechnology Pharmaceuticals:
General concepts of Pharmacology - Therapeutic Proteins: overview, classification, pharmacokinetics (ADME), changes to improve pharmacokinetics. Issues relating to the production and biosimilars. Nucleic acids as drugs: ODN, ORN, antigen, ribozymes.
Molecular Virology’s part
Formal teaching will consist of lectures (24 hours). The syllabus content is as follows:
Review of the main concepts on general virology: virus structures and viral replications.
The routes of viral transmission: Horizontal and vertical transmission (connately prenatal and postnatal infection), congenital infections. Characteristics of the viruses and mechanisms of pathogenesis: virus-cell interactions; virus-host interaction and onset of the disease, localized infections and spreading, outcomes of infection (acute, chronic, persistent, unapparent infection latent neoplastic transformation) (4 hrs).
Prophylaxis prevention: natural and artificial Immunity, active and passive. Antiviral vaccines: Virus killed (Salk polio) and attenuated viruses (Sabin polio); subunit vaccines (anti anti HBV and HPV) and DNA vaccines. Molecular approaches for the development of virus vaccines (4 hrs).
Gene therapy: molecular approaches to the development of viral vectors for gene therapy (4 hrs).
Special Virology: Papillomavirus and vaccines, Adenovirus and viral vectors, Herpesvirus and viral vectors, Parvovirus and viral vectors, Reovirus (Rotavirus), Picornavirus (Enterovirus, Rhinovirus), Togavirus, human retroviruses (Lentivirus: HIV) and viral vectors, hepatitis (HBV, HDV, HCV, HAV, HEV), Paramyxovirus. Orthomyxovirus and vaccines (12 hrs).
Biotechnological drugs’ part
Formal teaching will consist of lectures (24 hours). The syllabus content is as follows:
General aspects of biotechnological drugs (2 hrs).
Drug development and issues related to biotechnological drugs (2 hrs). Biotechnological drug pharmacokinetic (2 hrs). Basic pharmacodynamics aspects of biotechnological drugs (2 hrs).
Biotechnological drugs’ classes
Therapeutic proteins (insulins; tissue plasminogen activators; interferons; biotechnology drugs used in rheumatology) (8 hrs).
Nucleic acids and new drugs (antisense, antigens, ribozymes, aptamers, decoys, siRNA)(5 hrs). Biotechnology and drug-conjugates (immunotoxins, ADEPT, radioimmunoconiugates)(3 hrs). Didactic methods
- Molecular Virology’s part
Formal teaching consists of lectures. The module is organized as follows: classroom lectures on all the topics of the course and direct comparison with the students through dialogues and questions to understand the level of understanding of the various topics covered.
Biotechnological drugs’ part
The module is organized as follows: classroom lessons on all course topics and direct comparison with students through dialogue and questions to realize the level of understanding of the various topics covered. Learning assessment procedures
- The exam aims to evaluate the study of the matter and the understanding of the main topics of the course. The level of achievement of previously indicated learning objectives is assessed through an examination consisting of two parts:
Molecular Virology’s part
The exam is an oral test and will focus on the notions acquired during the course. The questions will allow to take into account the expository and conceptual clarity, the use of appropriate scientific terminology and the student's analytical / critical approach to the notions learned during the course.
Biotechnological drugs’ part
The exam is an oral test and will focus on the notions acquired during the course. The questions will allow to take into account the expository and conceptual clarity, the use of appropriate scientific terminology and the student's analytical / critical approach to the notions learned during the course
The final score will be the average of the two partial scores. Reference texts
- Modulo di Virologia Molecolare
• Lecture’ slides.
• Elements of Molecular Virology– Authors: Alan J. Cann – Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
• Manual of Medical Virology – Authors: F. Dianzani, G. Antonelli, M.R. Capobianchi, A. Dolei – McGraw-Hill Ed.
Biotechnological drugs’ part
• Lecture’ slides.
• Biotechnological drugs pharmacological and clinical aspects. Vegeto, Maggi, Minghetti edizione 2020 Edizioni CEA.
