lab rotation 1:

Reverse genetic studies of viral infections

 

Contents:

  • Characteristics of viral infections
  • Targeted manipulation of viral genomes by reverse genetics
  • RNA technologies (in vitro transcription, isolation of viral RNA)
  • Methods to detect and quantify viral infection or replication (plaque assay, immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, growth curve analysis)
  • Cell culture techniques with cells of human, bovine

Qualification objectives:

  • Understanding of viral infections of non-cytopathogenic and cytopathogenic viruses
  • Overview of current methods for the systematic courts mutagenesis of viral genomes
  • Applications of various RNA technologies for the study of viral infections
  • Overview of current methods of virus detection in cell cultures
  • Working under BSL2 conditions with viral pathogens

Allocation of credit and grading by:

  • Oral presentation and written report

lab rotation 2:

Molecular biological studies on virus-host interactions

 

Contents:

  • Characteristics of viral infections
  • Influence of the host cell to viral infections
  • Characterization of host factors of viral infections
  • RNA technologies (in vitro transcription, viral RNA isolation)
  • Methods to detect an quantify viral infection or replication (plaque assay, immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, growth curve analysis)
  • Use of stable cell lines to study and characterize virus-host interactions
  • Cell culture techniques of human, bovine and primary cell cultures

Qualification objectives:

  • Understanding of viral infections not cytopathogenic and cytopathogenic virus
  • Overview of current methods for the characterization of virus-host interactions
  • Applications of various RNA technologies to study viral infections
  • Overview of current methods of virus detection in cell cultures
  • Working under BSL2 conditions with viral pathogens
  • Working with stable cell lines

Allocation of credit and grading:

  • Oral presentation of results and written report

lab rotation 3:

Molecular biological studies to charcterize biogenesis of viral replication complexes of Hepatitis C Virus

 

Contents:

  • Characteristics of viral replication complexes (RC)
  • Functions of viral non-structural proteins in the viral life cycle
  • Characterization of determinants of NS-Protein function by reverse genetics
  • RNA technologies (in vitro transcription, viral RNA isolation)
  • Viral methods to detect viral replication (immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, replicon assays, reporter assays)
  • Use of stable cell lines to study viral replication and RC formation
  • Cell culture techniques of human cell cultures

Qualification objectives:

  • Understanding of viral replication process of Hepatitis C Virus
  • Overview of current methods for the characterization of virus-host interactions
  • Applications of various RNA technologies to study viral replication
  • Overview of current methods of viral replication detection in cell cultures
  • Working under BSL1/2 conditions (e.g. with HCV subgenomic replicons, Vaccinia virus etc.)
  • Working with stable cell lines

Allocation of credit and grading:

  • Oral presentation of results and written report