03766 - Immunology

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the Student will:

• Understand the fundamental role of the immune system as the body's defense mechanism, and how its dysfunctions can lead to disease.
• Be able to apply this understanding of basic immunological mechanisms and their alterations to analyze specific pathologies.

Course contents

Module I: 24 hours (Instructor: Giorgia Gri) Module II: 16 hours (Instructor: Miriam Capri)

Lectures given by Professor Giorgia Gri

• Introduction to the Immune System (IS): functions and characteristics of the IS; nomenclature and definitions; innate and adaptive immunity; cells of the immune system: lymphocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, dendritic cells, etc. Primary and secondary response.
• Organs and Tissues of the IS: generative and secondary organs (bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue). Lymphatic system and lymphocyte recirculation.
• Innate Immunity: physical barriers, pre-formed proteins, professional phagocytes, NK, NKT, and gamma-delta lymphocytes. Mechanisms of phagocytosis and pathogen killing. Role and receptors of NK cells (NKC, LRC). Antigen recognition mechanisms in innate immunity (TLR, RIG, NLR and inflammasome). Innate Immunity memory: trained immunity.
• Adaptive Immunity: characteristics and functions, antigen receptors of adaptive immunity cells (membrane antibodies and TCR), antigen recognition; generation of the receptor repertoire, somatic recombination, clonal distribution. MHC molecules, antigen processing and presentation; proteasome and immunoproteasome. Dendritic cells.
• B Lymphocytes: characteristics of B lymphocytes, development, maturation and activation; structure of the B lymphocyte antigen receptor; functions in the immune response: secreted Antibodies: structure, functions, classification. Monoclonal antibodies, uses in diagnosis and therapy.
• T Lymphocytes: characteristics of T helper (CD4+) and cytotoxic (CD8+) lymphocytes, development, maturation and activation; structure of the T lymphocyte antigen receptor; functions in the immune response: cell-mediated immunity. Cytokine production, Th1, Th2, natural and induced Treg lymphocytes. Suppression and cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cells.
• Regional Immunity: intestinal mucosae. Relationship with the gut microbiota; Th17 lymphocytes. Engineered T lymphocytes: CAR-T cells.
• Cooperation between T, B and APC cells: co-stimulation: role of accessory molecules; T-dependent and T-independent responses; Cytokines and Cytokine Receptors.
• The Complement System, its regulation and possible deficiencies.

Lectures given by Professor Miriam Capri

• Tolerance: recognition and distinction between self and non-self; self-tolerance. Mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance (anergy, deletion, suppression).
• Effector phases of the immune response: Activation of M1 and M2 macrophages; delayed-type hypersensitivity; activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
• Immunity against pathogens: extra- and intracellular bacteria, viruses and parasites. Overview of immune system mechanisms for eliminating pathogens and evasion mechanisms by the pathogens themselves. Types of vaccines and mandatory vaccinations: vaccine strategies and risk assessment.
• Immunopathology: alterations of the immune response; classification of immunopathologies; type I hypersensitivity: allergies; type II, III and IV hypersensitivity; breakdown of tolerance and autoimmune diseases distinguished by types II-III-IV.
• Congenital Immunodeficiencies related to innate and adaptive immunity. Acquired immunodeficiencies: HIV and AIDS.
• Transplantation Immunology: classification of transplants: auto-, allo- and xenografts; biological basis of transplant rejection; types of rejection; GVHD; strategies to avoid rejection: HLA typing, immunosuppressive drugs.
• Immunity and Cancer: characteristics of tumor antigenicity; the immune system's ability to recognize tumor cells. Immunotherapies: monoclonal antibodies, CAR-T cells.
• How the IS ages: immunosenescence. Consequences of the decreased immune response on susceptibility to diseases associated with aging. Inflammation as an immunological driver of aging (inflammaging).

Readings/Bibliography

• Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai, Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 2022 (10th edition), Ed. Edra.
• Amadori and Zanovello, Lezioni di immunologia e immunopatologia – 2020, Piccin Editore
• Dianzani, Umberto et al., Immunologia e Immunopatologia, 2022, Ed. Edi-Ermes.
• Geha, Notarangelo, Case Studies in Immunology, 2019 (7th edition), Ed. Piccin.
• Janeway, Immunobiologia, 2019 (9th edition), Ed. Piccin-Nuova Libraria.
• Murphy, Kenneth; Weaver, Casey, Janeway's Immunobiology (in English), 2022 (10th edition), Ed. W.W. Norton & Company.

Teaching methods

• The lessons are frontal lectures with PPT presentations, the use of some short videos, and educational quizzes.
• In the event of a new emergency, lessons may be delivered via the Microsoft TEAMS online platform.

Assessment methods

• To be eligible for the exam, students must have attended at least 66% of the lessons.
• The exam is written and consists of two separate parts of the same test to be taken:
• Further information on the exam assessment can be requested during the first lesson of the course.

• Students with permanent or temporary disabilities and SLD: it is advised to contact the specific University Office promptly (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it), which will assist the students who choose to apply for adaptations. The latter need to be approved by the Professor at least 15 days before the exam, taking into account the specific objectives of the course.

• In the event of a new emergency, exams will be conducted orally via the Microsoft TEAMS platform. Students must register on Almaesami as per the rules and will receive an email with the link to the exam session and (if applicable) the schedule.
• During the oral exam, the candidate's knowledge of the course topics and their ability to make the necessary logical-deductive connections will be verified.

Final Grade Scale:

• 18-19: Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical skills that emerge only with the help of the lecturer, generally correct language expression.
• 20-24: Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course and autonomous analytical skills only on purely executive issues, correct language expression.
• 25-29: Preparation on a wide range of topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous critical analysis choices, mastery of specific terminology.
• 30-30L: Substantially exhaustive preparation on the topics covered in the course, ability to make autonomous critical analysis and connection choices, full mastery of specific terminology, and ability for argumentation and self-reflection.

Teaching tools

• The teaching tool is the projection of slides with the most important contents and concepts that must be part of the student's knowledge base. The lecture materials and scientific articles on the same topics will be provided via the VIRTUALE website.

Office Hours

• Consult Giorgia Gri's website.
• Consult Miriam Capri's website.

Office hours

See the website of Giorgia Gri

See the website of Miriam Capri