Unit IMMUNOLOGY
- Course
- Biotechnology
- Study-unit Code
- 55023306
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Katia Fettucciari
- Teachers
-
- Katia Fettucciari
- Hours
- 42 ore - Katia Fettucciari
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2020
- Offered
- 2022/23
- Learning activities
- Affine/integrativa
- Area
- Attività formative affini o integrative
- Academic discipline
- MED/04
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- -Study of receptors, cells, tissues and organs of the immune system.
-Study at cellular and molecular level the mechanisms of the immune responses in defense against pathogens. - Reference texts
- Abbas A.K., Lichtman A.H., Pillai S. Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Nine Edition, 2018, Edra Editor.
Murphy K., Weaver C.. Immunobiology of Janeway. Nine edition, 2019. Piccin Editor. - Educational objectives
- At the end of the course the student must demonstrate to acquire: Biotechnology skills in immunology; Knowledge and understanding of methods for molecular-level analysis of receptors, cells, organs and tissues of immune system and of integrated immune responses; Knowledge and understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune responses in defense against pathogens; Knowledge and understanding of the molecular bases of pathologies.
- Prerequisites
- In order to be able to understand the contents of the Immunology Course, the student must possess knowledge of Cellular and Molecular Biology (indispensable), Biochemistry (indispensable), Genetics (important), Anatomy (useful), Histology (useful).
- Teaching methods
- Lessons face-to-face in Classrooms on the topics of the course of Immunology with projections and discussion of illustrative slides. Some selected topics will then be deepened and re-discussed by the students.
- Other information
- The start and end time of the lessons, the venue for the lessons and the exam schedule are published on the Degree Course website:http://biotecnologie.unipg.it/
Time and location of the student reception: The teacher receives students by appointment which will be agreed by e-mail: katia.fettucciari@unipg.it, or phone: 0755858124. The reception will take place in the teacher's office located in Building B - fourth floor of the Department of Medicine and Surgery, San Sisto-Perugia
For information on support services for students with disabilities and / or SLD, visit the page: https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa - Learning verification modality
- The final examination is in an oral form. It will consist of a interview lasting about 20-25 minutes, aimed at ascertaining the level of knowledge and the ability to understand the contents of the course, as well as the ability of knowledge synthesis and integration, reached by the student. The oral exam will also verify the student’s ability of communication and autonomous exposure. The oral exam will begin for all students with a question on a topic at the student’s choice. In total, the questions will be four and will focus on topics analyzed during the course. Two of the questions will focus on structure and function of receptors tissues, organs, and cells of the immune system. Other two questions will focus on the integrated function on cellular and tissutal components of immune system in mediating the molecular events and mechanisms underlying the defense against pathogens.
- Extended program
- GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM- Innate and adaptative immune responses. General characteristics and effector mechanisms of adaptative immune responses. Phases of adaptative immune response. -CELLS OF IMMUNE SYSTEM- Phagocytes, neutrophil, mastocytes, basophil, eosinophil, dendritic cells, Natural-Killer Cells (NK), lymphocytes. -TISSUES OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM- Anatomy and function of lymphoid tissues: bone marrow, thymus, lymphonodes, spleen, immune system associated with the skin, immune system associated with the mucosa. -INNATE IMMUNITY- General characteristics of innate immunity. Receptor of innate immune system. Cellular and humoral components of innate immunity. Effector mechanisms of innate responses. Inflammatory response. Antiviral response. NK cells and mechanisms of cytotoxicity. -CYTOKINES- General characteristics. Cytokines receptors. Molecular mechanisms of signal transduction by cytokine receptors. Functional classification: cytokines that mediate and regulate innate immunity (TNF, IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-alfa and IFN-beta), cytokines that mediate and regulate adaptive immunity (IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17, IL-21, IL-22, IL-10, TGF-beta), cytokines that mediate and regulate haematopoiesis. Chemokines and receptors. -IMMUNOGLOBULIN- Molecular structure of antibodies. Antibody-antigen interaction. Classes and biological activities of Immunoglobulins. Functions of antibodies: antibodies as a membrane receptor for antigen of B lymphocytes. Isotype-specific functions of antibodies; Neutralization; Complement activation; Opsonization and Phagocytosis; Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity. -COMPLEMENT SYSTEM- Components of Complement. Activation of Complement: Classical Pathway, Lectin Pathway and Alternative Pathway. Proteins that regulate Complement activation. Receptors for proteins of Complement. Biological functions of Complement. -MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX (MHC)- Genomic organization of MHC genes. Structure, function, cellular distribution and regulation of the expression of MHC class I and MHC class II Molecules. Characteristics of the interaction of peptides with MHC molecules. -ANTIGEN PROCESSING AND PRESENTATION TO T LYMPHOCYTES- Characteristics of antigens recognized by T lymphocytes. Antigen-Presenting Cells (APC). Role of APC in the activation of T lymphocytes. Cell biology of antigen processing. Mechanisms of exogenous antigen processing and presentation in association with MHC of class II molecules to CD4+ T lymphocytes. Mechanisms of endogenous antigen processing and presentation in association with MHC of class I molecules to CD8+ T lymphocytes. Physiological significance of antigen presentation in association with the MHC. -RECEPTOR FOR ANTIGEN OF T LYMPHOCYTE (TCR)- Structure and function of TCRalpha/beta and TCRgamma/delta. Structure and function of: CD3 and Zeta proteins; coreceptors CD4 and CD8; costimulatory and inhibitory receptors: CD28, CTLA-4 and PD1. -MATURATION OF B LYMPHOCYTES AND EXPRESSION OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES- Genomic organization, rearrangement and expression of Immunoglobulin genes. Mechanisms of generation of Immunoglobulin diversity: VDJ recombination; mechanisms of VDJ recombination; combinatory diversity; junctional diversity. Stages of maturation of B lymphocytes: rearrangement and expression of Immunoglobulin in differentiantion phases; selection of the antibody repertoire; coexpression of IgM and IgD. Follicular B lymphocytes, lymphocytes B1, lymphocytes of marginal zone of spleen. -MATURATION OF T LYMPHOCYTES AND EXPRESSION OF TCR GENES - Genomic organization, rearrangement and expression of genes of TCRalpha/beta and TCRgamma/delta. Mechanisms of generation of diversity of TCRalpha/beta: VDJ recombination; mechanisms of VDJ recombination; combinatory diversity; junctional diversity. Stages of differentiation of T cell with TCRalpha/beta: rearrangement and expression of TCR in different stages of differentiation; expression of accessory molecules. Processes of positive selection in the thymus. Processes of negative selection in the thymus: development of central tolerance to self. Development of natural regulatory T lymphocytes. Mechanisms of peripheral tolerance to self: anergy, apoptosis, regulatory T lymphocytes. -CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNE RESPONSE- Migration of antigen presenting cells (APC) and of naive T lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs. Antigen recognition. Cellular interactions and priming of naive T cells. Signal transduction. Activation and differentiation of T helper lymphocyte subpopulations (Th) (Th1, Th2, Th17): role and functions of cytokines involved in differentiation of Th. Macrophage activation by Th1 and effector functions of Th1. Eosinophil and macrophage activation by Th2 and effector functions of Th2. Effector functions of Th17. Activation, differentiation and effector functions of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Mechanisms of cytotoxicity. -HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE- Antigen recognition and antigen induced activation of B lymphocytes. Signal transduction. Sequence of events in T cell dependent antibody response. Characteristics, differentiation and functions of Th follicular in activation of B lymphocytes. Interactions and signals between T cells and B cells. Differentiation stages of follicular helper T lymphocytes and functions in the humoral response. Germinal center reactions: i) heavy chain isotype switching and molecular mechanisms that regulate isotype switching; ii) maturation of affinity: somatic mutations, molecular mechanisms that regulate somatic ipermutations, and B cell selection in follicle; iii) differentiation of effector and memory B lymphocytes. Antibody response to thymus-independent antigens.