93272 - Advanced Immunology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the classes, the student will know about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the functioning of the immune system, as well as the present-day, state-of-the-art possibilities to deploy immune activities for therapeutic purposes. In particular, the student will know about: i) the genetic strategies that allow the diversification of the immune responses to antigens; ii) the generation and use of monoclonal antibodies; iii) immunosuppression strategies; iv) generation of chimeric antigen receptors.

Course contents

Course contents

• Receptors of the natural Immunity: TLR, NLR and inflammasomes, cGAS-Sting, RLR, etc. Connection with inflammation. PAMPs and DAMPs. Regional Immunity. Interactions between immune cells and gut microbiota.
• Organization of genetic loci for the receptors of NK cells. Memory of the innate immunity: trained immunity.
• Organization of genetic loci for antibodies and TCR. Generation of receptor repertoire: mechanisms of combinatorial differentiation (somatic recombination), and junctional differentiation.
• Molecular mechanisms of the isotypic shift; affinity increase and somatic hypermutation.
• Synthesis of monoclonal antibodies. Nomenclature CD. Immunophenotypization with flow cytometry and other methods. Cell sorting and single-cell analysis.
• Applications of monoclonal antibodies in biomedical research, diagnostics and clinic practice.
• Mechanisms of gene regulation: DNA methylation. Experimental data of methylation changes with age.
• Organization of MHC genetic locus. Polymorphism of MHC genes. Genes for MHC I, II and III. HLA genotyping. Antigen presentation on MHC class I or II molecules. Macroautophagy and chaperon-mediated autophagy: importance for the immune responses.
• Tolerance breakdown. Autoimmunity. Immunopathology: classification of hypersensitivities. Allergies: features and pathogeneic mechanisms; Type II, III and IV hypersensitivities.
• Congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies. SCID and other immunodeficiencies of lymphocyte maturation. Innate immunity Immunodeficiencies. Acquired Immunodeficiencies due to immunosuppression, chemotherapy, malnutrition, viral infections.
• Cancer Immunology: immunological features of tumors. Cancer Antigens. Cancer Immunotherapy: monoclonal Abs. Anti-PD-1 and PD-L1; CAR-T cells: generation and use.
• Aging of the immune system: immunosenescence and inflammaging. Cell senescence and SASP: the role in human aging and age-related diseases. Inflammaging and the special case of Covid-19.

Readings/Bibliography

Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai: Cellular and molecular immunology, 2022 (tenth edition), Elsevier.

Kenneth Murphy & Casey Weaver: Janeway's Immunobiology, 2022 (tenth Edition), Garland Science.

Dianzani - Puccillo (a cura di): Immunologia e Immunopatologia, 2022 (prima edizione), edi-ermes.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons with ppt slides unless otherwise stated by current provisions.

 

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students (including all the international incoming exchange students, i.e. ERASMUS) must attend Module 1, 2 online [https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio ], while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme ("studiare"--"formazione obbligatoria su sicurezza e salute").

 

Assessment methods

At the end of the Course, an exam will verify the level of knowledge of the arguments of the Course content. The exam consists in an oral individual test.

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.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Ppt files available at VIRTUALE platform for UNIBO students.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Salvioli