Complementary Immunology

Recommended Prerequisites

Cellular and Molecular Biology; Hematology.   

Teaching Methods

The course is based on three modalities of teaching:

i) Theoretical classes, where the different course subjects are presented and discussed;

ii) Classes focused on the presentation and discussion of scientific papers, for clarification and application of the concepts discussed in the theoretical ones.

iii) Laboratory classes using methodologies for immunological diagnostics, including analysis and interpretation of the results.  

Learning Outcomes

This unit covers a wide range of knowledge on Immunology, from the structural basis of the immune system to immune pathologies. Students will gain insight on the laboratory methodologies routinely used in diagnosis, prognosis assessment and therapeutic monitoring

i) To provide an integrated knowledge about the mechanisms and concepts regarding the immune system

ii) To highlight the importance of this system in different contexts and its interaction with other body systems, calling attention of immune system malfunctioning

iii) To study the ability of modulating anti-pathogen responses or inhibiting exaggerated immune responses

iv) To study immune system pathologies and to highlight the markers and methodologies used for disease diagnosis and prognosis assessment, as well as therapeutic monitoring.

v) To stimulate reasoning and critical thinking in students through discussion of relevant subjects that demands correlation of different knowledge on immunology.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Lectures:

Mechanisms of the immune response

Innate and the acquired immune system

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and lymphocyte receptors.

The acquired immune response: main characteristics, different types of immune responses (Th1, Th2, Th17 etc) and effector mechanisms of cellular and humoral immune responses

Regulation of immune responses: central and peripheral mechanisms of tolerance.

Immune responses to pathogens: virus, intracellular and extracellular bacteria, parasites and fungi.

The immune system and cancer: tumour surveillance and anti-tumour immunity; immune-mediated tumour destruction

Modulation of the immune system: vaccines and other approaches

Pathologies of the immune system: hypersensitivities, immunodeficiencies and autoimmune diseases.

Methodologies routinely used in immunology laboratories, including flow cytometry. Analysis and interpretation of the results.

Head Lecturer(s)

Armanda Emanuela Castro Santos

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Arosa F. A. e col. Fundamentos de Imunologia. LIDEL, 2ª edição (2012)

Janeway-Travers. Immunobiology. 8th ed., 2011.

Kint, Goldsby and Osborne. Kuby Immunology. 6ª ed., 2007.

Artigos científicos com temas de imunologia/Lecture notes or articles will be supplied whenever needed.