Biomedical Sciences 514 – Immunobiology

Semester: Spring

Time and Place: 11:00 - 12:30 am, MW

Course Coordinator: Robert Rubin, Ph.D., Dept. of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Textbook: Abbas and Lichtman, Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 6th edition, 2007

Participating Instructors:

Robert Rubin, Ph.D., Course Director
Bryce Chackerian, Ph.D.
Hattie Gresham, Ph.D.
Mary Lipscomb, M.D.
Barbara Masten, Ph.D.
Carolyn Mold, Ph.D.
Julie Wilder, Ph.D.
Bridget Wilson, Ph.D.
Julie Hutt, DVM

Course Description:

This is a comprehensive immunology course covering the organs, tissues, cells, molecules and genes that make up the innate and adaptive immune systems. Didactic lectures by the faculty and problem-based discussion sessions will introduce students to the fundamentals of modern immunology with emphasis on experimental discoveries from the primary literature.

This course is taught by a team of faculty members with expertise in various areas of immunology. While this structure enhances the rigor and accuracy of the subject matter, we understand that most students will not consider immunology as their primary area of interest. The goal of BioMed 514 is to facilitate the understanding of immunology by encouraging students to ask questions during the lectures and by student participation in weekly discussion sessions which center around the lecture material. Students prepare written answers to each problem set for the 1½ hour discussion sessions. These small groups offer students the opportunity to explain the material to each other and to ask questions of the discussion facilitator.

Grade:

  • Problem set write-up (36%)
  • Exams: Midterm and Final, ~30 points each (64%)
  • Problem: #1 ready on each Monday: 1 point extra credit (up to 13% extra grade points)

Topics:

  • Introduction: structural organization and the nature of the immune response
  • The major histocompatibility complex and transplantation: MHC structure and function
  • Antigen processing and presentation
  • Antigen receptors and creation of the B- and T-cell repertoire
  • Lymphocyte development, maturation and central tolerance
  • T cell/B cell interactions
  • Intracellular signaling machinery
  • Innate immune recognition and the inflammatory response
  • Cell-mediated immunity
  • Humoral effector responses: Fc receptors and complement
  • Immune tolerance and autoimmunity
  • Immunity to microbes, vaccines, and HIV-related disease
  • Allergy and asthma
  • Immunodeficiency diseases
  • Immune surveillance in cancer