DM Virology: Admissions, Medical Colleges, Fees, Eligibility Criteria Details

Course contents:

A. General Virology

• Principles of viral structure

• Viral taxonomy

• Replication of DNA and RNA viruses

• Innate responses to viral infections

• Adaptive immune response to viral agents

• Pathogenesis of viral infections

• Viral evolution

• Epidemiology of viral infections

• Bacteriophages

• Antiviral agents - mechanisms of action, PK/PD, clinical indications

• Antiviral resistance testing

• Immunization against viral diseases

• Diagnostic virology

B. Systemic Virology

(i) DNA viruses

• Poxviridae - Variola, Vaccinia, Molluscum contagiosum etc.

• Herpesviridae – HSV-1 and -2, HCMV, VZV, EBV etc.

• Adenoviridae

• Papillomaviridae

• Polyomaviridae - JCPyV, BKPyV etc.

• Parvoviridae - Parvovirus B19,

• Hepadnaviridae - HBV

(ii) RNA viruses

• Picornaviridae - Enterovirus (Poliovirus, Coxsackievirus etc.), Rhinovirus

• Orthomyxoviridae - Influenza

• Paramyxoviridae – Parainfluenza, Measles, Mumps, RSV, HPMV etc.

• Reoviridae - Rotavirus etc.

• Caliciviridae - Norovirus, Sapovirus etc.

• Astroviridae

• Coronaviridae – incl. SARSCoV, MERS CoV etc.

• Rhabdoviridae – Rabies, Chandipura virus etc.

• Flaviviridae - DENV, JE virus, KFD, Zika etc.

• Togaviridae - Chikungunya virus, Rubella virus

• Bunyaviridae - CCHF, Hanta etc.

• Arenaviridae

• Filoviridae - Marburg, Ebola virus etc.

• Retroviridae - HIV, HTLV 1&2

C. Clinical virology

• Viral infections of the skin - including pediatric exanthems and enanthems

• Viral respiratory infections - rhinitis, pharyngitis, croup, bronchiolitis, pneumonia etc.

• Viral CNS infections - encephalitis, meningitis, acute flaccid paralysis, etc.

• Viral gastroenteritis - viruses causing diarrhoea

• Viral hepatitis – e.g., due to HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV etc.

• Viral infections in the immunocompromised – e.g., in transplant recipients

• Congenital viral infections – e.g., due to HCMV, rubella, VZV, HIV etc.

• Sexually transmitted viral infections

• Ocular viral infections

• Oncogenic viral infections

• HIV/AIDS

• Prion diseases

D. Viral epidemiology

• Viral outbreak preparedness, investigation, prevention and control

• Emerging and re-emerging viruses

• Conventional and molecular epidemiology of viral infections

• Biosafety, containment and biosecurity for viruses (including standard precautions, use for personal protective equipment, hospital infection control and biomedical waste management)

• Vectors of viral diseases and their control

E. Viral immunology

• Immune responses to viral infections

• Immunopathogenesis of viral diseases

• Viral vaccines and vectors

F. Virological methods

• Techniques for viral diagnosis (as listed under the psychomotor domain)

• Principles of calibration and preventive maintenance of equipments

G. Research methodology

• As a part of the common training of all post-graduates

Psychomotor domain

1. Virological techniques: At the end of the course the student should be able to perform independently, interpret, validate, provide troubleshooting and assure quality, for the following practical techniques:

• Isolation of viruses - Cell (tissue) culture;

- Embryonated hen's egg inoculation (various routes)

- Animal inoculation

• Staining and microscopy for viral inclusion bodies

• Electron microscopy

• Immunofluorescence

• Enzyme immunoassay/ ELISA

• Immunochromatographic tests (ICT) and other point-of-care (PoC) tests

• Immunoblotting/ Western blot assay

• Hemagglutination and haemadsorption

• Conventional serological assays (optional): Complement fixation test (CFT), hemagglutination inhibition, etc.

• Neutralization assay

• Nucleic acid extraction

• Nucleic acid amplification techniques (target amplification, e.g., PCR, real-time PCR, etc.; signal amplification)

• Amplicon detection techniques – Gel electrophoresis, hybridization, etc.

• Nucleic acid sequencing and sequence analysis

2. Teaching skills/ Pedagogy: At the end of the course, the trainee should be able to teach and train undergraduates, post-graduates and technical staff, the theoretical and practical aspects of clinical virology

Career Options

After completing a DM in Virology, candidates will get employment opportunities in Government as well as in the Private sector.

In the Government sector, candidates have various options to choose from which include Registrar, Senior Resident, Demonstrator, Tutor, etc.

While in the Private sector the options include Resident Doctor, Consultant, Visiting Consultant (Virology), Junior Consultant, Senior Consultant (Virology), Virology Specialist.

Courses After DM in Virology Course

DM in Virology is a specialisation course that can be pursued after finishing a Postgraduate medical course. After pursuing specialisation in DM in Virology, a candidate could also pursue certificate courses and Fellowship programmes recognised by NMC and NBE, where DM in Virology is a feeder qualification.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) –DM in Virology Course

Question: What is the full form of DM?

Answer: The full form of DM is Doctorate of Medicine.

Question: What is a DM in Virology?

Answer: DM Virology or Doctorate of Medicine in Virology also known as DM in Virology is a super specialty level course for doctors in India that is done by them after completion of their postgraduate medical degree course.

Question: What is the duration of a DM in Virology?

Answer: DM in Virology is a super specialty programme of three years.

Question: What is the eligibility of a DM in Virology?

Answer: Candidates must be in possession of a postgraduate medical Degree (MD/MS/DNB) from any college/university recognized by the Medical Council of India (now NMC)/NBE.

Question: What is the scope of a DM in Virology?

Answer: DM in Virology offers candidates various employment opportunities and career prospects.

Question: What is the average salary for a DM in Virology candidate?

Answer: The DM in Virology candidate's average salary is between Rs. 6,00,000 to Rs. 30,00,000 per year depending on the experience.

Question: Can you teach after completing DM Course?

Answer: Yes, candidate can teach in a medical college/hospital after completing DM course.