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Basic Immunology

General data

Course ID: 1400-114PIMM
Erasmus code / ISCED: 13.104 The subject classification code consists of three to five digits, where the first three represent the classification of the discipline according to the Discipline code list applicable to the Socrates/Erasmus program, the fourth (usually 0) - possible further specification of discipline information, the fifth - the degree of subject determined based on the year of study for which the subject is intended. / (0511) Biology The ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education) code has been designed by UNESCO.
Course title: Basic Immunology
Name in Polish: Podstawy immunologii
Organizational unit: Faculty of Biology
Course groups: (in Polish) Przedmioty obieralne na studiach drugiego stopnia na kierunku bioinformatyka
Elective subjects
Requisite courses for second-year students of Biology
Requisite subjects for second-year students of Biotechnology
Course homepage: http://www.biol.uw.edu.pl/zi/pi
ECTS credit allocation (and other scores): 2.00 Basic information on ECTS credits allocation principles:
  • the annual hourly workload of the student’s work required to achieve the expected learning outcomes for a given stage is 1500-1800h, corresponding to 60 ECTS;
  • the student’s weekly hourly workload is 45 h;
  • 1 ECTS point corresponds to 25-30 hours of student work needed to achieve the assumed learning outcomes;
  • weekly student workload necessary to achieve the assumed learning outcomes allows to obtain 1.5 ECTS;
  • work required to pass the course, which has been assigned 3 ECTS, constitutes 10% of the semester student load.
Language: Polish
Type of course:

obligatory courses

Prerequisites (description):

Participants should have a basic knowledge of biology and chemistry.

Mode:

Classroom

Short description:

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...

Full description:

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.

Bibliography:

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

Learning outcomes:

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.)

Assessment methods and assessment criteria:

Written exam with open questions.

Internships:

Not required.

Classes in period "Winter semester 2024/25" (past)

Time span: 2024-10-01 - 2025-01-26
Selected timetable range:
Go to timetable
Type of class:
Lecture, 30 hours more information
Coordinators: Ewa Kozłowska
Group instructors: Nadzieja Drela, Ewa Kozłowska
Students list: (inaccessible to you)
Credit: Course - Examination
Lecture - Examination

Classes in period "Winter semester 2025/26" (future)

Time span: 2025-10-01 - 2026-01-25

Selected timetable range:
Go to timetable
Type of class:
Lecture, 30 hours more information
Coordinators: Ewa Kozłowska
Group instructors: Nadzieja Drela, Ewa Kozłowska
Students list: (inaccessible to you)
Credit: Course - Examination
Lecture - Examination
Course descriptions are protected by copyright.
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