LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge about the functioning of the immune system, inflammation, immune response against infectious agents and against cancer, the causes and pathogenesis of major alterations in the immune response, vaccines, and immunotherapy. 

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 immunotherapy.

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 describes the mechanisms involved in acute and chronic inflammation;
-    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 and to comprehend the function of vaccines and 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 Poweroint presentations that are shared on Aulaweb. The teachers always recommend the use of a textbook to expand the overall view of the subject.

If necessary, the lessons could be carried out remotely in online mode using the Teams platform.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The immune system: general characteristics of the innate and acquired immune response.
Cells and organs of the immune system.
Innate immune response. Inflammation.
Acute inflammation. Inflammatory cells. Innate immunity receptors.
Innate immunity defects.
Chemical mediators of inflammation
Inflammatory cytokines. Chemokines.
Leukocyte migration.
Systemic effects of inflammation. Acute phase proteins.
Classification and outcome of acute inflammation.
Chronic inflammation. Granulomas.
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.
Defence mechanisms against viruses and bacteria. Viral escape mechanisms.
Mucosal immunity.
Congenital and acquired immune deficiencies.
Immune response against cancer: effector cells, immunosurveillance, cancer immunoediting.
Hypersensitivity reactions: type I, II, III and IV.
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. Cell Therapy. Vaccination with T lymphocytes, vaccination with dendritic cells.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Parham - The immune system, Garland Science

Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai - Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Elsevier

Dianzani, Pucillo - Immunologia e Immunopatologia, Edi-Ermes

Coico, Sunshine - Immunology: a short course, Ed. Wiley Blackwell

Mak, Saunders, Jett - Primer to the Immune Response, Elsevier