LQB494 Viruses and Viral Pathogenesis

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This unit is designed for students in biomedical sciences, to provide a strong grounding in the field of virology and to expand on the fundamental mechanisms and processes that underpin the pathogenic potential of select viruses. This unit is a core unit in the infection and immunity strand, building on concepts introduced in Principles of Infection and Immunity (LQB292). LQB494 continues the study of the virus-host interactions with a focus on microbe-specific factors that underlie infectious disease progression, knowledge necessary for further studies of more advanced molecular virology analyses. You will develop a strong, fundamental knowledge of virology and industry-relevant skills, using cutting-edge technology in laboratory classes, to prepare you for a career in biomedical research, medical biotechnology and postgraduate studies in biomedical science.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Develop, perform and interpret the results of virology experiments while using appropriate practice for a PC2 laboratory
2. Prepare laboratory reports in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice for either research or industry application
3. Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of virology and apply critical thinking skills to illustrate its relevance to research and microbiology settings
4. Retrieve information on viral disease processes using database searches.

Content

Learning Approaches

A variety of teaching and learning approaches will be employed in this unit.  The theory modules of this unit will be complemented by laboratory practicals and workshops to reinforce your understanding of the subject through practical applications. Laboratory classes and workshops will provide additional skills using cutting-edge technology relevant to real world settings. 

Important Note: tudents should check their timetable for all practicals and workshops, as locations may change between Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways: comments on summative assessment items will be communicated to the cohort via Canvas and during workshops. Formative assessment feedback will be provided to ensure support for the successful presentation, interpretation and completion of laboratory reports. You can also receive immediate feedback on your own progress by completing the self-directed learning activities available to you on Canvas, such as quizzes, where available. 

Assessment

Overview

Your ability to meet the various learning milestones embedded in this unit is critical to successful completion of this unit while ensuring that learning outcomes and aims have been met. The summative assessment items in this unit are designed to measure specific aspects of learning critical to success in infectious disease research including molecular microbiology and immunology, the maintenance of a detailed and informative laboratory workbook, and data analysis and interpretation.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Laboratory report

Laboratory Report #1 (Practicals Weeks 2-6). This is a project based assignment.

Project outline:

An outbreak of respiratory illness is taking place at a childcare centre in Brisbane. You are a molecular epidemiologist tasked with identifying the virus involved. You strongly suspect that the culprit is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is highly infectious and circulates frequently in childcare settings. Nasal swabs have been taken from the children and placed in viral transport media for further analysis in the lab. First, you will culture the virus present in the media to see if it is live and viable. Viruses are cultured (propagated) through infection of susceptible host cells. Then, using your cultured virus, you will perform two commonly used methods of virus identification and quantification. You will then identify which swab cultures contained the most virus (highest titre) and if the PCR results for titre correlates to TCID50 results for titre.

Lab report objective:

You will write a lab report based on the findings from your practicals to determine whether the suspected culprit causing the outbreak of respiratory illness that childcare centre is RSV.

Submission of Laboratory report and notebook files completed as per Good Laboratory Practice.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Case study

Laboratory Report #2 (Practicals Weeks 8-12). This is a dual case study-based assignment (project based).

Case study 1:

Jennifer is 40-years old and suspected of having HPV. Her doctor collects a scrape of cervical cells for testing. Microscopy from the pathology lab indicates changes in Jennifer’s cervical epithelium consistent with HPV infection. The L1 gene of HPV is typically used to genotype the virus using PCR. This is critical to understanding whether a patient has a high or low risk genotype, and whether they need to undergo more frequent screening if they are at high risk of developing cervical cancer.

You are also required to address discussion questions in the report by performing literature searches on published research articles and referencing in-text. This will enable you to critically analyse your laboratory results and delve deeper into discussing your laboratory findings.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Final exam

This assessment tests your understanding of virology and viral pathogenesis. This is the final theory examination that will cover material from lectures, workshops, and the practicals. The examination includes multiple-choice style questions and requires you to be able to critically answer a series of short answer questions. 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:

1. Laboratory Gown - Rear fastening 100% cotton or polyester/cotton mix
2. Safety eye protection glasses - selected and used in accordance with Australian Safety Standards
3. Fully enclosed non-slip shoes

Costs

Cost of lab gowns and safety protection glasses are the students responsibility.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Essential Human Virology 2nd edition, Jennifer Louten, Academic Press 2023

Safety and protective equipment

Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:

1. Laboratory Gown - Rear fastening 100% cotton or polyester/cotton mix
2. Safety eye protection glasses - selected and used in accordance with Australian Safety Standards
3. Fully enclosed non-slip shoes

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit includes a laboratory component. In order that you become proficient in necessary practical skills, you will be trained in the handling of equipment, materials and specimens normally associated with this discipline. You are required to view a Health & Safety Induction video and complete an online health and safety quiz prior to being permitted into the laboratory, to access please follow this link Health & Safety Induction. A passing score of 10/10 is required and will be checked prior to entry to the first laboratory session. You may repeat the quiz until this score is achieved. You are also referred to the Faculty of Health's Health & Safety Web Site for further information.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the lecturer in charge of the unit, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.

Course Learning Outcomes

LS40 Bachelor of Biomedical Science

1. Critically review, analyse and synthesise foundational knowledge in a broad range of biomedical discipline areas and in depth theoretical, technical and practical knowledge in specialised discipline areas.
   Relates to: Final exam
2. Demonstrate the technical skills required to solve multi-disciplinary problems in biomedical research, industry and clinical settings and do so in an ethical, safe and responsible manner.
   Relates to: Laboratory report
3. Demonstrate the cognitive skills required to find solutions to scientific problems.
   Relates to: Laboratory report , Final exam
4. Contribute effectively to biomedical projects, either as an individual or as a member of a team and demonstrate professional behaviour.
   Relates to: Laboratory report
5. Apply knowledge and skills to rapidly source, critically analyse and communicate biomedical science information using appropriate technologies.
   Relates to: Laboratory report , Case study, Final exam