Basic Immunology

obligatory courses

Participants should have a basic knowledge of biology and chemistry.

Classroom

Immunology is the scientific study of protection against disease. The basic functions of the immune system are:

-protection from invading pathogens

-immune surveillance leading to the elimination of foreign, cancer and old cells

-maintenance of homeostasis by adjusting the activity of the immune system to changing conditions.

The list of topics

-Basic functions and the evolution of the immune system

Structure of the immune system, generation of the immune cells in mammals, leukocyte recirculation routes

-Defense mechanisms in mammals

-Inflammation: cells and molecules of the innate and adaptive immunity involved in the development of the inflammatory response to bacterial infection

-Defense mechanisms against different pathogens

-The battle between invading pathogen and victim: different strategies of attack and defense

-Immune response to tumors

-Homeostasis in the immune system

-Dysfunction of the immune system

-Defense mechanisms of vertebrates and invertebrates...

1.Terminology, definitions and rules governing the functions of the immune system.

2.Structure of the immune system: immune cells and lymphoid organs. Leukocyte migration and recirculation.

3.Generation of the immune cells. Hematopoiesis.

4.Basic mechanisms related to the function of the immune system

a.main functions of the immune system

b.antigens: molecules recognized by the immune system

c.innate immunity

d.adaptive immunity

5.Cells and molecules involved in the innate immunity. Antigen recognition by the innate immune cells (phagocytic cells, NK cells)

6.Cells and molecules involved in the adaptive immunity. Characteristic attributes of the adaptive immunity: antigenic specificity, diversity, immunologic memory, self/nonself recognition. The kinetics of the adaptive immunity.

7.Antigen recognition by T and B lymphocytes (TCR, T-cell receptor, BCR, B-cell receptor). The role of APC (antigen-presenting cells) in antigen recognition by T lymphocytes.

8.T-cell activation and differentiation. B-cell activation by thymus-dependent and thymus-independent antigens. Effector functions of T and B lymphocytes. Types of the immune response (humoral and cellular response).

9.Cytokines in the regulation of the immune system activity. Interactions between the immune and neuro-endocrine systems.

10.Defense mechanisms involved in bacterial, viral and parasite infections. Vaccines.

11.Defense mechanisms in cancer.

12.Failure of the immune system activity: hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency

13.Phylogeny of immunity

14.Modulation of the immune system activity: theory and practice.

15.Structure of antibodies, polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies production. Antibodies application in experimental systems and therapy. Experimental models and basic methods used in immunity studies.

1. Kuby Immunology, Kindt TJ, Goldsby RA, Osborne BA, WH Freeman and Company 2007

2. Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Abbas AK, Lichtman AH, Saunders 2006

Knowledge:

1 Has basic knowledge of immune system functions and functional relations between cells of innate and acquired immunity.K_W05 (BI Ist.); K_W06 (BI Ist.)

2. Understanding of basic conceptual categories of terminology used in immunology K_W13 (BI Ist.)

3. Knows basic mechanisms of inner immune system regulation and role of immune system in whole organism function. K_W06 (BI I ST.)

4. Understanding of basic principles of interaction between the immune system and the neuroendocrine system K_W06 (BI Ist.)

5. Knows basic research techniques used in the study of the immune system function and their importance in human life. K_W19 (BI I ST.)

Skills:

1. Ability to study on his/her owns of issues identified by the lecturer. K_U10 (BI Ist.)

2. Ability to read and understand scientific and popular biological texts in Polish or English. K_U03 (BI Ist.)

3. Ability to discuss on a basis of available literature. K_U04 (BI I ST.)

4. Ability to present scientific problems as written paper or multimedial presentation. K_U07 (BI I ST.)

social skills

1. Expanding of interest in the field of natural sciences. K_K01 (BI Ist.)

2. Understanding of research ethics at work with laboratory animals. K_K03 (BI Ist.)

3. Critically analyze information from the mass media and scientific literature. K_K08 (BI Ist.)

Written exam with open questions.

Not required.