(*)Students will become acquainted with the structures and functions of the immune system, natural and acquired immunity and its regulation. Special attention is focused on immunity against infection.
1. Immunity – overview of the basic functions: the role of immune system, innate and adaptive immunity, regulation of the immune system.
2. Experimental systems in immunology. Cells and organs of the immune system: lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes, granulocytes, primary and secondary lymphoid organs, recirculation of lymphoid cells.
3. Antigens: chemical and biological properties, adjuvants, haptens, viral and bacterial antigens, mitogens,. Structure and function of immunoglobulins: antigenic determinants, on immunoglobulins, properties and function of immunoglobulin classes.
4. Antigen – antibody interaction: affinity avidity, immunological cross-reactivity. Immunochemical reaction. Monoclonal antibodies.
5. Organisation and expression of immunoglobulin genes.: development of antibody diversity.
6. Major histocompatibility complex: structure and function of MHC molecules. T-receptor: development of TCR diversity, MHC restriction, development of T cells.
7. Cytokines: structure and function of cytokines and their receptors. Development of humoral immune response: primary and secondary response, antigen presentation, role of cytokines.
8. Cell-mediated immunity: T-cell cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, delayed type of hypersensitivity. Regulation of immunity, immunological tolerance.
9. The complement system: classical pathway, alternative and lectin pathway of complement activation, regulation. Hypersensitivity: immediate and delayed hypersensitivity, anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity from immune complexes.
10. Vaccines: inactivated, attenuated, subunit, recombinant, vector vaccines. Immune response to infection: viral, bacterial and parasitic infections.
11. Transplantation immunology: transplantation antigens, mechanisms of graft rejection, immunosuppression. Anti-cancer immunity: malignant transformation of cells, tumour antigens, tumour immunotherapy.
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