Viruses, enemies or precious allies? from the development of antiviral drugs to the use of viruses as therapeutic agents

As it is now clear to everybody, viruses can become a scourge for the mankind. Thanks to the incredible progress of molecular medicine, however, a number of viral diseases once considered deadly have become manageable or even curable. Moreover, viruses are now becoming some of our most valuable tools for delivering gene therapies and vaccinations. The main objectives of this course are i) to teach students the main principles and strategies of antiviral drug discovery, and ii) to illustrate how viral vectors are shaping the field of gene therapy and vaccinology.