module specification

The module focuses on the development and operation of the immune system in both health and disease and explores current research in immunopathology, stem cells and immunotherapy.

Pre or co-requisite: BS5001 or BS5002

The aims of this module are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s, Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.

Understand the mechanisms of the mammalian immune system in defence against disease; using an understanding of the basic mechanisms of the immune system, understand the consequences of inappropriate responses of the immune system; examine the applications of immune products in the areas of diagnostics and immunotherapy.

Basis of immunity: brief historical perspectives (especially with respect to development of tolerance); self/non-self behaviour of cells; components and effector mechanisms of innate and non-specific immunity; adaptive/specific immunity; ontogeny of effector mechanisms for primary and secondary responses; inflammation and complement.
Pathology and immunotherapy: immune-mediated injury and disease; hypersensitivity; immunodeficiency; autoimmunity and immunopathology;  tumour immunology/cancer immunotherapy;  stem cell and regenerative therapy;  immunosuppressive therapy]
Immunotechnology: hybridoma technology; monoclonal antibodies and their biochemical and medical applications; vaccine design and production.

Students will be provided with an opportunity to acquire knowledge of the subject matter through lecturer-led activities in the form of lectures and problem-solving tutorials (44 h) and laboratory-based practical exercises (4 h). The students’ ability to manage self and relate to others and their ability to think critically and produce solutions will be prompted through a laboratory report and problem solving exercises completed. The information necessary to attain plenitude in learning outcomes will be procured from directed reading and other learning sources (102h).

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Critically analyse the immune response and the mechanisms of innate and adaptive immunity.
2. Evaluate the various inappropriate responses of the immune system and their consequences.
3. Present  effectively, interpret, and make critical evaluations of empirical data obtained from performance of immunological techniques.
4. Evaluate and assess current and evolving concepts in immunological developments including immunotechnology, immunotherapy (cancer and stem cell) and immunoprophylaxis.

The module will be assessed using two elements of assessment: (i) a practical exercise in week 3 which will be written up in week 6 under time constrained conditions (1 hour in week 5 tutorial). (ii) a 1.5 h examination at the end of the Semester.  The weighting of each element is shown below and the aspects of the module it assesses are given in the summary table below. To pass the module, students need to achieve a minimum aggregate mark of 40%.  There will be an attendance requirement for the practical sessions. If the module is passed on reassessment, then the maximum mark awarded will be 40%.
The examination will consist of short-answer type questions and some short essay type questions. Materials from any component part of the module (lectures, tutorials or practicals) may form the basis of examination questions.

Text Books:
Abbas, A.K. and Lichtman, A.H. (2007) Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Elsevier Publishers 6th edition.
Goldsby, R.A., Kindt, T.J., Osbourne B.A. and Kuby, J (2006). Immunology 6th edition. W.H.Freeman
Nairn and Helbert (2007) Immunology for Medical students. Mosby, 2nd edition

Journals:
Annual Review of Immunology
Immunology Today,
Current Opinion in Immunology,
Nature Reviews Immunology,

Reviews/Research articles/Websites.
Tom E. Mollnes and Michael Kirschfink, Strategies of therapeutic complement inhibition (2006) Molecular Immunology 43 (10th Meeting on Complement in Human Disease) 107-121