Viruses and human cancers
- Duration: 9 weeks
- Effort: 27 hours
- Pace: ~3 hours/week
What you will learn
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
• learn about the biology and the replicative cycle of viruses associated with cancers
• know the mechanism of tumorigenesis induced by these viruses
• understand the role of the immune system in controlling these viruses and the induced tumors
• be at the cutting edge of new advances in terms of vaccination and anti-tumor therapies.
Description
About 20% of human cancers are induced by viruses, particularly in low/middle income countries, to a point that in some regions of the world, viral infection is the main etiology of human cancers. Our understanding of the relationship between viral infection and oncogenesis has considerably improved during the last two decades. As obligatory intracellular parasites, viruses encode proteins that reprogram host cellular signaling pathways that control proliferation, differentiation, cell death, genomic integrity, and recognition by the immune system. Both DNA and RNA viruses have been linked with human cancers.
Epstein-Barr virus, papillomaviruses, hepatitis B virus, human herpesvirus-8 and Merkel cell polyomavirus are the five DNA viruses that are capable of causing the development of human cancers. Human T lymphotrophic virus type 1 and hepatitis C virus are the two RNA viruses that contribute to human cancers. Treatment and prevention strategies critically depend on the double understanding of the mechanism of cell tumorigenesis and the way they are influenced by viruses.
During this MOOC, we will review the different mechanisms of virus induced carcinogenesis, from direct integration of the virus in the genome to non-specific inflammation and immune disorders. The epidemiology and specificity of each type of virus and of the induced tumor will then be given in detail. At the end we will report innovations in the prevention of virus induced tumors.
Format
This MOOC is organized in 7 chapters :
1. Mechanisms of virus-induced oncogenesis: direct
2. Mechanisms of virus-induced oncogenesis: indirect
3. Retroviruses
4. Papillomaviruses
5. Hepatitis B and C viruses and hepatocellular carcinoma
6. Herpes viruses
7. Prevention and vaccination
Each chapter is composed of 2 to 6 sessions. In each session, you will find a 8 to12-minute video and a multiple choice test to help you check your understanding. The videos are in English and are subtitled in French and in English.
Prerequisites
TWe recommend a good scientific background (such as a bachelor of science).
Course plan
Chapter 1 : Mechanisms of virus induced oncogenesis : direct
- Introduction
- Origin of HIV and animal reservoirs
- Mechanisms of viral oncogenesis
- Mechanisms of oncogenesis. Pathogenesis and immune evasion
- Human oncogenic viruses and centrosomes
- Integration of viruses and cancers
Chapter 2: Mechanisms of virus induced oncogeneis: indirect
- Inflammation and cancers
- Viruses, immunity and cancers
- Stress induced by viruses (or Viral stress), mutations and cancers
- Interactome, viruses and cancer
Chapter 3 :Retroviruses
- Epidemiology of HTLV-1
- Viral oncogenesis as a subversion of viral multiplication
- Mechanisms of mother to child transmission of the oncogenic virus HTLV-1
- Endogenous retroviruses
Chapter 4: Papillomaviruses
- Epidemiology of human papillomaviruses
- Human papilloma virus infection and disease
- Oncogenic human papillomaviruses
- Merkel polyomavirus
Chapter 5 : Hepatitis B and C viruses and hepatocellular carcinoma
- Epidemiology of HBV/HCV related HCC
- Mechanisms of HBV/HCV-induced HCC
- HBV-HCV/HIV related HCC
- Universal hepatitis B vaccination: a way to eliminate hepatocellular carcinoma?
- Modeling hepatitis virus infections and treatment strategies in humanized mice
Chapter 6 : Herpes viruses/Virus de l’herpès
- Oncogenic gamma-herpesviruses
- Herpesviruses, general introduction
- Epidemiology of HHV8
- Kaposi’s sarcoma and HHV8
Chapter 7 : Prevention and vaccination
- Therapeutic DNA vaccine against cancer
- Oncolytic viruses : a new class of immunotherapeutic drugs
Course runs
Archived
- From Jan. 7, 2019 to May 13, 2019
- From Sept. 3, 2021 to Oct. 31, 2021
Course team
Jean-Pierre Vartanian
HILDE ANGERMEIER
Organizations
License
License for the course content
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
License for the content created by course participants
All rights reserved
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