PLSCI 3675

Virology in the Plant Environment

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth and play vital roles in health, disease, and ecosystems. This course explores the diversity, ecology, and evolution of plant viruses, insect viruses, mycoviruses, and viruses of microbes. Students will study molecular strategies viruses use to infect hosts, replicate, and manipulate host metabolism. The course also highlights the ecological significance of the virome. A major component will be a team-based genome analysis project. Students will annotate a viral genome, investigate its evolution and host interactions, and present findings in a scientific poster and research paper. The project emphasizes bioinformatics tools and science communication. This course is ideal for those interested in virology or microbial ecology.

Prerequisites PLSCI 2250 or permission of instructor.

Last 4 Terms Offered 2026SP

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the structural, genomic, and replicative features of viruses as well as how viruses spread between hosts.
• Compare virus-host interaction strategies.
• Explain the ecological role of viruses in natural and agricultural settings, including their impact on population dynamics and nutrient cycling.
• Interpret and analyze data to draw conclusions on the ecology and evolution of viruses through comparative genomics using bioinformatic tools in R and Python.
• Analyze the evolutionary processes that shape viral genomes, including horizontal gene transfer, recombination, and modularity.
• Design and present a scientific poster and manuscript that synthesizes genomic, ecological, and evolutionary insights about a virus, through a collaborative team process.

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