This module is designed to provide a thorough grounding in basic aspects of immunology. It also aims at familiarizing students with the complex language and nomenclature used by immunologists. The first part of the course will provide you with an introduction to innate (natural) and adaptive (specific) immunology. In the second part of the course, examples of immuno-pathology, such as auto-immunity, immuno-deficiencies and vaccines will be taught with special emphasis on human immunology. Selected clinical examples (e.g. allergy and transplantation) will be discussed. Case-studies (e.g. AIDS) will be used in the sections pertinent to immuno-pathology and clinical immunology. The course should provide the basis for understanding how the immune system works. BS223 provides the basic building blocks for those students planning to take BS326 (Molecular and Developmental Immunology) in the final year.
Learning outcomes:
To pass this module students will need to:
1. Provide an integrated overview of the principles of the immune system and describe the anatomical and structural basis of the human immune system.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the molecular structure and mode of action of the major receptors and molecules of the immune system.
3. Show basic immunological mechanisms can help to understand immuno-dysfunction such as autoimmune diseases and immuno-deficiencies (e.g. AIDS).
4. Identify areas of immunology where current knowledge could lead to clinical intervention.
5. Show skills in information retrieval and data analysis and interpretation, coursework writing in the form of SPF and self-learning.
6. Demonstrate the ability to integrate material across different modules.
7. Be able to use immuno-assays and binding techniques such as cytometry for the analysis of the immune system.
8. Be able to identify the organs of the immune system and use of confocal microscopy to visualise immune receptors.
- Module Supervisor: Nelson Fernandez