Subject

Immunology

  • code 13486
  • course 2
  • term Semester 1
  • type OB
  • credits 6

Matter: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE HUMAN BODY

Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English

Teaching staff

Head instructor

Dra. Sofía PÉREZ DEL PULGAR - sperezdelpulgar@uic.es

Other instructors

Lda. Noelia PÉREZ - nperez@uic.es
Dra. Helena MULEY - helenamuley@uic.es
Dra. Eva QUANDT - equandt@uic.es

Office hours

Tutoría y consultas

Doubts will be solved in person in tutoring sessions. It is necessary to make an appointment by e-mail.

Sofia Pérez del Pulgar (sperezdelpulgar@uic.es): to be agree on Tuesdays from 18 to 19h and on Thursdays from 16 to 17h.

Noelia Pérez: nperez@uic.es

Eva Quandt: equandt@uic.es

Helena Muley: helenamuley@uic.es

Introduction

"Immunology" is a compulsory subject of the degree of Biomedicine. It introduces the student to the study of the body defense mechanisms (physiological and pathological) against antigens derived from microorganisms, toxins or derived from the malfunction of cells. This subject allows the student to understand the interaction between pathogens and the host based on the knowledge of the components and functions of the immune system in health and disease conditions. At the beginning of the subject, there is a whole chapter about the composition and functions of the blood, necessary to understand the fundamental role that this tissue plays in the immune response of the body.

Pre-course requirements

The student who takes the subject of "Immunology" has an important basis in biochemistry, human genetics, molecular biology and cellular biology. These learning skills are included in the subjects programmed in the first course of the Degree in Biomedicine.

Objectives

  • Acquire basic knowledge about the composition and function of the blood.
  • Identify elements of the immune system from a structural and functional approach, both in health and disease conditions.
  • Understand the homeostatic role of blood and the immune system in the functioning of the human body.
  • Understand the impact of knowledge of blood and the immune system on improving human health, mainly in terms of disease prevention and diagnosis, and the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Competences / Learning outcomes of the degree programme

  • Apply the principles of cellular and molecular biology to the study of the structure and function of the immune system in health and disease states.
  • Recognize basic biological concepts and the language of biomedical sciences.
  • Identify and solve problems.
  • Planning and organization of work.
  • Communication of scientific data in different formats: oral presentations, debates, "e-poster", "graphical abstract", etc.
  • Search for information using internet tools related to biomedicine and life sciences.
  • Select and manage information to answer scientific questions.
  • Know how to work individually and as a team using the scientific method: observation, hypothesis, experimentation, analysis of results and conclusions.

Learning outcomes of the subject

  • Know and define the components of the blood and its functions.
  • Analyze the characteristics and differences of the adaptive and innate immune responses.
  • Establish the relationship between the pathogen and the type of immune response developed by the host: route of infection, response mechanisms, memory and evasion.
  • Know the main disorders of the immune system: hypersensitivity, autoimmune diseases and immunodeficiencies.
  • Learn the role of the immune system in clinical settings such as organ transplantation or tumor immunology.
  • Understand the mechanisms of activation and regulation of cellular and humoral immune responses and its relationship to immune system diseases.
  • Learn about laboratory techniques for the study of blood and immune system.
  • Understand the theoretical basis of the immunological tools used in the diagnostic and research laboratory.

Syllabus

Introduction to immunology and blood physiology

Topic 1: Introduction

  • Description of the syllabus, recommended literature, organization of the subject and evaluation.
  • What is Immunology? Immune system elements: organs, cells and molecules.
  • Definition of innate and adaptive immunity. Concept of humoral and cellular immune response.
  • Concept of clonality: a lymphocyte, an antigen.

Topic 2: Blood Physiology

  • Blood functions and hemostasis.
  • Hematopoiesis.
  • Peripheral blood: erythrocytes, platelets and leukocytes (granulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes).
Elements of the immune system

Topic 3: Organs of the immune system

  • Primary lymphoid organs: thymus and bone marrow.
  • Secondary lymphoid organs: lymph nodes (structure, paracortex, high endothelium venules (HEV), cortex, lymphoid follicles, germinal centers). Spleen (white pulp, red pulp, splenic circulation). Mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT): Tonsils, vermiform appendix, gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), or Peyer’s patches (M cells).

Topic 4: Innate immunity

  • Natural defense mechanisms. Physical and chemical barriers. Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs). Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP).
  • Innate immunity cells: Phagocytes (neutrophils and macrophages), basophils, eosinophils, mast cells, NK cells (natural killer), T cells. Effector mechanisms (respiratory burst and phagocytosis).
  • The complement system. The kinin–kallikrein system. Acute phase proteins. Toll-like receptors (TLR).   

Topic 5: Adaptive immunity

  • Adaptive immunity cells: T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells.
  • Structure of immunoglobulins. Somatic recombination mechanisms. Generation of diversity in the repertoire of immunoglobulins
  • The T cell receptor (TCR). The MHC/HLA system. Antigenic processing and presentation.

Topic 6: Recirculation of leukocytes

  • Dispersion of the immune system. Adhesion molecules. Concept of "homing". Lymphocyte recirculation: rolling, activation, adhesion and migration through the endothelium.
  • Cytokines. Properties. Autocrine, paracrine and endocrine action.  Cytokine families and receptors.
  • Chemokines. Chemotactic action and "homing" of leukocytes. Chemokines families and receptors.
The immune system in action

Topic 7: Cellular immune response

  • From the innate to the adaptive response.
  • Activation of T cells. Interaction between TCR, MHC and accessory molecules.
  • T cells and B memory. Effector T cells.
  • Cytotoxicity mechanisms: perforin and granzyme, lymphotoxins and Fas-FasL.

Topic 8: Humorous immune response

  • Activation of B lymphocytes.
  • Antigen recognition.
  • Lymphoid follicles and formation of the germinal center.
  • Somatic hypermutation. Change of isotype. Effector functions of antibodies.

Topic 9: Immune response to pathogens

  • Immune response mechanisms against viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
  • Evasion mechanisms.

Topic 10: Immune tolerance

  • Hypersensitivity.
  • Autoimmunity.
  • Organ transplantation.

Topic 11: Immunopathology and immunotherapy

  • Congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies.
  • Vaccines.
  • Tumor immunology.

Teaching and learning activities

In person

Master classes (CM): The lecturer presents a topic during 50 min approximately. Visual support is used in power point format to accompany the explanations and, depending on the topic, different activities will be proposed to encourage student participation.

Case Methods (MC): Exposition a real or imaginary issue. Students answer questions in small groups or in active interaction with the teacher and answers are discussed. The teacher is actively involved and if necessary brings new knowledge. These classes can cover content that expands topics covered in master classes or new topics. MCs have the same importance and weight of questions in the final exam.

Virtual Education (EV): Online material located on the Moodle platform that the student can consult from any computer, at any time and that will contribute to the self-learning of concepts related to the subject. The virtual material is part of the content of the subject and will be evaluated in the final exam.

Laboratory Practices (PL): Practical sessions where experimental techniques related to the course outline worked in the theoretical classes are worked. Knowledge of the most common experimental resources in an immunology laboratory. Attendance is mandatory and the content of the practical sessions will be assessed directly in the final exam.

Evaluation systems and criteria

In person

First Call Students:
  • Participation in class and attitude: 10%
  • Case methods: 20%
  • Mid-term exam: 20%
  • Final exam: 50%

 

Students in second or subsequent calls:
  • Participation in class and attitude: 10% (will be valid, although if the student wishes, she/he will be allowed to attend class again and get a new grade)
  • Case methods: 20% (saved, although if the student wishes, she/he will be allowed participate in the MCs and get a new mark)
  • Mid-term exam: 20% (optional)
  • Final exam: 50% (if the student has done the mid-term exam) or 70% (if the student has not taken the mid-term exam)

 

General aspects to consider about the evaluation system:

1)     Final exam: a minimum grade of 5 must be obtained in order to be able to make an average with the continuous evaluation marks (case methods, attitude and mid-term exam).

2)     The tests will be multiple-choice with 4 response options, counting +1 hits and -0.2 errors.

3)     20% of exam questions could be of concepts that have not been explained directly in the classroom but are present in the recommended literature, as well as in discussed articles, press or recommended virtual material.

4)     Class participation refers to bringing interesting ideas or the discussion of relevant issues that will help improve the quality of the session, either master classes or case methods.

5)     Attendance:

  • Regular attendance to master classes and case methods is recommended.
  • Attendance to master classes is not mandatory, but attendees will have to follow the rules set by the teachers.
  • Participation in case methods is optional. To be evaluated for this part of the subject, it is mandatory to attend a minimum of 7 sessions and participate in the proposed activities as detailed at the beginning of the course.
  • Attendance to laboratory practices is mandatory. Students must participate in the groups assigned by the teacher. The expulsion of a student from the laboratory classroom entails the automatic suspension of the subject.

Important: Improper use of electronic devices such as mobile devices, tablets or laptops may result in class expulsion. Misuse means the recording and dissemination of images/sound of students or teachers during the different classes, as well as the use of these devices for recreational and non-educational purposes.

Bibliography and resources

Books

Janeway's Immunobiology. Kenneth Murphy & Casey Weaver. Garland Science, NY, 9th ed. (2016).

Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Abul K. Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman, Shiv Pillai. Saunders, 8th ed. (2014)

Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System. Abul K. Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman, Shiv Pillai. Elsevier, 6th ed. (2019)

Kuby Immunology. J.A. Owen, J. Punt, S. A. Stranford. W.H. Freeman Co., 7th ed, (2013).

 

Scientific Journals

Immunity: https://www.cell.com/immunity/home

Nature Immunology: https://www.nature.com/ni/

Journal of Immunology: https://www.jimmunol.org/

Frontiers in Immunology: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology

Advances in Immunology https://www.elsevier.com/books/book-series/advances-in-immunology

Annual Review of Immunology: https://www.annualreviews.org/journal/immunol

Current Opinion in Immunology: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/current-opinion-in-immunology

Nature Reviews in Immunology: https://www.nature.com/nri/

Trends in Immunology: https://www.cell.com/trends/immunology/home

Evaluation period

E: exam date | R: revision date | 1: first session | 2: second session:

  • E1 29/10/2019 16:00h A01
  • E1 13/01/2020 14:00h A12
  • E2 17/06/2020 11:00h
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