Advanced Immunology
Course Code:
MBC7205
Course Level:
2
Course Credit:
4 CU
Brief Course Description
This course requires prior knowledge of the basic biological sciences at BSc or equivalent level.
The course will teach an understanding of the immunological basis of disease focusing on selfrecognition and the role played by the immune system in the containment of infection, cancer
surveillance and tissue rejection and the causes and management of immunodeficiencies.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course learners should be able to
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Describe lymphocyte development.
Describe immune response to infection.
Explain tumour development
Describe features of tissue compatibility and transplant immunology.
Discuss acquired and inborn immunodeficiencies.
Course outline
Lymphocyte development
(5 hours)
The course will cover the development of T and B-lymphocytes with emphasis on the negative
selection of self-reacting clones and activation of mature peripheral lymphocytes during immune
response. Factors that affect this process and diseases arising from deregulation will be
highlighted.
Immune response to infection
(10 hours)
A central theme of the course will be the development of specific, adaptive immune response to
pathogens and recall of this response in subsequent infections. This will be the basis of a subtheme, the application of immunological memory in vaccine development and conditions
predisposing to autoimmune disease.
Tumour development and chemotherapy
(5 hours)
The course will cover the role of the immune system in recognition of non-self as the basis of
surveillance and removal of cancerous cells. Processes that support tumour establishment, the
immunosuppressive effects of chemotherapy and their sequelae.
Transplant Immunology
(5 hours)
The course will explain basis of MHC compatibility and tissue matching. The management of
transplant rejection and attendant immunosupression.
Acquired and inborn immunodeficiencies
(5 hours)
The basis of inborn immological diseases such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
and the Bruton’s disease will be highlighted. Comparison will be made with the aetiology and
management of acquired immunodeficiency such as AIDS.
Tutorials
(30 hours)
Practicals
(30 hours)
Mode of delivery
This course will be taught by using lectures, practicals and coursework assignments and tutorials.
Assessment
Assessment will be done through coursework assignments and practical reports, which will
constitute a progressive score, and end of module examinations. Their contribution to the final
grade is shown below:
Components
Progressive (Practicals and assignments)
Test
Final examination
Total
Contribution
20 %
20 %
60 %
100 %
.
Reading list:
1. Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Abul K Abbas, Andrew H Litchman, Jordan S
Pober. WB Saunders.
2. Laboratory Medicine. Test selection and Intepretation. Joan Howanitz, Peter Howanitz.
Edited by: P Joane Cornbleet, Ron B Schifman, Lawrence D Petz. Churchill Livingstone.