Immunology

1. Components of the immune system and their roles in immunity

• Microbiota versus pathogenic organisms

• Barriers against infection

• Inflammation – a stereotyped response to tissue injury

• Characteristics of innate and adaptive immunity

• Cells of the immune system and their origins

• Adaptive immunity - B and T lymphocyte receptors: immunoglobulins and T cell receptors, respectively.

• Overview of effector mechanisms of B and T lymphocytes

• Lymphoid tissues

2. Induction of innate immunity in response to infection

• Physical barriers and commensal microbiota contribute to resist invasion by pathogens

• Comparison of immune responses to intracellular versus extracellular pathogens

• The complement system - its activation and roles during infection

• Timing of phagocyte activation during infection

• Cellular and humoral mechanisms of inflammation

3.  Effector mechanisms of innate immunity

• Pattern recognition receptors and microbial associated molecular patterns in host discrimination of “non-self” from “self”

• Macrophage phagocytic and signaling receptors activation in response to infection

• Cytokines and acute phase proteins in infection

• Detection of four main groups of pathogens by toll-like receptors

• Linkage of resistance and susceptibility to disease to genetic variation in toll-like receptors

• Innate resistance to viral infections

4. Immunoglobulin structure and generation of B cell diversity

• Structural basis of antibody diversity

• Overview of generation of immunoglobulin diversity in B cells prior to antigen encounter

• Diversification of antibodies after B cell antigen activation

5. T lymphocytes and antigen recognition

• Diversity of the T-cell receptor (TCR)

• Antigen processing and presentation

• Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and associated molecules

• Function of MHC class I and MHC class II molecules in different intracellular compartments

• Variation in expression of MHC class I and class II molecules in different cell types

6. B lymphocyte development

• Overview of B cell development in the bone marrow

• Selection and further development of the B-cell repertoire

7.  T lymphocyte development

• Overview of T cell development in the thymus

• Positive and negative selection of the T-cell repertoire

8. T cell mediated immunity

• Naive T cell activation by antigen

• Characteristics and roles of effector T cells

9. B cell mediated immunity and immunoglobulins

• Antibody production by B lymphocytes

• Antibody effector functions

10. Mucosal immunity

• Mucosal surfaces as barriers and site of gut microbiota

• Protective mechanisms at gut mucosal surface

• Induction of a TH₂-mediated immune response to helminthic infections

11. Immunological memory in adaptive immunity and vaccination

• Immunological memory and the secondary immune response

• Memory B and T cells

• Immunological memory and viral infections

• Immunological basis for the protective effect of vaccination

• Adjuvants and vaccines

• Current approaches to vaccine production

• Influenza vaccines

• Vaccination and public health

12. Co-evolution of innate and adaptive immunity

• Regulation of NK-cell function

• Maintenance of tissue integrity by gamma:delta T cells

• Restriction of alpha:beta T cells by non-polymorphic MHC class I-like molecules

13. Failure of immunity against microorganisms

• Pathogen evasion and subversion of the immune system by microorganisms

• Inherited immunodeficiencies

• Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

14.  Allergens and allergic responses

• Hypersensitivity reactions and their effector mechanisms

• IgE in immunity and allergy

• IgE-mediated allergic disease

15. Transplantation immunology

• Triggering of hyposensitivity reactions by allogeneic transplantation

• Solid organ transplantation 

• Hematopoietic cell transplantation

16. Immunopathology due to adaptive immune responses

• Immunological basis of auto-immune diseases

• HLA genotype influences auto-immune disease susceptibility

• Autoimmune diseases due to auto-antibodies against cell-surface receptors

• Intravenous immunoglobulin in the management of auto-immune diseases

• Rheumatoid arthritis immunopathology and treatment strategies

• Precipitation of auto-immunity by immune response to infectious and noninfectious agents

• Noninfectious environmental factors affect the development of auto-immune disease

• Thymus and T cell senescence contribute to auto-immunity

• Auto-inflammatory diseases of innate immunity

17. Tumor immunology

• Cancer and mutations related to uncontrolled cell growth

• Number of accumulated mutations and origin of cancer in single cells

• Immunological responses to cancers

• Requirement of tumors for evasion and modulation of the immune response

• Vaccination as a strategy to prevent some cancers (e.g. cervix, liver)

• Immunotherapy

18. Immunological tools and techniques explored through laboratory activities will include the following:

• Uses of antibodies as tools for diagnosis and research

• Cell-based assays