Virology 101

A new class is starting at virology blog: Virology 101.

I began this blog in 2004, to give back what I’ve learned from studying viruses for 30+ years. I’ve written many posts on basic virology, but they tend to disappear with time. To remedy this problem, I’ve collected all these posts with links back to the original article, arranged by topic. They are typically short and easy to read; if you start from the top, soon you will have a good basic understanding of virology.

I’ve also included relevant episodes of the podcast TWiV, where we discuss basic virology about once a month.

For the more adventurous, I list video podcasts from my Columbia University graduate virology course, G6021; and my lectures to medical and undergraduate students.

If you are specifically interested in influenza virus, there is always Influenza 101.

The most recent additions are shown by *.

Class will always be in session: there is much more to come.

With this virology course you also get access to a virology professor. If you have any questions, send them to vincent@virology.ws.

Basic Background Information

Introduction to virology lecture (G6021)

Introduction to virology I and II (Medical school lecture)

What is a virus?

Are viruses living?

Discovery of viruses

What color is a virus?

How viruses are classified

Virus classification (TWiV 43)

Simplifying virus classification: The Baltimore system

Viral genomes (TWiV 49)

The infectious cycle lecture (G6021)

Measurement

Detecting viruses: The plaque assay

How many viruses are needed to form a plaque?

Measurement of viruses by end-point dilution assay

Virus Structure

Virus structure (TWiV 39)

Structure lecture (G6021)

Attachment and Entry into Cells

Virus entry into cells (TWiV 46)

Attachment and entry lecture (G6021)

Nucleic Acid Synthesis

RNA synthesis lecture (G6021)

*Making viral RNA (TWiV 60)

Protein synthesis

Translation lecture (G6021)

Virion Assembly

Assembly lecture (G6021)

Pathogenesis and Immunity

Pathogenesis lecture (G6021)

Pathogenesis II lecture (G6021)

Viral Pathogenesis (Medical school lecture)

Acute viral infections

Antigenic variation explains recurring acute infections

Innate responses lecture (G6021)

Innate sensors of DNA

Immunopathology: Too much of a good thing

Innate immune defenses

The inflammatory response

Adaptive immune defenses

Adaptive immune defenses: Antibodies

Virus neutralization by antibodies

The complement system

C1q and the collectins

Natural antibody protects against viral infection

Prevention and Control

Antivirals lecture (G6021)

Tamiflu-resistant pandemic influenza H1N1 virus selected by prophylaxis

Vaccines lecture lecture (G6021)

*Vaccines lecture (Immunology course)

Evolution and Emergence

Evolution lecture (G6021)

Viruses and the tree of life

The abundant and diverse viruses of the seas

Chikungunya: An exotic virus on the move

Lujo virus, a new hemorrhagic fever virus from Southern Africa

The error-prone ways of RNA synthesis

The quasispecies concept

Viral quasispecies and bottlenecks

The number of possible viral variants

Pushing viruses over the error threshold

Increased fidelity reduces viral fitness

Why don’t DNA based organisms discard error repair?

The trajectory of evolution

Virulence: A positive or negative trait for evolution?