Course

Unit 1

Basic Concepts in Immunology, Cells and organs of the immune system, Principles of Innate and Adaptive Immunity

Unit 2

Innate Immunity: Recognition and effector mechanisms, Inflammation and its regulation, Complement system.

Unit 3

Adaptive Immunity: Antigen recognition and processing, B and T cell development and activation, Immune memory, Antigen Recognition by B-cell and T-cell Receptors

Unit 4

The Generation of Lymphocyte Antigen Receptors, the generation of diversity in immunoglobulins, T-cell receptor gene rearrangement, Structural variation in immunoglobulin constant regions.

Unit 5

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 6

T cell-mediated immunity: Production of armed effector T cells, General properties of armed effector T cells, T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, Macrophage activation by armed CD4 TH1 cells.

Unit 7

Immunopathology: Autoimmunity, Allergy and hypersensitivity, Immunodeficiency disorders

Unit 8

Immunotherapy and Vaccines: Monoclonal Antibodies: Production and Applications, Adoptive Cell Therapy and Immunomodulation, Vaccine Development and Immunization Strategies, Currently available vaccines. Immunotherapy in Autoimmune Diseases and Cancer

Unit 9

Immunological Diagnostics: Serological Techniques: ELISA, Western Blotting, Flow Cytometry and Immunophenotyping, Molecular Diagnostics in Immunology, Point-of-Care Testing in Immunodiagnostics

Pre-requisites: Undergraduate level basic physics, chemistry and biology

Total number of classes: 45

Course Outcomes

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of immunology by encompassing both innate and adaptive immune systems, focusing on fundamental concepts.

• Recognize and understand the crucial cells and organs of the immune system, exploring their roles in immune responses.

• To understand how innate and adaptive immunity work, applying their principles to bolster host defence

• To learn about the mechanisms driving diversity in immunoglobulins and the rearrangement of T-cell receptor genes.

• To learn about the intricate processes guiding the development and survival of lymphocytes, including their formation in the bone marrow and thymus.

• To understand the humoral immune response, including B-cell activation, functions of immunoglobulin types, and how pathogens are destroyed through Fc receptors.

• To understand the mechanisms underlying autoimmune conditions, allergies, hypersensitivity, and immunodeficiency disorders.

• To acquire comprehensive knowledge in advanced immunological diagnostics, cutting-edge applications in immunotherapy and vaccines, insights into immunology’s role in infectious diseases, and an understanding of immune response manipulation.

1. Janeways Immunobiology, Ken Murphy, Paul Travers, Mark Walport, 9th edition.
2. Kuby Immunology” by Judy Owen, Jenni Punt, and Sharon Stranford , 2018
3. Clinical Immunology: Principles and Practice” by Robert R. Rich, Thomas A. Fleisher, William T. Shearer, Harry W. Schroeder, Jr., and Anthony J. Frew, 2018