ECTS credits ECTS credits: 4.5
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Hours of tutorials: 1.5 Expository Class: 20 Interactive Classroom: 17 Total: 38.5
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Parasitology
Areas: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology
Center Faculty of Biology
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
The aim of this course is for students to acquire a knowledge and understanding of:
1) The development of vaccines through the use of biotechnological tools.
2) The fundamentals and methods for the use of viruses for preventive and therapeutic purposes.
Lectures (20 h):
1. Viral vectors in gene therapy. Design, production and applications. 2 h
2. Viral vectors for recombinant protein expression. Types and applications. 2h
3. Viruses and nanotechnology. Virus like particles (VLPs), viral nanoparticles (VNP), nanoconjugates. Methods and applications 2h.
4. Oncolytic viruses. Viral types and applications. 2h
5. Biotechnological applications of bacteriophages. 1h
6. Baculoviruses as biopesticides. Formulation and applications. 1h
7. Vaccines: definition, characteristics, and composition. History of vaccination. 2h
8. Classification of vaccines. Characteristics, benefits, problems of the different types of vaccines. 2h
9. Vaccination guidelines and routes of administration. Adjuvants. Definition and mechanisms of action. Compounds of traditional use and new research. 1h
10. Design. Identification of response-inducing antigens. New generation vaccines. 2h
11. Development of procedures for the industrial production of vaccines. Vaccine control: legal and sanitary aspects. Requirements for vaccine registration. 1h
12. Vaccination: current challenges and strategies. 2h
Seminars (5 h)
Development of practical exercises and problem solving related to theory topics (activity carried out in the Virtual Campus).
Presentation of assignments and discussion on the exercises performed and specific aspects of the subject.
Practical classes (12 h)
The practical classes will be held in 5 sessions.
1. Cultivation, identification and quantification of viruses 2h
2. Manipulation of viral genomes and transfection 2h
3. Recovery of recombinant viruses and detection of recombinant protein: 2h
4. Basis and expression of a subunit vaccine in bacteria 3h
5. Purification and characterization of subunit vaccine 3h
Tutorials
Resolution of doubts 1h
Basic bibliography
- Bloom, B. R. and Lambert, P. H. (2016) The Vaccine Book: Second Edition, The Vaccine Book: Second Edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier Inc. doi: 10.1016/C2014-0-00804-0.
- Flint, J., Rall, G. F., Racaniello, V. R., & Skalka, A. M. (2020) Principies of Virology. Hoboken: Wiley. Available at: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Principles+of+Virology%2C+Multi+Volume%2C+5….
- Khan, M. S., Khan, I. A. (Iqrar A. and Barh, D. (2019) Applied molecular biotechnology : the next generation of genetic engineering. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Available at: https://www.routledge.com/Applied-Molecular-Biotechnology-The-Next-Gene….
- Tennant, P., Fermin, G. and Foster, J. E. (Jerome E. (2018) Viruses : molecular biology, host interactions, and applications to biotechnology. London: Academic Press.
Complementary bibliography
- Cann, A. J. (2015) Principles of Molecular Virology: Sixth Edition, Principles of Molecular Virology: Sixth Edition. Amsterdam: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/C2014-0-01081-7.
Knowledge:
Con06 Understand the principles of bioenergetics and biosignalling, and know the main metabolic pathways and their regulation, as well as the flow of genetic and biochemical information in living beings.
Con07Know and understand the structure and function of viruses, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Skills/skills:
H/D01-Apply in an integrated way the theoretical-practical knowledge acquired in the transmission of information/ideas and in the approach and resolution of problems, both in academic and professional contexts.
H/D02-Knowing how to obtain and interpret relevant information and experimental results and to draw conclusions in subjects related to Biology.
H/D07-Ability to search for, process, analyse and synthesise information from different sources, including the use of ICT in the field of Biology.
H/D8-Ability to reason, argue and think critically
H/D10-Ability to work in groups and deal with problem situations in a collective way
H/D11-Ability to produce and present an organised and comprehensible text, adequately reflecting the sources of information used.
H/D12-Ability to make a clear, concise and coherent public presentation.
Competences:
Com01-That students have demonstrated possession, understanding and use of knowledge of the different areas of Biology, including some cutting-edge aspects of their field of study.
Com03-That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the abilities that are usually demonstrated through the elaboration and defence of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study.
Com04-To know and know how to apply instrumental techniques and design work protocols in the laboratory and in the field, applying the appropriate regulations and techniques related to safety, hygiene, waste management, quality and sustainable development.
The teaching methodology will be based on lectures, providing concepts, diagrams and photographs through audiovisual media and will encourage active student participation through the formulation of questions or the posing of practical cases to be solved in the classroom. In the seminars the work carried out by the students will be presented (activity aimed at promoting the use of bibliography, interpretation and synthesis of information).
Practical classes will be held in the laboratory.
1-hour tutorials will be scheduled for the resolution of doubts.
All evaluable activities are compulsory
- Theoretical exam* 65% of the mark
The student's theoretical knowledge will be assessed by definition of basic concepts, answers to short questions, interpretation of images and diagrams,
[Con06, Con07; H/D01, H/D08, H/D10; Com01, Com03; ]
- Completion of practical exercises 10% of the overall mark** [to be evaluated
[H/D01, H/D02, H/D10; Com04].
- Seminar work: report and presentation (the quality of the report and the presentation will be taken into account, as well as the confidence in answering the questions posed and the participation in the presentations of the classmates): 25% of the overall mark (10% report + 15% presentation and participation) ** [H/D01, H/D02, H/D10; Com04].
[H/D01, H/D02, H/D07, H/D08, H/D10, H/D11, H/D12, Com1, Com3].
* The theory exam will be taken in writing, according to the date established by the dean's team, as published in the student's guide of this Faculty. It will be necessary to pass the theory exam (5) to add the rest of the items.
** If necessary, the grade for practical and seminar work will be maintained for the following academic year.
Course of 4.5 ECTS credits x 25 hours = 112.5 hours
Total classroom hours: 40.5
- Lectures: 20 hours
- Practical classes: 12 hours
- Seminars: 5 hours
- Group tutorials: 1
- Individual tutoring: 0.5
- Exam: 2 hours
Personal work: 72 hours
Knowledge of biochemistry, genetics and microbiology is required to take the course.
The subject will have a virtual classroom on the Moodle platform in which, in addition to the contents developed by the teachers, other useful information will be available to students
For cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the provisions of the "Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións" (Regulations for the assessment of students' academic performance and review of qualifications) shall apply.
Carlos Pereira Dopazo
- Department
- Microbiology and Parasitology
- Area
- Microbiology
- Phone
- 881816083
- carlos.pereira [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Jose Manuel Martinez Costas
- Department
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Area
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Phone
- 881815734
- jose.martinez.costas [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Professor
Maria Isabel Bandin Matos
Coordinador/a- Department
- Microbiology and Parasitology
- Area
- Microbiology
- Phone
- 881816087
- isabel.bandin [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Emma Gonzalez Rosales
- Department
- Microbiology and Parasitology
- Area
- Microbiology
- emmagonzalez.rosales [at] usc.es
- Category
- Ministry Pre-doctoral Contract
| Tuesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 09. Barbara McClintock |
| 06.04.2025 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 04: James Watson and Francis Crick |
| 07.14.2025 10:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 08. Louis Pasteur |