Introduction to General Virology

Professor L.P. Awasthi is currently the Dean of the School of Agriculture and Dean of Academics at RNB Global University, Rajasthan, India. He is the former Head of the Department of Plant Pathology at Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology in Faizabad (U.P.) India. Dr. Awasthi has a PhD in Plant Virology from Lucknow University and is a distinguished scientist who has made contributions to the field of both plant pathology and plant virology. He has previously edited a book and written research articles on plant diseases. His area of specialization is virology and his professional experience includes more than 45 years of teaching microbiology, plant pathology, and virology. He has guided 77 M. Sc. (Ag.) and 35 PhD students and is actively involved in planning and organizing activities for the university pertaining to teaching and research. Professor Hirday Narain Verma is Vice Chancellor, Jaipur National University, Jaipur, India. Dr. Verma received his PhD in Botany specializing in plant virology from Lucknow University researching the management and control of plant virus diseases and was the recipient of Birbal Sahni Memorial Gold Medal for securing first position. Prof. Verma has been Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dean, Faculty of Science Head of the Botany Department and Coordinator of the Special Assistance Programme in UGC at the University of Lucknow as well as a Visiting Scientist at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology in New Delhi. He is a well-known virologist and has authored a textbook entitled “Basics in Virology “ and published more than 200 research papers in journals of international repute from countries like the USA, Canada, Germany, UK, Switzerland, and India. He has guided 68 PhD students in Botany, Biotechnology, and Microbiology.

Part 1
1. The Development of Virology: Important landmarks in the history of virology
2. General Properties of Viruses
3. Morphology, Genome Organization
4. Replication Strategies and Viral Genetics
5. Purification and Characterization
6. Detection and Diagnosis including Advanced Molecular Techniques
7. Taxonomy
8. Virology and Biotechnology
9. Virology and Public Health

Part 2
10. Bacterial Viruses – The Bacteriophages: Properties, classification, structural organization, structure, genome, life cycle of T4, ?-phage, M13 phage, QB phage

Part 3
11. Human and Animal viruses – General Properties, Replication, Host– Pathogen Interaction, Virus Vaccines, Antiviral Drugs
12. Selected Viral Diseases of Humans
13. Ebola virus
14. Zika virus
15. HIV
16. Coronavirus
17. Viruses and Cancer
18. Selected viruses of Animals
19. Insect viruses
20. Prions
21. Human and Animal Viruses and the Future

Part 4
22. Plant Viruses –Classification, Nomenclature, Disease Symptoms, Transmission, Assay, Detection and Diagnosis, Virus Replication, Purification of Viruses, Control of Viruses
23. Important Virus Disease of Plants, their spread, management/control
24. Sub-Viral Agents – Satellites and Viroids
25. Mycoviruses26. Green microalgae viruses (Cyanophages)