OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide the student with basic knowledge (molecular, genetic and cellular) to interpret the fundamental mechanisms of cell damage and defense of the organism.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aim of the Course is to provide the student with basic knowledge (at molecular and cellular levels) for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of cell response to damage. A relevant part of the course is focused on the defense mechanisms toward a "stressor" stimulus and how this triggers cell/tissue/organ morpho-functional alterations. These issues are well addressed by learning of inflammatory and immunological responses, closely related to each other. Particular attention will be given to the natural and acquired mechanisms of the inflammatory and immune process against bacterial and viral pathogens, the organization of the immune system, the involved different cells, the mechanisms of antigen recognition, the differentiation and activation of B and T lymphocytes, the development of their effector responses. Moreover the mechanisms underlying the tolerance towards its constituents and the main immune mechanisms of pathological relevance will be explained.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide students

• the notions necessary to understand causes (endogenous or exogenous) of cell damage and defense mechanisms
• a general understanding of how the immune system works and how it defends the body's well-being

At the end of the course, the student will be able to

• Know the causes and mechanisms of cell and tissue damage
• Recognize the characteristics and indicators of an inflammatory process and an adaptive immunity response, in particular the antibody one
• Know the benefits and possible negative effects of the immune response
• Become aware of the existence of some frequent human pathologies, such as atherosclerosis, and of some innovative therapeutic techniques, such as bone marrow transplant

PREREQUISITES

Prerequisites: notions of Cytology, Histology, Physiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching activities are conducted through lectures with the aid of screen presentations. The teaching material is available in PDF format on AulaWeb, allowing students to learn and deepen their understanding of the topics listed in the course program and required for passing the final exam.

There are no fixed office hours for student consultations, but students can contact the instructors via email to arrange an appointment for further explanations.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• BIOLOGICAL HOMEOSTASIS: state of health, concept of injury, sign, symptom and disease. Cell damage mechanisms. Aging.

• Notes on extrinsic causes of disease: chemical, physical and biological causes

• CELL RESPONSE TO DAMAGE: reversible damage, persistent damage - adaptation (atrophy, hypertrophy, hyperplasia, metaplasia, dysplasia); irreversible damage: cell death (necrosis, apoptosis). Role of heat shock proteins in the response to damage and in the control of cell functions and the response to misfolded proteins (UPR).

• PRINCIPLES OF ROOT PATHOLOGY: reactive oxygen and nitrogen species: biological actions and involvement in cell damage.

Antioxidant defenses.

• INNATE IMMUNITY: cells and molecules, local and systemic inflammation, acute and chronic, histological variants of inflammation with examples of pathologies

• ADAPTATIVE IMMUNITY: generation, education and functions of B and T lymphocytes

• PATHOLOGIES OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM: type I hypersensitivity and notes on immunodeficiencies, autoimmunity and auto-inflammatory diseases with some examples of pathologies

• HEMOPOYESIS, HEMOPOIETIC STEM CELL (HSC) AND BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT

• ATHEROSCLEROSIS and notes on ischemic heart disease

LABORATORY: theoretical-practical applications of basic methods suitable for the in vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of compounds (e.g. MTT assay, Alamar Blue), setting up of dynamic in vitro systems with the use of millifluidic bioreactors, preparation of cell lysates on which to perform protein dosage and dedicated seminars.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Robbins and Cotran: The pathological basis of diseases (Elsevier)

• Abbas, Lichtman: Cellular and Molecular Immunology (Elsevier)

Students with SLD, disability or other special educational needs certification are strongly encouraged to contact the teachers at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching methods which, respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory instruments.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CRISTINA BOTTINO (President)

MARIAPAOLA NITTI

STEFANIA VERNAZZA (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

second semester

Class schedule

GENERAL PATHOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY AND LABORATORY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The end-of-course exam aims to assess the achievement of the educational objectives of the course. The exams take place on the dates indicated in the calendar. Verification is oral, in person, conducted by two teachers for each student. The grade is assigned as a weighted average.

The teachers verify the achievement of the educational objectives by asking diversified questions relating to the programs actually carried out during the lesson hours. When the educational objectives have not been achieved, the student is invited to better verify his knowledge and to take the exam again in its entirety.

In case of changes in the sanitary and epidemiological situation, the exams will be carried out remotely (TEAMS).

Examination Committee: Proff. Cristina Bottino, Stefania Vernazza

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Verification of learning takes place only through the final exam which aims to verify the actual acquisition, by the student, of the expected learning outcomes. In order to pass the exam, with a score of not less than 18/30, the student must demonstrate that they know and connect the topics covered during the course

The following contribute to the final mark expressed out of thirty:

- Ability to deal with the requested topics in a transversal and critical manner;

- Correctness, clarity, synthesis and fluidity of presentation;

- Mastery of the subject;

- Adoption of appropriate terminology

The mark of 30/30 with possible honors will be awarded when the knowledge / skills of the subject are excellent.

Students with SLD or other regularly certified special educational needs will be able to agree on written or oral modalities with the teacher, by contacting the teachers at least 10 days before the exam. They can also take advantage of 30% additional time.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attendance allows the student to better learn the contents of the course because the teacher provides detailed explanations during the lessons and frames the topics with continuous references to the most current discoveries in the field of the subject. The teaching material is available online (Teams or Aulaweb)