Immunology Course 2012
Course Director:
Office Hours:
Jeffrey K. Actor, Ph.D.
Fridays at 1:00 in MSB 2.214
•Course Scope
•Schedule/Syllabus
•Textbook
•Team Based Learning Exercise
•Essay Assignment
•Clinical Correlations
•AIDS Education Project
•Exams and Grading
Course Scope
• The purpose of the Immunology course is to provide a basic
knowledge of the immune response and its involvement in
health and disease.
• The course is designed to increase clinical relevance and
problem-solving skills through lectures, faculty-presented
clinical correlations, essay assignments, and team learning.
Schedule/Syllabus
• The Schedule and Syllabus are posted on Blackboard.
•You are responsible for:
• Material covered in lectures including clinical vignettes.
• Materials in the syllabus, textbook and handouts.
• Posted materials to complement the lectures.
•You should:
• Attend lectures and take complete and accurate notes.
• Review: Audio tapes, Video tapes, Streaming Video.
• Review: Web based info at Medic Immunology Page.
Web page: http://www.uth.tmc.edu/pathology/medic/immunology/immuntbl.htm
Textbooks/Syllabus
• R. Coico and G. Sunshine. Immunology -- a Short Course,
6th Edition. Wiley-Liss, 2009. The lectures are organized to match
these book chapters.
• R. S. Geha and Notarangelo, F. S. Case Studies in
Immunology: A Clinical Companion (6th Ed). Garland, 2012.
Examples of immunology in health and disease; used extensively in the
Clinical Correlations and as 'Clinical Vignettes' in the lectures. The case
studies are testable material. List of Clinical Correlates for Course
Recommended alternative texts: - Parham, P. The Immune System. 3rd Edition.
Garland Publishing, New York, 2009.
- Goldsby, Kindt, Osborne, Kuby. Immunology (6th Ed.). W.H. Freeman, NY 2007.
- Actor, J.K. Elsevier’s Integrated Immunology and Microbiology (2nd Ed.),
Mosby/Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2012. Highly recommended.
Texts are on Reserve at the LRC and the HAM Library.
Exams and Grading
• EXAMINATIONS. There will be two major exams
consisting of multiple choice, matching, and national
board format questions.
• The MIDTERM will have 60 questions
• 40% of course grade
• The FINAL will have 80 questions
• 40% of course grade
Team Based Exercise
• A Team Based Learning Exercise (TBL) will be
held on February 23rd.
• Students will be required to address a clinically
based scenario and provide answers to related
questions.
• The format will be similar to TBL for the Clinical
Applications course.
The assignment is described in greater detail in the
syllabus. Grading will be based on group completion of
answers to question sets.
This session is mandatory. It is worth 10% of the course grade.
Essay Assignment
• Students must turn in one essay assignment, based
on a clinical scenario. The due date is March 19th.
- The essay is 10% of the course grade
• Attend one of the City-Wide Infectious Disease
Rounds and provide a written review of one case.
The assignment is described in detail in the syllabus.
Grading will be based on adherence to format described
in the syllabus, on thoroughness, and on application of
your budding medical knowledge.
Assignments turned in late will receive half credit.
Clinical Correlations
•Clinical Correlations. Correlates from the Geha and
Notarangelo text are assigned for multiple lectures.
They may or may not be directly covered during the
lecture, You are responsible for the molecular
mechanisms for each assigned correlate. The list of
assigned correlates is in the syllabus.
Note: There are Clinical Correlate sessions that are also
taught by staff. These are regular course lectures.
AIDS Education Project
(extra credit opportunity)
• We encourage community volunteer activities.
Students who participate in the AIDS Education
Project (i.e. undergo the training and participate in
projects) are eligible for two extra credit points.
• Meeting: 1/10/12, MSB 1.006, noon.
• AIDS Walk 2012: a volunteer program including
the annual Walk-a-thon. Other opportunities
available, and will be discussed at the meeting.
• This is EXTRA CREDIT, and not mandatory for the course.
Exams and Grading
• Overall grade. The total possible points and grade
assignments:
Midterm
40 % (60 questions)
Final
40 % (80 questions)
Essay
10 %
TBL
10 %
Extra Credit possible 2 additional points
• Grade assignments.
Honors
High pass
Pass
Marginal Performance
Fail
90-100 %
85.5-89.99 %
69.5-85.49 %
65.5-69.49 %
65.49 % or below