Course

Unit 1

Introduction to the Immune System: Historical perspectives in Immunology. Cells and Organs of the Immune system, Development of immune cells, Host-pathogen interactions, overview of innate and adaptive immune system. Innate immune responses: Different barriers, phagocytosis, pattern recognition receptors, signaling, cytokines and chemokines, Inflammatory response. Functions of complement system, components of complement, complement activation, Regulation of complement system, Biological consequences of complement.

Unit 2

Humoral Immune response: Factors that influence immunogenicity, adjuvants, haptens, epitopes, Antigen capture and presentation to lymphocytes, Antigen recognition in the adaptive immune system, B cell activation and effector functions, B cell maturation and proliferation. Basic structure of antibodies, Immunoglobulin fine structure, antibody mediated effector functions, antibody classes and biological activities, monoclonal antibodies, strength of antigen-antibody interactions: affinity, avidity.

Unit 3

Cell mediated Immune Response: T cell receptor: structure, function, General properties of effector T cells, Antibody-Dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity. Major Histocompatibility complex and antigen presentation: MHC restriction, Antigen presentation and T cell activation.

Unit 4

Irregularities in immune response: Hypersensitivity Reactions: Allergies, Type I, II, III, IV, Autoimmunity: organ-specific autoimmune diseases, systemic autoimmune diseases. Immunodeficiency diseases: primary immunodeficiencies, AIDS and other acquired or secondary immunodeficiencies. Tumor immunology: malignant transformation of cells, oncogenes and cancer induction, tumor antigens, immune response to tumors, tumor evasion of immune system, cancer immunotherapy.

Unit 5

Biology of vaccines and immunization: Active and passive immunization, designing vaccines for active immunization, whole-organism vaccines, purified macromolecules as vaccines, recombinant-vector vaccines, DNA vaccines, multivalent subunit vaccines.

In this course, students should understand basic immunological mechanisms such as cells and organs of the immune system, innate and adaptive immune response. They should be able to interpret the dysregulation of immune mechanisms during hypersensitivity states, immunodeficiency or autoimmune conditions. Students should be able to apply the understanding of immunology to develop vaccines for protection or therapeutic purpose against diseases.

COURSE OUTCOMES:

After completing the course, students shall be able to

CO1. Students will be able to understand basic immunological mechanisms such as cells and organs of the immune system, innate and adaptive immune response.

CO2. Students will be able to interpret the dysregulation of immune mechanisms during hypersensitivity states, immunodeficiency or autoimmune conditions.

CO3. Students will be able to apply the understanding of immunology to develop vaccines for protection or therapeutic purpose against diseases.

• Basic Immunology: Functions and disorders of the Immune system, Abul K abbas, Andrew H Lichtman and Shiv Pillai, 6th edition, 2019.
• Immunology, Kuby, by Kindt, Goldsby, Osborne, Sixth Edition. 2006.
• Immunobiology, The Immune system in Health and Disease, Seventh Edition by Janeway, Travers et al, Garland Publishing, 2008.