Immunology

Code:

MI072113

Acronym:

IMUNOL

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Health Sciences

Instance: 2010/2011 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://moodle.up.pt
Responsible unit:	Biochemistry Laboratory
Course/CS Responsible:	MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MICF	196	Official Curriculum	2	-	5,5	52	148,5

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The study of basic compounds that constitute the biological tissues involved in the immune response.
The knowledge of the cellular and molecular constitution of biological fluids.
The use of the basic experimental methodology as a dominant approach for studying the different cell populations and to be competent in microscopic techniques to analyse the different structures.
Progression of experimental competence of the student during the semester to achieve better autonomy and application to new situations.

Program

Theorical
Immunology and the immune system; Innate immunity; Complement system; Antigens; Structure and function of immunoglobulin molecules – Antibodies; Immunoglobulin classes: isotypes and allotypes; Immunoglobulin genes are rearranged in antibody-producing cells. Antigen – antibody interactions: Affinity and avidity antibodies. Antibody specificity and cross reactivity. Antibody and antigen interactions. Antibody production. Characterisation of the specific immune response. Primary and secundary immune response.Theories of antibody formation. Cell-mediated immune response; The major histocompatibility complex, T cell receptor (TcR), role of CD3, accessory and costimulatory molecules; Immune response against the different antigens. B and T cell antigen recognition. Antigen processing and presentation. Structure and assembly of MHC molecule/peptide complexes. Role of the thymus in the TcR determination; Superantigens; Cell mediated immune responses: Immunorregulation. T cell subpopulations: Th1 and Th2. Cytokines and macrophage activation. Cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Immunization: active and passive. Antigens used as vaccines. Histocompatibility antigens in transplantation. Tolerance and autoimmunity. Immunological tolerance. Hypersensitivity states. Hypersensitivity linked to disease. Tumour immunology. Tumour associated antigens detected by immune cells. Human tumour immune responses and escape mechanisms. Immunodeficiency disease: primary and adquired.
Laboratory
Separation of mononuclear cells from peripheral blood;
Detection of cellular markers by immunofluorescence:
Antigen proteins separation by SDS_PAGE and immunoreactivity by western blot;
Quantification of immunoglobulins in serum by ELISA and detection of cell immunoglobulins production by ELISAspot;
Detection of autoantibody by latex reaction in the case of autoimmune disease;
Quantification of interleukin by PCR;
Discution of scientific papers.

Mandatory literature

Roitt. ; Essencial Immunology , .Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications. , 8th ed
Roitt, Brostoff and Male. ; Immunology., 5th edition.
Deboeck Université. ; Immunology., Male. Aide-Mémoire Illustré., 1996.
Cochet, O, Teillaurd, JL, Sautés, C.; Immunological Tecniques Made Easy, 2000.
Willian E. Paul. Raven Press. ; Fundamental in Immunology. , Last edition.
Janeway and Travers.; Immuno Biology. , last edition
John E. Coligan; Ada K. Kruisbeek; David H. Margulies; Ethan M. Shevach; Warren Strober.(; Current protocols in Immunology. , Plubished by Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley - Interscience

Teaching methods and learning activities

Tutorial classes: 2 hours a week, supported by projection of illustrative slides (Power Point XP) and short animations. In order to associate the material taught with clinical practical examples.
Laboratorial classes: 2 hours a week; each student perform the laboratorial program in groups of two.
At the beginning of the semester two hours per week are scheduled to provide students opportunities to discuss with the staff all matters related to this course.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	52,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Eligibility for exams

- Student attendance at laboratory sessions is mandatory. Those students whose attendance is lower than 75% of the lab sessions scheduled are considered to have not been in attendance at all.
- Attendance to theoretical classes is not compulsory.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final classification is provided in accordance with the current norms of the Pedagogic Committee of the Faculty of Pharmacy.

Examinations or Special Assignments

- Students considered on the special regime, among other cases covered by Law, are students who are parents of children less than 3 years of age, individuals under compulsory military service, associative leaders, high competition athletes, individuals that carry out effective functions predicted under Article 73 of Decree Law 448/79 of 13 November, ratified, with alterations, by Law number 19/80 of 16 July.

- The exams for the special regime students are carried out in accordance with that established in the applicable legislation for each specific situation.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

In accordance with the current norms of the Pedagogic Committee of the Faculty of Pharmacy 2007/2008.

Classification improvement

- The student has the right to repeat the final exam to improve the mark in one of the two exam periods, normal or resource periods, immediately subsequent to the academic year in which he/she carried out those tests.
- The repetition of tests to improve the mark can be undertaken only once per subject.
- The final subject classification will be the higher of those obtained in the two tests carried out.

Observations

A basic knowledge of Biology, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology is assumed. An ongoing revision of the knowledge of the course of immunology is recommended.