autumn 2016
BIO-3609 Basal and Comparative Immunology - 10 ECTS

  1. Startsida
  2. Emnekatalog
  3. Basal and Comparative Immunology

Type of course

The course can be taken as a singular course.

Admission requirements

Student must have pre-knowledge corresponding to BIO-1001 Cell and molecular biology, and BIO-2601 General microbiology.

Obligatory prerequisites

BIO-2601 General microbiology, MBI-1001 Cell and molecular biology

Course content

This course aims to provide an understanding of the components and principal workings of the vertebrate immune system and the lectures will focus both on mammalian species and on fish. The course will particularly discuss on how the immune system protects the body from microorganisms like virus, bacteria, fungi and parasites. We will also examine how immune responses are initiated and terminated, how the immune system "remembers" a pathogenic intruder such that it can respond stronger at subsequent infections (the basis for vaccination). We will also discuss the basis for the immune system to recognize virtually any structure it is exposed to and why the immune system will vigorously reject transplanted foreign tissues.

Objectives of the course

Knowledge: The Candidate

  • knows the key differences between innate and adaptive immunity
  • knows the principal organization of lymphoid organs of mammals and fish
  • knows about the most important immunological cell types and their effector mechanisms
  • which function various cytokines and the complement system has
  • knows the essential immune molecules - B and T cell receptors and MHC Class I and II
  • understand the mechanisms that provide the B and T cells with the great repertoire of molecule detection
  • have knowledge about the principles for clonal selection of antigen-specific lymphocytes
  • know the main differences in the defense against bacteria and viruses
  • is able to understand the immunological principles that vaccines is built on

Skills: The Candidate can

  • evaluate the effects of different prophylactic treatments including vaccines and vaccination strategies
  • evaluate the impact of different immunological parameters, i.e. antibody responses and immune gene profiling by qPCR

General knowledge: The Candidate

  • have a good overview of the immune system of higher vertebrates (mammals and fish)

Language of instruction and examination

English.

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment

Three hours written exam. A - E for passed, F for failed.

A re-sit exam will be arranged for this course.

Recommended reading/syllabus

The course text book is: Basic Immunology: Functions and disorders of the immune system. Abul K. Abbas & Andrew H. Lichtman. Third Edition. Review papers within fish immunology will be presented at the course.

Lecture presentations are also considered required reading.

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  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: BIO-3609