UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS
MODULE SPECIFICATION SHEET
1.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Academic Year: 2012/2013
Semester(s): Yearly
2.
Title
Code
Duration (hrs)
No of credits
Immunology, Parasitology &
Applied Microbiology
(Dr N Taleb-Hossenkhan)
BIOS
3002Y(5)
Lectures: 26.25 (Dr Taleb only)
Practicals: 7.5
Seminars:
Tutorials:
Others (Specify):
Total: 30
6 (total) (for
the whole
module)
PRE-REQUISITE(S)/PRE-REQUIREMENT(S)
A-level Biology
3.
AIMS
This module provides an introduction to modern immunological theory and
practice covering the biology and chemistry of the immune response, including
the chemistry, synthesis and biological properties of antibodies, structure of
antigens and the chemistry of antibody-antigen interactions, receptor
interleukins and associated mediator of immune cell function, antigen processing
and presentation, the major histocompatibility complex, organisation and rearrangement of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily.
4.
OUTLINE SYLLABUS
The syllabus will detail the following main themes:
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Components of the immune system
Principles of innate and adaptive immunity
The recognition and effector mechanisms of adaptive immunity
Innate Immunity
Antibody structure and function
Antibody genes and generation of diversity
Antigen presentation to T lymphocytes
The Major Histocompatibility Complex
Chemical signaling
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5.
Production of armed effector T cells
T-cell mediated cytotoxicity
The Humoral Immune response
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Having studied this module, the students should be able to:
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Be aware that pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell from the bone
marrow give rise to all the cell types that participate in both innate and
adaptive immunity
Explain what are the primary and secondary lymphoid organs and what
are their functions
Explain in detail what happens during inflammation, stating clearly the
roles that are played by the different immune system cells
Explain what is meant by lymphocyte receptor repertoire, clonotypic,
clonal selection theory, clonal expansion, lymphoblast
Describe the main functions of antibodies
Describe in detail how epithelial surfaces function as the front line of
defense in innate immunity
Describe the role that phagocytes play in innate immunity
Describe the main roles played by complement in innate immunity
Describe the three main pathways in which complement can be
activated, outlining the different enzymatic cascades that operate in the
three main pathways
Describe briefly the function of C3 convertase on pathogen surfaces and
how phagocytes recognize complement-tagged pathogens,
Describe how small fragments of some complement proteins can initiate
a local inflammatory response
Explain how the terminal complement proteins can polymerize to form
pores in membranes that can kill certain pathogens
Describe in detail the structure of a typical antibody molecule
Describe briefly the molecular structure of the immunoglobulin heavy
and light chains
Describe how antibody molecules specifically interacts with antigen,
mentioning which parts of the immunoglobulin makes contact with the
antigenic peptides
Describe the structure of the antigen receptor on T cells
Describe the expression of the cell-surface proteins CD4 and CD8 on the
surface of T cells and what are the functional consequences of this
expression
Explain how MHC molecules are differentially expressed on different
immune system cells
Explain how diversity in the immunoglobulin chains can be generated by
rearrangement of DNA coding for each chain
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6.
Explain how diversity in the T cell receptors is achieved
Explain clearly the function of MHC molecules and from where the
peptides that are carried by MHC Class I and II molecules are derived
from
Describe briefly the genetic organization of the human HLA genes
Explain clearly how polymorphism is achieved within the HLA gene
cluster and what type of molecular interactions are influenced by this
polymorphism
Explain the terms allogenic, mixed lymphocyte reaction and alloreactivity
in the context of recognition of non-self MHC molecules by T cells
Explain the concept of superantigens
Explain clearly how Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs), T cells and B cells
interact in lymph node circulation and how naïve T cells are stimulated by
sampling MHC:peptide complexes
Describe the functions of the various cell adhesion molecules that
mediate cell-cell interactions for lymphocyte activation and effector
function
Describe the co-stimulatory signals that are provided by APCs and that
are required for clonal expansion of naïve T cells
Explain the functioning of dendritic cells, their migration routes and the
signals they respond to
Describe the cytokines secreted by activated T cells, the co-stimulatory
signals required for this secretion and the properties of T cells that have
differentiated into armed effector T cells
Describe how naive CD8 T cells can be activated in different ways to
become armed cytotoxic effector cells
Explain clearly how cytotoxic T cells can induce target cells to undergo
apoptosis, detailing the molecular events that take place during this
process
Explain how macrophages can be activated by armed CD4 TH1 cells and
how this activation is regulated to avoid tissue damage
Explain clearly how a humoral immune response is initiated, including the
concept of linked recognition
COORDINATORS:
Programme Coordinator
Name
Department
Building
Room Number
Phone No.
E-mail address
Consultation Time
DR SHOBHA JAWAHEER
BIOSCIENCES
NAC
5.9
Ext 7469
shobha@uom.ac.mu
Module Coordinator
7.
LECTURER(S)
Name
Department
Building
Room Number
Phone No.
E-mail address
Contact Hours
8.
DR N TALEB-HOSSENKHAN
BIOSCIENCES
NAC
5.7
Ext 7466
n.taleb@uom.ac.mu
10:00-16:00
DR SABRINA DYALL
BIOSCIENCES
NAC
Basement
Ext 7514
s.dyall@uom.ac.mu
VENUE AND HOURS/WEEK
All lectures and/or Practicals will normally be held in Room: 1.5, 10:45-12:00
Hours/week: 1.25
9.
MODULE MAP
Wk (s)
1 (1.5 hrs)
2 (1.5 hrs)
3 (1.5 hrs)
Main themes
Components of the
immune system
Principles of innate and
adaptive immunity
4 (1.5 hrs)
The recognition and
effector mechanisms of
adaptive immunity
Innate Immunity I
5 (1.5 hrs)
Innate Immunity II
6 (1.5 hrs)
Antibody Structure &
Function I
Antibody Structure &
Function II
Antibody Genes &
Generation of Diversity I
Antibody Genes &
Generation of Diversity II
Revision & Tutorials
Antigen presentation to T
lymphocytes
The Major
Histocompatibility
Complex
Production of armed
effector T cells I
Production of armed
effector T cells II
7 (1.5 hrs)
8 (1.5 hrs)
9 (1.5 hrs)
10
11 (1.5 hrs)
12 (1.5 hrs)
13 (1.5 hrs)
14 (1.5 hrs)
Lecture titles
Components of the immune system, generation of lymphocytes, the lymphoid organs, circulation of
lymphocytes in the body
Definition of innate immunity and its activation, antigen-presenting cells and induction of adaptive
immunity, generation of lymphocyte receptor repertoires, clonal selection, the antibody molecule,
generation of combinatorial diversity, immunological memory
Effector functions of antibody, functions of T cells, role of the major Histocompatibility complex in Tcell recognition, defects in the immune system and disease, vaccination
The front line of host defense, role of epithelial surfaces in defense, role of phagocytes,
inflammation, introduction to the complement system
Components of the complement system, the classical pathway, the mannan-binding lectin pathway,
complement activation, the alternative pathway, role of complement in inflammation
Structure of a typical antibody molecule: heavy and light chains, variable and constant regions,
domains of the immunoglobulin molecule, interaction of antibody with specific antigen
Antigen recognition by T cells, classes of MHC molecules and binding to CD4 and CD8 T cells
The generation of diversity in immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin gene rearrangement, gene
rearrangement in light chain families and heavy chain families, mechanisms of DNA rearrangement
Mechanisms of DNA rearrangements in genes encoding T-cell receptors
The generation of T-cell receptor ligands, delivery of peptides to the cell surface by MHC class I and II
molecules, loading of peptides onto MHC molecules
The polygenic nature of the MHC, genes encoded by the MHC, polymorphism at the MHC locus,
effect of MHC polymorphism on recognition by T cells, superantigens
Initiation of T cell responses in peripheral lymphoid organs, specific interactions between naïve T
cells and APCs, role of cell adhesion molecules in cell-cell interactions, co-stimulatory signals
Role of dendritic cells in activating naïve T cells, role of macrophages in activating naïve T cells,
synthesis of IL-2 by activated T cells, differentiation of CD4 T cells into TH1 and TH2 cells
15
16 (1.5 hrs)
17 (1.5 hrs)
18 (1.5 hrs)
19 (1.5 hrs)
20 (1.5 hrs)
21 (1.5 hrs)
22 (1.5 hrs)
23 (1.5 hrs)
24
25
Revision & Tutorials
T-cell mediated
cytotoxicity I
T-cell mediated
cytotoxicity II
The Humoral Immune
Response I
The Humoral Immune
Response II
Mini-Seminar
Presentations
Mini-Seminar
Presentations
Mini-Seminar
Presentations
Mini-Seminar
Presentations
Revision & Tutorials
Revision & Tutorials
Induction of Programmed Cell Death by cytotoxic T cells, molecules involved in the induction of
apoptosis, action of Fas ligand in induction of apoptosis, release of cytokines by cytotoxic T cells
Macrophage activation by armed CD4 TH1 cells, production of cytokines by armed CD4 TH1 cells,
regulation of TH1 cell action, coordination of host response by TH1 cells
B-cell activation by armed effector T cells, initiation of the humoral immune response, encounter of
B cells with armed effector T cells in lymphoid tissue, proliferation of B cells in germinal centers
Distribution and functions of immunoglobulin isotypes, transport of particular isotypes across
epithelial barriers, activation of complement pathway by antigen:antibody complexes
Various topics covered in the course
10.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS/JOURNALS/WEBSITES
1. Immunobiology (Janeway, Travers, Walport, Shlomchik)
2. Immunology (Lydyard, Whelan, Fanger)
3. Essential immunology (Roitt)
11.
ESSAY(S)/ASSIGNMENT(S)/PRACTICAL(S)
Title
12.
ASSESSMENT
(i)
Written Examination
Maximum
Marks
Last Submission
Date
Paper Structure
Sections (if any)
No. of questions to be answered:
Multiple Choice Questions
Compulsory Questions (if any)
Exams date:
Paper Duration:
Weighting (%):
Total Marks:
(ii)
Pass Marks:
Continuous Assessment
Weighting (%)
Assignment(s):
Practical(s):
Seminar(s):
Test(s):
Total Marks:
25%