526-305 Advanced Immunology

Credit Points:

Coordinator:

Prerequisite/s:

Timetable:

Contact:

Objectives:

By the end of the subject students should be able to:

Understand and describe:

• the differentiation and function of phagocytic cells, and their importance in defence and the initiation of the specific immune response;

• the beneficial and pathogenic effects of the immune response to a range of infectious diseases;

• immunochemical and molecular biological analysis of immunological specificity;

• molecular and cellular aspects of the production of MHC-antigen complexes and the basis of their recognition by T cells;

• the molecular definition and biological activities of cytokines and surface receptors.

• the signals which initiate alternative programmed responses in lymphocytes.

Have developed:

• skills in analysing the experimental evidence for immunological concepts.

Appreciate:

• the experimental basis of our knowledge of the immune response.

Content:

Development and functional differentiation of B and T-lymphocytes and phagocytic cells. Beneficial and pathogenic effects of immune responses to infectious disease. Immunochemical and molecular biological methods used to define immunologically important factors. Biochemical aspects of antigen processing and production of MHC-restricted-antigen complexes. Immuno-chemical studies and genetic regulation of T cell receptors and cytokines.

Assessment:

Prescribed Texts:

• Roitt I et. al., Immunology, 3rd ed. 1993 Gower.