COURSE: BASIC IMMUNOLOGY
Subject 1: Introduction to Immunology: Innate and acquired immunity; Cells and
organs in the immune system
Lecturer: Prof. Yona Keisari
Type of presentation: Lecture
Duration: 2 hours
Summary:
A. Protective mechanisms
a. Innate Immunity
b. Adaptive Immunity
B. Functions of the immunocompetent system
Immunology as an independent discipline dealing with specific reactions initiated by a highly
specialized system of cells and organs.
a. Protection against pathogens and toxic agents
b. Preservation of normal structures in the body: removal of damaged cells
c. Wound healing
d. Pathological function of the immunocompetent system
C. Cells tissues and organs of the Immune systaem.
a. Innate immunity and inflammatory cells: Phgocytes, NK cells.
b. Cells of the adaptive immune response: lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells
c. Central lymphoid organs: Bone marrow; thymus
d. Peripheral lymphoid organs: Lymph nodes, spleen, mucosa associated lymphoid
tissue.
e. Circulation of lymphoid cells: The lymphatic system
Literature:
Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman & Co. ch. 1,
pp. 1-22; ch. 2, pp. 23-51.
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Subject 2: Innate immunity
Lecturer: Dr. Gal Markel
Type of Presentation: Lecture
Duration: 3 hours
Summary:
A. Definition of Innate Immunity
B. Pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMP)
C. Pattern regognition receptors (PRR)
D. Cells of the innate immune response
E. Relations between Innate and Adaptive Imunity
I. Pattern Recognition receptors
a. mannose receptor
b. receptor for manose-binding protein
d. scavenger receptors
c. receptors for chemotactic factors (formylated peptides, chemokines,
leukotriene B4)
II. Toll-like receptors (TLRs):
a. structure of TLRs
b. classification of TLRs
c. ligands for TLRs
d. TLR dimerization
e. responses to TLR stimulation and signal transduction from TLRs
f. TLR4 and endotoxic shock
Literature:
Kuby, Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Goldsby, Kindt and Osborne, eds. Freedman & Co.
ch 3, pp. 52-75.
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Subject 3: Innate Immunity: Phagocyte migration; Intracellular killing mechanisms;
Inflammation
Lecturer: Dr. Gal Markel
Type of Presentation: Lecture
Duration: 3 hours
Summary:
A.
Origin of Phagocytes:
a. Bone marrow origin and differentiation of neutrophils and macrophages
b. Functional and biochemical changes in the course of differentiation
c. Colony stimulating factors (CSFs)
B. Cell Biology of phagocytic cells (neutrophils, macrophages, eosinophils):
a. Neutrophils
1. Neutrophil granules – Heterogeneity
2. Degranulation
3. Granules “pathology”
b. Eosinophils and their granules
c. Monocytes and macrophages
1. Distribution within the host
2. Recruitment to tissues
3. Receptors and membranal molecules
4. The secretory products of macrophages
C. Inflammation: Acute and chronic inflammation
a. Initiation of inflammation
b. Cell migration and Chemotaxis
1. Adherence and activation
2. Diapedesis
3. Chemotaxis: chemotactic factors and chemokines
c. Phagocytosis; Receptors and mechanisms.
1. Structure and function of macrophage receptors
2. Lysosomes, phagocytic vacuoles, fusion
d. Killing of microbial agents.
1. Oxidative killing of pathogens
2. Non-oxidative killing mechanisms
D. Phagocyte disorders.
Literature:
1. Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman & Co. Ch
2, 23-30, 35-40. Ch. 3, ch. 13, pp. 327-343.
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Subject 4: Regulation of the Innate Immune response: Cytokines, Arachidonic acid
metabolites.
Lecturer: Dr. Gal Merkel
Type of Presentation: Lecture
Duration: 3 hours
Summary:
A. The concept of cytokines
B. General properties of cytokines:
a. Common functional properties
b. Common systemic activities
c. Common cell sources and cascading events
d. Common receptor molecules
C. Functional categories of cytokines:
a. Cytokines that regulate immune responses
b. Cytokines that facilitate innate immune responses and activate
inflammatory responses
c. Chemokines: Cytokines that affect leukocyte movement
d. Cytokines that stimulate hematopoiesis
D. Cytokine receptors:
a. Cytokine receptor families
b. Common γ Chain
E. Regulation of inflammation by cytokines
a. Proinflammatory cytokines:IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha.
b. Antiinflammatory cytokines: IL-10, TGF-beta.
c. Acute phase response.
d. Fever.
e. Hemopoiesis.
F. Role of cytokines and cytokine receptors in diseases:
a. Toxic shock syndrome
b. Bacterial septic shock
G. Arachidonic acid metabolites: Prostaglandins, Leukotriens, Thromboxane
Literature:
1. Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman & Co.
ch.12, pp. 302-326. Ch. 13, 338-346.
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Subject 5: Adaptive Immune response.
Cells and organs of the Adaptive immune response
Lecturer: Dr. Michal Besser
Type of presentation: Lecture
Duration: 2 hours
Summary:
A. Introduction to Adaptive Immunity: B cells and T cells
B. Lymphoid cells: B and T cell biology and development
1. T-Cell Differentiation and Maturation
a. T helper cells (Th), T cytotoxic cells (Tc): Differentiation in the thymus
b. Thymic selection of T-cell repertoire
c. Mature T-cell populations
2. Lymphocyte receptors and accesory molecules.
a. B cell and T cell antigen receptors.
b. CD molecules.
c. Major histocompatibility molecules (MHC)
Literature:
1. Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman & Co. ch.
9, pp. 223-228, 235-241; ch.10, pp. 245-254.
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Subject 6: The Adaptive Immune response.
Antigen proccessing and presentation: Cells, receptors and signaling molecules
Lecturer: Dr. Michal Besser
Type of presentation: Lecture
Duration: 3 hours
Summary:
A. Antigen presenting cells
a. Mononuclear phagocytes: macrophages, dendritic cells
b. B lymphocytes
B. Antigen processing
a. Membranal molecules and receptors
b. Intracellular components and organelles
C. Antigen presentation
a. Role of MHC class 1 and 2 in antigen presentation
b. Costimulatory molecules
c. Adhesion molecules
d. Role of Toll Like Receptors (TLR)
D. Recognition: Recognition of antigenic determinants by:
a. T helper lymphocytes
b. T cytotoxic lymphocytes
c. B lymphocytes
Literature:
1. Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman & Co. Ch.
8,
pp.
206-222;
Ch.
9,
pp.
235-241;
Ch.
10,
pp.
254-268.
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Subject 7. Regulation of the adaptive Immune response: Role of Cytokines and T
regulatory cells.
Lecturer: Prof. Yona Keisari
Type of presentation: Lecture.
Duration: 2 hours
Siummary:
A. Definitions
a. Cytokines, interleukins, chemokines, T helper cells, T regulatory cells.
B. General properties of cytokines
a. Regulatory cytokines
b. Hematopoietic growth factors
c. Chemokines.
C. Structure and function of cytokines
1. Source of cytokines:T helper 1 and T helper 2.
2. Cytokine receptors
D. Regulation of the adaptive immune response
1. Humoral Immunity
2. T cytotoxic cells.
3. Delayed type hypersensititvity
4. T regulatory cells
Literature:
1. Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman & Co. Ch.
11, pp. 285-287; Ch. 12, pp. 302-326; Ch. 15, 393-400.
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Subject 8: Structure and function of immunoglobulins (Ig)
Lecturer: Dr. Ariel Munitz
Type of Presentation: Lecture
Duration: 4 hours
Summary:
A. Introduction
1. B cells, antibodies and receptors
B. Antibody structure
1. Heavy and light chains
2. 3D structure
3. Enzymatic treatments
C. Antibody subclasses
1. Overview
2. Structure
3. Effector functions
D. Antibody: antigen interactions
1. Affinity vs. Avidity
E. Fc Receptors
1. Fc Receptor types
1.1 Expression
1.2 Function
2. Ig-superfamily receptors
2.1 Expression
2.2 Function
F. Humoral response
G. Antibodies in clinical use
1. Introduction
2. Antibodies in diagnostics
3. Antibodies in treatment
4. Future avenues
Summary:
1. Antibodies are immunoglobulins (Ig) electrophoretically belonging to  and 2
globulins
2. Abnormal Ig concentrations in diseases.
3. Ig are heterogenous except in multiple myeloma.
4. Ig are built of 2 heavy chains and 2 light chains and can be split into fragments.
5. Each chain consists of a constant and a variable part.
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6. The structure and function of the different Ig classes (IgM, IgG, IgA, IgD and IgE)
7. Ig functions as antigen receptors on lymphocytes. Membrane and secreted Ig's.
8. Amino acid sequences of heavy and light chains: The hypervariable regions, the
domains. Evolution of the Ig structure.
9. Structure of the antigen combining sites of antibodies.
10. The 3-dimensional structure of Ig; electron microscopy and x-ray difraction studies.
11. Antigenic determinants.
12. Antigenic determinants of the Ig molecule: Isotypic, allotypic and idiotypic.
13. Ig synthesis, assembly, membrane deposition and secretion.
Literature:
Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman &
Co. Ch. 4, pp. 76-110; Ch. 11, pp. 289-301.
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Subject 9: Immunological Laboratory Tests - Principles and applications
Lecturer: Dr. Ariel Munitz
Type of Presentation: Lecture
Duration: 2 hours
Summary:
Methods for detection of antigens and antibodies:
a. Immunodiffusion.
b. Electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis.
c. Agglutination assays.
d. Radioimmunoassays (RIA).
e. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).
f. Nephelometry
g. Immunofluorescence.
h. Western blotting.
Literature:
Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman & Co. ch. 6,
pp. 145-167.
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Subject 10: The Complement System
Lecturer: Dr. Ariel Munitz
Type of Presentation: Lecture
Duration: 2 hours
Summary:
1. Components of the complement system
2. The sequence of complement activation
3. The classical, alternative and lectin complement pathways
4. Functions of complement
5. Complement receptors
6. Complement and inflammation
7. Complement deficiencies.
Literature:
Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman & Co. Ch. 7,
pp. 168-188
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Subject 11: Organization and expression of T cell receptor, B cell receptor and
immunoglobulin genes
Lecturer: Prof. Joseph Haimovich
Type of Presentation: Lecture
Duration: 2 hours
Summary:
A. Structural genes coding for the immunoglobulin and the T cell receptor. Variable
and constant regions.
B. The genetic basis for the antibody diversity: Rearrangements and Somatic
mutations
C. Allelic Exclusion
D. Class switch
E. Clinical significance
Literature:
Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman &
Co. ch. 5, pp. 111-136; ch. 9, pp. 228-235.
Subject 12: B cell activation and differentiation
Lecturer: Prof. Joseph Haimovich
Type of Presentation: Lecture
Duration: 2 hours
Summary:
Differentiation stages:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Stem cell – ProB – PreB – B – Plasma cell
Cell surface markers in B cell differentiation
Signal transductions in B cell differentiation
The germinal center reaction
Literature:
Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman &
Co. ch. 11, pp. 271-299.
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Subject 13 : Effector lymphocytes in the adaptive immune system.
Lecturers: Dr. Gal Markel
Type of Presentation: Lecture
Duration: 3 hours
Summary:
A. Heterogeneity of effector cells:
a. Cytotoxic T cells (CTL).
b. Natural killer (NK) cells and NKT cells.
c. Cells mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).
B. Receptors of cytotoxic cells (activating and inhibitory receptors)
C. Mechanisms of cytotoxicity: soluble effector molecules (perforin and granzymes) and
membrane-bound effector molecules (Fas and Fas ligand)
Literature:
Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman & Co. ch. 14,
pp. 351-370; ch. 10, pp. 264-267; ch. 9, pp. 226-228.
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Subject 14: Anti microbial and anti parasitic protective immune mechanisms
Lecturer: Prof. Yona Keisari
Type of Presentation: Lecture
Duration: 2 hours
Summary:
A. Sequence of immunological events following infection by microbial agents
B. Collaboration between immune mechanisms for the eradication of microbial pathogens
C. Examples of anti viral anti bacterial immunity
Literature:
2. Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman & Co. ch.
18, pp. 447-460.
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Subject 15: Immunological laboratory tests
Lecturer: Ms. Irit Altboim
Type of presentation: Laboratory
Duration: A laboratory session of 3 hours
Objectives: Demonstration and exercise of laboratory techniques for assessment of
immunological parameters.
Summary:
A. Determination of antibody concentration in an unknown serum sample by
ELISA
B. Hemagglutination: Blood group typing
Literature:
Kuby Immunology (6th ed., 2007) Kindt, Goldsby, and Osborne, eds., Freeman & Co. ch. 6,
pp. 145-167.
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