Immunobiology

Objectives of the course (preferably expressed in terms of learning outcomes and competences):  Acquisition of a general knowledge in the field of Immunology, including cellular, molecular, medical Immunology and Immunogenetics.

Course contents:  Cells of the immune system: Description of the differentiation pathways of myeloid cells and B lymphocytes. Organs of the immune system: Structural and functional analysis of primary and secondary immune organs. Differentiation of T lymphocytes: Maturation and differentiation of T cells in thymic microenvironments. Positive and negative selection of T cells.  Biochemical and genetic analysis of immunoglobulins: Definition of isotypes, allotypes and idiotypes. Description of structural characteristics and function of the different immunoglobulin isotypes. Description of the immunoglobulin genes and mechanisms for polymorphism generation. Transplantation Immunology/ Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC): Historical background on the discovery of MHC. Description of MHC in mouse and human. Analysis of class I and class II MHC molecules. Protein and gene structure. Humoral Immunity: Cells involved in humoral immunity, antigen presentation, primary and secondary immune response. Cell mediated immunity: Cells involved in cellular immunity, antigen presentation, primary and secondary immune response. Allergies: Gell-Coombs classification of allergies, mechanisms and examples of the different types of allergies. T cell receptor (TCR): Description of TCRαβ and TCRγδ, mechanisms of polymorphism generation. Description of immune synapse. Immune suppression: Tsuppressors/Tegulatory. The cellular and biochemical nature of suppression. Idiotypes: Description of the idiotypic network and the idiotypic regulatory mechanisms. Immune tolerance: Mechanisms regulating the development and breakage of immune tolerance. Autoimmunity- Immunodeficiency: Diseases caused by mal-functioning of the immune system. Cancer Immunology: immune surveillance, mechanisms evoked by malignant cells to immune escape.