03766 - Immunology (A-K b)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student: - knows the basics of the immune system as a fundamental defense network for the organism and its alterations as a cause of disease; - will be able to apply the knowledge of the basic mechanisms of the immune system and its alterations to specific pathologies

Course contents

The program topics are complemetary to those found at Prof. Stefano Salvioli's web site.

1. Integration of effector mechanisms of humoral immunity: the complement, its regulation and deficit.

2, 3. Immunity against pathogens: extra and intra-cellular bacteria; virus and parasites. Focus on SARS-CoV-2. Integrated immune system responses against pathogens and their escaping strategies/mechanisms.

4. Vaccines and mandatory vaccination in Italy: different types and various strategies with risk evaluation.

5. Immunology of transplants: transplants classifications: auto-, allo- and xeno-transplants; biological bases of transplant rejection; different types of rejection; GVHD; strategies aimed at preventing rejection: HLA typization, immunosuppressive therapies

6, 7. Immunopathology: alterations of the immune response; classification of immunopathologies; type I hypersensitivity: allergies; Type II, III and IV hypersensitivities; tolerance and autoimmunity diseases with different mechanisms, i.e. type II, III, and IV.

8, 9. Congenital immunodeficiencies relate to innate and adaptive immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency with HIV: AIDS.

10. Immunosenescence: age-related changes of immune system, chronic low level inflammatory process with ageing or INFLAMMAGING, immune cell senescence and problems of vaccination in elderly people.

Readings/Bibliography

Immunologia e Immunopatologia (Umberto Dianzani et al.). Edi-Ermes. 2022

Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai, Immunologia Cellulare e Molecolare, 2018 ( 10th edition), Ed. Elsevier-Masson.

Geha, Notarangelo: Casi Studio in Immunologia, 2019 (settima edizione), Piccin

Amadori e Zanovello, Lezioni di immunologia e immunopatologia – 2020, Piccin Editore

Janeway, Immunobiologia, 2019 (nona edizione), Ed. Piccin-Libraria.

Teaching methods

Frontal classes with presentation in ppt and the use of some short-video.

In case of a new emergency the lessons can be given by TEAMS online platform

Assessment methods

Students will have access to the exam if they have attended at least 66% of the lectures.

The learning assessment is in written form and consists of two parts:

- the first part consists of two free-answer questions on themes of the Course. Every question can contribute to the final mark with 10 points out of 30. Insufficient answer (<6 out of 10) to one of these questions leads to test failure with no further evaluation of the second part.

- the second part consists of 40 quiz of the type "true-or-false" on themes of the Course. Every correct answer contributes with 3/10 points, every wrong answer leads to a penalty of -1/10. The total points available for this parts are 12.

Further information on exam evaluation can be be required during the first lesson of the Course.

Warning: in case of new emergency, it is possible that exams and lectures will be required to be done in remote. In this case, exams will be given online with the Microsoft Teams platform in oral form. Students must register as usual in Almaesami, and they will receive an e-mail with the link and timetable of the exam session.

In case of changes of exam modes, students will be promptly notified, both during lectures and on Almaesami website.

The aim of the oral exam is to evaluate the knowledge of the student on the course's topics and the capability to perform logical connections.

Grading procedure:

- knowledge of a very limited number of topics and limited analytical capacity → 18-19 out of 30;

- knowledge of a limited number of topics and basic analytical capacity → 20-24 out of 30;

- knowledge of a consistent number of topics and good analytical capacity → 25-29 out of 30;

- knowledge of all topics and very good analytical capacity → 30-30L out of 30.

Teaching tools

Teaching tools are slides projected in order to help students to recognise most important concepts and take home messages.
Slides of lessons will be given to the students by means of web site VIRTUALE.

Office hours

See the website of Miriam Capri