Course Description
Human immunology covering the foundations of the immune system at the molecular and cellular level. Topics include innate and adaptive immunity, generation of antibody and lymphocyte diversity, signaling molecules, the complement system and other immune modulators, immunological failure in disease and the role of the immune system in allergic reactions.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be administered different examinations that will require them to demonstrate greater critical thinking skills by applying concepts from the course in the design and interpretation of experiments. In addition, graduate students will be assigned a contemporary topic beyond the typical content of the course. They will have to independently research this topic and prepare an informative report or presentation on this topic.
Athena Title
Human Immunology
Prerequisite
(PMCY 4020/6020 or PMCY 4020E/6020E) and PMCY 4050/6050
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to understand the differences between and necessary integration of innate and adaptive immunity.
- Students will be able to describe the development and roles of the various cell types and tissues of the human immune system.
- Students will be able to explain how the immune response is guided by chemokines and cytokine signaling, and the effects of inappropriate signaling events.
- Students will be able to model the physiological and pathological functions of the immune system at a molecular/genetic level.
- Students will be able to recognize the immunological factors that lead to adverse outcomes in the context of disease and allergy.
Topical Outline
- 1. Basic concepts in immunology
a. Origins of immune cells
b. Principles of innate immunity
c. Principles of adaptive immunity
d. Effector mechanisms of immunity
- 2. Innate immunity
a. Anatomic barriers and initial chemical defenses
b. The complement system and innate immunity
c. Pattern recognition by cells of the innate immunity system
d. Induced innate responses to infections
- 3. Antigen recognition by B-cell and T-cell receptors
a. Structure of antibody molecules
b. Interaction of antibodies with antigens
c. Antigen recognition by T-cells
- 4. Generation of lymphocyte antigen receptors
a. Primary immunoglobin gene rearrangement
b. T-cell receptor gene rearrangement
c. Structural variation in immunoglobulin
d. Evolution of adaptive immune response
- 5. Antigen presentation to T-lymphocytes
a. Generation of α:ß T-cell receptor ligands
b. The major histocompatibility complex and its function
c. Generation of ligands for unconventional T-cell subsets
