Course

Unit 1

(8 Lectures)

General properties of microbes, mechanism of action of common antimicrobial agents, molecular mechanism of drug resistance. Human microbiome from skin, mouth, respiratory tract, intestinal tract, urogenital tract. Human diseases caused by bacteria, fungus, virus and parasites (Example pathogenesis of Staphylococcus, Pneumococcus, Pseudomonas, Chlamydiae, Clostridium, Mycobacterium, Salmonella, Streptococcus, Neisseria, Vibrio, Helicobacter, Hepatitis, HIV, HPV, Dengue, filaria and Malaria etc).

Unit 2

(10 Lectures)

Basic Concepts in Immunology, cells and organs of the immune system. Innate Immunity, pattern recognition by cells of the innate immune system, induced innate responses to infection, complement system. Antigen Recognition by B-cell and T-cell receptors, the structure of a typical antibody molecule, Structural variation in immunoglobulin constant regions, The interaction of the antibody molecule with specific antigen, Antigen recognition by T cells. Antigen presentation to T lymphocytes: The generation of T-cell receptor ligands, The major histocompatibility complex and its function. Development of B and T lymphocytes, Positive and negative selection of T cells.

Unit 3

(7 Lectures)

Signaling through immune system receptors, general principles of transmembrane signaling, Antigen receptor structure and signaling pathways. The development and survival of Lymphocytes: Generation of lymphocytes in bone marrow and thymus, the rearrangement of antigen-receptor gene segments controls lymphocyte development, interaction with self-antigens selects some lymphocytes for survival but eliminates others, survival and maturation of lymphocytes in peripheral lymphoid tissues.

Unit 4

(10 Lectures)

T cell-mediated immunity, the production of armed effector T cells, General properties of armed effector T cells, T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, Macrophage activation by armed CD4 TH1 cells. The humoral immune response: B-cell activation by armed helper T cells, the distribution and functions of immunoglobulin isotypes, the destruction of antibody-coated pathogens via Fc receptors. Adaptive Immunity to Infection: Infectious agents and how they cause disease, the course of the adaptive response to infection, the mucosal immune system, immunological memory. Failures of Host Defense Mechanisms: Pathogens have evolved various means of evading or subverting normal host defenses, inherited immunodeficiency diseases, acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Unit 5

(10 Lectures)

Allergy and Hypersensitivity: The production of IgE, effector mechanisms in allergic reactions, hypersensitivity diseases. Autoimmunity and Transplantation: Autoimmune responses are directed against self antigens, responses to alloantigens and transplant rejection, self-tolerance and its loss. Manipulation of the Immune Response: Extrinsic regulation of unwanted immune responses, using the immune response to attack tumors, manipulating the immune response to fight infection. Currently available vaccines.

Pre-requisites: Basic understanding of cell biology

Total number of classes: 45

Preamble:

The candidates undertaking this course will gain knowledge about fundamentals of microbiology and immunology with special reference to bacterial, viral and fungal diseases; and host responses against infections. The students will learn about components of immune system and their functions. Gain knowledge on development of immune system and mechanisms of innate, adaptive, allergic, hypersensitivity, autoimmune responses and organ transplantation. The scientific understanding developed through the course will motivate the student to take up advanced immunology courses that has extensive application in medicine.

CO1 Knowledge about the microorganisms, basic skills in aseptic/sterilization techniques, antimicrobial agents and microbial diseases. Students will learn the composition of human microbiome and their role in maintaining normal gut function.

CO2 Will gain knowledge about principles of innate and adaptive immune system, the antigen receptor structure and the mechanisms of antigen recognition by B-cell and T-cells.

CO3 Gain knowledge about immune signal mechanisms, lymphocyte generation, B-and T-cell receptor gene rearrangements; and lymphocyte development.

CO4 Will gain knowledge about macrophage and B cell activation by T cells, adaptive Immunity to Infection: immunological memory. Failures of Host Defense Mechanisms, immunodeficiency diseases, acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

CO5 Gain knowledge about the mechanism of allergic responses, hypersensitivity reactions, autoimmunity and transplantation. The students will also learn about the importance for immunization and manipulation of the immune system to fight infectious disease.

PO1: Bioscience Knowledge

PO2: Problem Analysis

PO3: Design/Development of Solutions

PO4: Conduct Investigations of complex problems

PO5: Modern tools usage

PO6: Bioscientist and Society

PO7: Environment and Sustainability

PO8: Ethics

PO9: Individual & Team work

PO10: Communication

PO11: Project management & Finance

PO12: Lifelong learning

Program Specific Outcomes. (PSO)

PSO 1 – Biochemical organization and cellular complexity in function

PSO 2 – Biomolecules in Medicine

PSO 3 – Molecular basis of disease

PSO 4 – Molecular technology in diagnosis and therapy

PSO 5 – Cellular based approaches in diagnosis and therapy

PSO 6 – Microorganisms in Medicine

PSO 7 – Nanoscale entities and its significance in Medicine

PSO 8 – Tissue architecture engineering in Medicine

PSO 9 – Compounds as drugs and its efficacy

PSO 10 – Bioinformatics and biological data use

Evaluation Pattern: 50+50 = 100

Textbook:

1. Alcamo’s fundamentals of microbiology / Jeffrey C. Pommerville. — 9th edition.
2. Janeway’s Immunobiology, Ken Murphy, Paul Travers, Mark Walport, 9th edition.

Reference:

1. Prescott’s Microbiology 11th Edition.
2. Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Abul K Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman, Shiv Pillai 9th edition 2017.