Infection and Immunity
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| LIFE2080 | Life Sciences | 2 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- LIFE2080
- School
- Life Sciences
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module addresses core immunological concepts and mechanisms including: key molecules, cells and tissues/organs of the immune system; innate immune recognition and the functions of innate immune cells; Chemical messengers of the immune system- cytokines and chemokines; the complement system; the interactions between innate immune responses and the adaptive immune system; mechanisms of antigen presentation and adaptive immune system activation; the generation of adaptive immunological diversity (antibodies and T cell receptors); Immunological tolerance, hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, and applications of immunology knowledge & vaccine use. The module addresses a range of viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens and how the immune system interacts with them, both for the point of view of pathogen survival and host clearance mechanisms.
Target Students
Biology U6UBOLGY/U7UBOLGY (C100/C101); Zoology U6UZOLGY/U7UZOLGY (C300/C301); Genetics U6UGNTCS/U7UGNTCS (C400/C401); MicrobiologyU6UMBLGY (C501). Also available to students outside of Life Sciences, subject to module convenor approval.
Classes
This module may be delivered through lectures, seminars, workshops and labs etc
Assessment
- 10% Coursework 1: Moodle Quiz associated with the practical (approx. 60 minutes).
- 90% Exam 1 (2-hour): ExamSys MCQ and short answer questions (2 hours)
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
To provide a broad understanding in basic immunology and an overview of types of human pathogens and their strategies for living in the host. Also to show how immunology can be used to diagnose disease and develop vaccines.Learning Outcomes
Demonstrate knowledge of the molecule, cells and organs of the immune system (this would include cytokines and chemokines, complement, cells of the innate and adaptive immune system and the primary and secondary lymphoid organs).
- Explain the basic mechanisms of immune system recognition of pathogens (both innate and adaptive immune recognition, and immunological memory).
- Be able to outline the interactions between innate and adaptive immune systems.
- Explain the nature and need for diversity in T and B cell receptors.
- Provide examples of the nature of immune responses to pathogens from different phyla and the evasion strategies which these pathogens employ to survive in the host.
- Be able to select appropriate basic immunological methods to investigate host responses to a pathogen.
- Be able to outline strategies for protection/vaccination relevant to different pathogen types.
- Demonstrate knowledge of mechanisms associated with the generation of autoimmunity and hypersensitivity.