Immunology Theme
Mucosal Immunology
Course No: GBS 744
Spring 2011
Objective: To teach basic concepts of mucosal immunology in the context of disease. To
describe experimental models and approaches for the study of mucosal immunology.
Time/Day: Three classes per week (M,W,F), 8-10 am
Dates: March 28-April 22, 2011 2 credits (3 credits for Advanced Course)
Location: SHEL105
Coursemasters: Lesley Smythies (lesmy@uab.edu) & Robin Lorenz (rlorenz@uab.edu)
Rationale: The mucosal surfaces - gut, respiratory tract, and genitourinary tract - are
primary sites of microbial interaction and colonization. The mucosal immune system
regulates the response to environmental antigens while mounting a rapid and robust
specific immune response to infectious agents. This balance has led to certain physical
and functional characteristics unique to mucosal sites. This course is intended to accent
these properties of the mucosal immune system, drawing on experimental and human
examples. Mucosal aspects of antigen processing and presentation, mechanisms of
mucosal regulation, mucosal antibody and cellular effector mechanisms, the phylogeny
and ontogeny of the mucosal immune system, mucosal inflammation caused by
imbalances in the local immune system, and the exploitation of mucosal sites for vaccine
delivery will all be covered.
Goals:
1) Identify unique features of mucosal immunology and response to environment;
2) Recognize the impact of mucosal disease in human populations;
3) Explore known and potential mechanisms of mucosal regulation and inflammation;
4) Understand the mechanisms and clinical potential of effective mucosal vaccine
development;
5) Introduce a broad cross-disciplinary perspective to generate an interactive and
engaging environment for defining problems, discussion and hypothesis generation.
Format:
1) Two integrated 2 hour classes per module
2) Usually, the first class of the module will have two related 45-minute faculty
presentations, 10 minutes discussion per presentation and a 5 to 10 minute break
3) The second class of the module will be student-led presentations. Each student will
present once in the course.
 Each student will be allowed to pick the paper they present from the papers
uploaded to the blackboard site. However, each paper can only be presented once
– so all the students assigned to present during a specific module will need to
contact each other to determine who is presenting which paper.
 You may present either a review or a primary data paper. If you present the
primary data paper, then utilize the reviews for your background.
 Each group of presenters will notify the class of their choices for presentation the
class meeting before the presentation occurs (this will allow the students who will
lead the discussion to know which papers to read)
4) Following each student presentation, there will be a 10 minute discussion led by three
designated students.
 The students assigned to lead the discussion will be the students who did
presentations in the previous module (i.e. if you present in module 1 – you
will lead the discussions for module 2, etc). The module 1 discussions will
be lead by the module 6 presenters.
5) Everyone in class will be responsible for turning in the written HW to the
coursemasters by noon the day prior to class (via e-mail to Lesley Smythies
(lesmy@uab.edu)). These homework answers will be used to help guide discussions.
6) All reviews and research papers used in the course are chosen by the course faculty.
Each module will be focused on a single theme but covering topics in the gastrointestinal
tract and respiratory and genitourinary systems.
Written Homework: Each student will choose one paper from the assigned reading for
each module for their written homework assignment. Please choose one of the papers
that will be presented during the module.
* Students need to read all assigned paper(s) prior to attending class. However, they need
to write 4 very brief paragraphs (each with a maximum of 3 non-run-on sentences)
answering the following questions about one of the papers assigned for that module
(please identify the paper used for HW by title and first author):
a)
What was the main take-home message of the paper?
b) What part did you find the least convincing or the most confusing?
c)
After reading the paper, what would you want to do next?
d) After reading the paper, what question would you ask the author?
Course Web Site:
Information pertinent to the course, including the course syllabus, schedule, and reading
assignments will be posted on the GBS 744: Mucosal Immunology website. This website
will also be used to post announcements. Students are also encouraged to use e-mail to
communicate with faculty, as needed, during the course. Please see the separate
instructions to access the course Web site.
Evaluation Policy (100 total points):
Evaluations will be based on student presentations (30 points), weekly written homework
(30 points), participation in the discussions of other student presentations (20 points) and
attendance (20 points). There are no exams.
Attendance Policy:
Attendance is required for all regularly scheduled classes unless prior arrangements are
made with the coursemaster, or in the event absence occurs as a result of illness. We
expect and insist on professional behavior by our students.
Course Evaluations:
Students will be given the opportunity to evaluate the course regarding content, faculty,
and overall presentation at the end of the course.
Additional Requirements if taking class for Advanced Credit (30 additional points):
Students taking this course for advanced credit will be required to write three parts of a
hypothesis-driven grant. This cannot be on a topic previously used by the student for
any other course requirements, fellowship applications, or qualifying exams. It also
cannot be on a project already proposed by the student’s laboratory (i.e. from the
mentor’s grant). See handouts for specific instructions.
-Grant idea (2-3 bullet points) DUE Friday, April 8, 2011
-One page specific aims DUE Friday, April 15, 2011
-One-half page significance DUE Friday, April 22, 2011
2011 Topics:
 B-lymphocytes and genitourinary mucosa – Mestecky/Novak/Moldoveanu
 Mucosal Inflammation: Pulmonary Schwiebert/Chaplin
 T Lymphocytes (regulatory)– Elson/Mannon
 Mucosal Infections and Innate Immunity – Smith/Smythies
 Mucosal Immunity and Vaccines – Fujishashi/Michalek
 T Lymphocytes (effector/)– Weaver/Harrington