OVERVIEW

The course consists of 6 credits corresponding to 48 hours of classroom teaching. It enables the student to learn the functioning of the immune system in physiological and pathological conditions, to understand the mechanisms underlying the main immune-mediated diseases, and to acquire information about the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of vaccines and drugs utilized for immunotherapy.

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Immunology course aims:

• to provide an adequate knowledge about the function of the immune system;
• to analyze the mechanisms at the base of the immune response against the different infectious agents and against tumors;
• to provide an overall comprehension about the causes and the pathogenesis of the main alterations of the immune response;
• to provide an adequate knowledge about vaccines and about biotechnological drugs utilized in immunotherapy approaches.

At the end of the course the student will be able:

• to gain a deep knowledge about the features and mechanisms of innate and adaptive immune response;
• to apply the acquired knowledge on the immune response to explain defense mechanisms against infectious agents and tumors;
• to apply the acquired knowledge on the immune response to explain the mechanisms involved in immune system alterations;
• to apply the acquired knowledge on the immune response to comprehend the function of vaccines and the generation of biotechnological drugs for immunotherapy;
• to acquire a correct terminology for the proper presentation of the processes examined.

PREREQUISITES

In order to deal with the contents of the course, students should have a good knowledge in the fields of biochemistry, cellular biology, human anatomy, histology, and physiology.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is organized in frontal lessons and deals with various topics of immunology and immunopathology. These topics are explained by the teachers through Powerpoint presentations that are shared on Aulaweb. The teachers always recommend the use of a textbook to expand the overall view of the subject.

Any Student with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department (Prof. Luca Raiteri, Luca.Raiteri@unige.it) before class begins, in order to liaise and arrange the specific teaching methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes.

Any request for compensatory tools and adaptations in the exam must be done within 10 working days before the date of the exam according to the instructions that can be found at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/comunicazioni.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The immune system: general characteristics of the innate and acquired immune response.

Cells and organs of the immune system.

Innate immune response. Role of acute and chronic inflammation.

Inflammatory cells. Innate immunity receptors.

Inflammatory cytokines. Chemokines.

Innate immunity defects.

Humoral and cell-mediated immune response.

Antigen recognition by B and T cells.

B cell maturation. Rearrangement of immunoglobulin genes.

B cell activation and effector mechanisms.

Structure and function of antibodies.

The complement system.

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). Antigen processing and presentation.

Dendritic cells.

T cell maturation. Rearrangement of TCR genes.

T cell activation and effector mechanisms.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Helper T lymphocytes. Cytokines.

Natural Killer cells.

Defense mechanisms against viruses and bacteria. Viral escape mechanisms.

Mucosal immunity.

General concepts on congenital and acquired immune deficiencies.

Immune response against cancer: effector cells, immunosurveillance, cancer immunoediting.

Hypersensitivity reactions: type I, II, III and IV (examples: allergy, MEN, drug-induced anemia, AB0 incompatibility, immune complex diseases, delayed hypersensitivity).

Autoimmunity. Mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance. Major autoimmune diseases.

Solid organ transplants: classification and rejection mechanisms. Immunosuppressive drugs. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Vaccination. Immunological memory. Main types of vaccines. Adjuvants.

Immunotherapy. Antibody Therapy. Monoclonal antibodies. Examples of chimeric and humanized antibodies. Drug-conjugated antibodies. Cell Therapy. Vaccination with T lymphocytes, vaccination with dendritic cells. Cells engineered with CAR.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai - Immunologia cellulare e molecolare, Edra

Dianzani, Pucillo - Immunologia e Immunopatologia, Edi-Ermes

Parham - Il sistema immunitario, EdiSES

Coico, Sunshine - Immunologia, un percorso breve, Edi-Ermes

Abbas, Lichtman - Le basi dell’immunologia, Edra

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

First semester, after September 22nd, 2025.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral test and takes place in the presence of the course teachers. The interview lasts approximately 30 minutes for each student and is focused on the whole coursework covered during the lectures. Through the discussion of different topics, the committee verifies the fulfillment of the expected learning outcomes. At the end of the oral examination, teachers elaborate a final mark for the Immunology module. The mark 30/30 with honors will be assigned when the knowledge of the subject is excellent.

Students must pass the Immunology exam before taking the one of the other three modules (Biotech Drugs). The mark obtained in the Immunology test is valid for one calendar year.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Verification of learning is carried out through the oral exam, aimed at verifying the real acquisition by the student of the expected learning outcomes.

In order to pass the exam, the student will have:

• to know how innate and adaptive immune responses work and to analyze the involved mechanisms;
• to understand the different immunological mechanisms involved in the diseases associated to the dysfunction of the immune system;
• to know the mechanisms at the base of vaccines and immunotherapy.

The following items will contribute to the final mark:

• competence in the subject;
• ability to critically discuss the requested topics;
• accuracy, clarity, synthesis and fluency;
• ability to make connections with the other modules of the integrated teaching;
• speaking ability and correct use of terminology.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact the teachers for further information not included in the teaching sheet.