Course Description
Immunology from an experimental perspective. Anatomy, development, and function of the immune system. Immune system in infectious diseases. Mechanisms and pathogenesis of immunological disorders. Evolution of immunological concepts.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students must attend two seminars from speakers outside the university whose talk focuses on immunology. They then write a 1-2 page synopsis of the lecture. The goal of this exercise is to assimilate the immunological knowledge that the students are getting in class with current research. The second additional requirement is the writing of an advanced "grant application" on a topic in immunology. This exercise requires that they become an expert in a focused area of immunology, understand the up-to-date literature in this area and propose an experiment or set of experiments that will extend current knowledge. Graduate students are expected to write a more detailed, complete and feasible grant proposal. The hope is that this exercise will take the student beyond the book to current literature, to see how immunology is applied in the research arena and to think creatively about how to extend classroom knowledge to real world problems.
Athena Title
Immunology
Non-Traditional Format
The one-hour breakout session will include group work/problem solving, case studies, manuscript discussions, etc.
Prerequisite
(BCMB 3100 or BCMB 3100E or BCMB 4010/6010 or BCMB 4020/6020) and (GENE 3200-3200D or GENE 3200H)
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will be challenged to develop an understanding of: 1) The components of the immune system, including the terminology associated therewith; 2) The complex interactions between these components in initiating and regulating immune responses; 3) immune defense mechanisms against infectious diseases and cancers; 4) the consequences of malfunctioning immune response; 5) experimental approaches that have led to our current understanding of immunology; 6) modern applications of immunology. Progress toward meeting these course objectives will be evaluated with a series of written examinations which will measure knowledge of the "facts" of immunology and integration of these facts in response to short answer and discussion questions. Through researching and writing an original research proposal on a topic in immunology, students will have the opportunity to consider this discipline in practical terms, apply some of what has been learned to a specific problem, and become exposed to the primary literature in the field.
Topical Outline
Introduction and General Properties of the Immune System Cells and Tissues of the Immune System Antigens and Antibodies Major Histocompatibility Complex Antigen Processing and Presentation Antigen Receptors and Accessory Molecules Lymphocyte Maturation and Expression of Antigen Receptor Genes Activation of T Lymphocytes B cell maturation and Ig Production Immunological Tolerance Cytokines Innate Immunity Effector Mechanisms: Cell Mediated Immunity Allergies/Hypersensitivities Effector Mechanisms: Humoral Immunity Immunity to Microbes Transplant Immunology Tumor Immunology Immunological Diseases Immunodeficiencies, AIDS and Vaccines
Syllabus