Learning objectives
<br />- to know and describe the general characteristics of antigens, molecular structures (antibodies, receptors, cytokines), cells, tissues and organs of the immune system; the components and the interactions of innate and acquired immune responses. <br />- to know and understand the mechanisms of the innate and adaptive, humoral and cellular immune responses to invading microorganisms. <br />- to understand the pathogenesis of diseases caused by abnormal immune response.
Prerequisites
to pass the exams of the first semester, first year
Course unit content
<br />
Definition of immunology. Outlines of the history of immunology. Haematopoiesis: stem cells, myelopoiesis, lymphopoiesis, and erythropoiesis. Innate immunity: self versus non-self. Physical and chemical barriers. Pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Complement, acute phase proteins, phagocytosis, NK cells, cytokines and chemokines. Acquired specific immunity: lymphocyte clonal selection, specificity and immune memory. Structure of antibody, isotypes, antigens, and antibody-antigen interaction. T and B lymphocytes and their receptors. The generation of diversity for antigen recognition. The Major Histocompatibility System (MHC). Antigen processing. Activation of B and T lymphocytes. Anatomy of the immune response. Lymphocytes traffic between lymphoid tissues. Antigen Presenting Cells (APC). The production of effectors of the acquired immune response: antibodies, TH1, TH2, CTL lymphocytes, cytokines and chemokines. Immunity to bacteria, virus, fungi and parasitic infections. Evasion of immune mechanisms by pathogens. Passive acquired immunity and vaccination. Brief outlines of immunopathology (autoimmunity, tumor immunology, transplantation, hypersensitivity, immunodeficiency).<br />
Bibliography
<br />
Abbas & Lichtman: BASIC IMMUNOLOGY: Functions and disorders of the immune system. 2nd edition 2006 - Saunders<br />
Parham: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. 2nd edition 2005 - Garland
