Hematology and Immunology

Recommended Prerequisites

Celular Biology; Molecular Biology; Biochemistry.

Teaching Methods

Lectures supported by visual material (PowerPoint presentation) with active participation of students through questions and correlation of knowledge.

Practical classes where the students consolidate theoretical knowledge and develop different skills in particular, lab material handling and critical analysis of results.

Learning Outcomes

The course of Haematology and Immunology aims to give students a basic knowledge of Haematology and Immunology. So it is intended that they acquire knowledge on:

i) blood cells, ii) some haematologic diseases, iii) laboratorial analysis, iv) organs and components of the immune system, v) types of immune response, vi) passive and active immunity, vii) different types of vaccines.

Thus, it is expected that, in the end of the course, they realize: i) the importance of blood cells, ii) the biochemical and molecular bases of some haematologic diseases, analytical parameters  of those diseases and associated therapeutic iii) the dynamics and the importance of the immune system, iv) the difference between innate and adaptive immune response, v) the difference between active and passive immune response, vi) advantages and disadvantages of the various types of vaccines.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Haematopoiesis, regulation of haematopoiesis.

The red blood cell and the haemoglobin. Abnormal haemoglobins.

Anaemias. Classification and laboratory data.

Haemostasis. The haemostatic system: platelets, coagulation factors, inhibitors and fibrinolysis. Screening tests of blood coagulation.

The immune system (IS). IS organs.

Functional characteristics of the innate IS; effector mechanisms of the innate response.

Structure of antigen recognition receptors on B and T cells; functional features and effector mechanisms of the different antibody classes.

Presentation of antigens in the MHC context.

Maturation, activation and differentiation of B and T cells; functional characteristics of the adaptive response.

The complement system.

Infection and Immunity. Vaccine.

The sample in haematological analysis. The haemogram and the blood smear.

Reticulocyte count. Laboratory tests in the diagnosis of anaemias.

Antigen-antibody interaction.

Immunogenicity versus antigenicity.

Immunochemical assays.

Head Lecturer(s)

Teresa Carmo Pimenta Dinis Silva

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Written final exam concerning the various components of the course: Hematology and Immunology; theoretical, practical and laboratory: 100.0%

Bibliography

Essential Hematology.  A. V. Hoffbrand, P. A. H. Moss and J. E. Pettit. 6th ed., Blackwell Publishing , 2011

Practical  Hematology.  J. Dacie, S. M. Lewis. 10th ed., Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2006.

Kuby Immunology.  Kint, Goldsby and Osborne. 6th ed., W. H. Freeman and Company, 2007.

Fundamentos de Imunologia.  F. A. Arosa E. Cardoso F. Pacheco, LIDEL, 2012.