Basic Immunology

Data

Official data in SubjectManager for the following academic year: 2023-2024

Topic

Introduction to the current immunology. Organisation of the human immune system: organs, tissues, cellular and molecular components. Regulation of immune functions: recognition, differentiation, effector functions, memory formation, suppression of the immune response, immunological tolerance. Main aspects of immune response. Basics of immune related diseases and their pharmacological therapies including allergy, autoimmune diseases, organ transplantation, immunity against tumours. The course is discussed from a pharmacist prespective.

Lectures

• 1. Introduction to immunology, its history, main tasks. Components of the immune system, its cells, organs and tissues. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 2. Molecular elements of immune recognition: MHC molecules, antibodies, (B-cell receptor) and T-cell receptors. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 3. The complement system as innate humoral immunity. Antigen presentation on the surface of MHCI and II molecules. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 4. Antigen structure, its immune recognition. Immunological gene rearrangement, lymphocyte maturation, differentiation. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 5. B-cell differentiation and maturation in the bone marrow. T-cell maturation and differentiation in the thymus. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 6. T-cell activation, its signal transduction, the role of apoptosis. Revision and consultation. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 7. Central immune response: T-B cooperation, cellular interactions. Development and control of immunological memory. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 8. The course of an immune response. Lymphocyte recirculation and homing. The control and inhibition of immune responses. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 9. Active and passive immune tolerance. Local and systemic immune responses. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 10. Effector functions and their control: humoral and cellular effector functions. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 11. The cytokine network, its role in controling the immune response. Th1-Th2 differentiation. Control of isotype switch. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 12. Inherited and acquired immune deficiencies. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 13. Auto-immunity and tumor immunology. The immunology of transplantation. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián
• 14. Antibody-based applications and their production. Hybridoma technology and molecular cloning. - Dr. Kvell Krisztián

Practices

Seminars

• 1. Introduction to immunology, its history, main tasks. Components of the immune system, its cells, organs and tissues.
• 2. Molecular elements of immune recognition: MHC molecules, antibodies, (B-cell receptor) and T-cell receptors.
• 3. The complement system as innate humoral immunity. Antigen presentation on the surface of MHCI and II molecules.
• 4. Antigen structure, its immune recognition. Immunological gene rearrangement, lymphocyte maturation, differentiation.
• 5. B-cell differentiation and maturation in the bone marrow. T-cell maturation and differentiation in the thymus.
• 6. Written test.
• 7. Central immune response: T-B cooperation, cellular interactions. Development and control of immunological memory.
• 8. The course of an immune response. Lymphocyte recirculation and homing. The control and inhibition of immune responses.
• 9. Active and passive immune tolerance. Local and systemic immune responses.
• 10. Effector functions and their control: humoral and cellular effector functions.
• 11. The cytokine network, its role in controling the immune response. Th1-Th2 differentiation. Control of isotype switch.
• 12. Inherited and acquired immune deficiencies.
• 13. Auto-immunity and tumor immunology. The immunology of transplantation.
• 14. Antibody-based applications and their production. Hybridoma technology and molecular cloning.

Reading material

Obligatory literature

Literature developed by the Department

Notes

Recommended literature

A.K. Abbas, A.H. Lichtman and A. Pillai: Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 6th edition, Elsevier
Janis Kuby: Immunology
Jan Klein: Immunology

Conditions for acceptance of the semester

Maximum of 25 % absence allowed

Mid-term exams

Immunology quizlets. Writtem test at mid-term.

Making up for missed classes

Not possible.

Exam topics/questions

Multiple choice questions prepared according to the subject of the lectures. The written exam test might contain minimum requirement questions where the wrong answers could mean failure on the exam.

Examiners

• Dr. Kvell Krisztián

Instructor / tutor of practices and seminars

• Dr. Kvell Krisztián