03766 - Immunology (A-K)

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will: - understand the basics of the immune system as a fundamental defense mechanism for the body and its alterations as a cause of disease; - be able to apply their knowledge of the basic mechanisms of the immune system and its alterations to specific pathologies.

Course contents

Introduction to the Immune System (IS): functions and characteristics of the IS; nomenclature and definitions; innate and specific immunity; cells of the immune system: lymphocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, dendritic cells, Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILCs), NK, etc. Primary and secondary response.

IS organs and tissues: generative/primary and secondary organs (bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, IS associated with mucous membranes). Lymphatic system and lymphocyte recirculation.

Innate immunity: physical barriers, preformed anti-microbial peptides, professional phagocytes, NK cells, NKT, gamma-delta lymphocytes. Mechanisms of phagocytosis and killing of pathogens. Role and receptors of NK cells (NKC, LRC). Molecular Pattern recognition mechanisms in innate immunity (TLR, RIG, NLR and inflammasomes). The memory of Innate Immunity: trained immunity. Cytokines and Chemokines.

Specific immunity: characteristics and functions, T and B lymphocytes and their antigen receptors (membrane antibodies or BCR and TCR), antigen recognition; generation of the receptor repertoire, somatic recombination, clonal distribution. Conventional and non-conventional MHC molecules, antigen processing and presentation; proteasome and immunoproteasome. Interaction with Dendritic cells.

B lymphocytes: characteristics of B lymphocytes, development, maturation and activation; structure of the B lymphocyte antigen receptor or BCR; functions in the immune response: Secreted antibodies: structure, functions, classification. Monoclonal antibodies, application in diagnosis and therapy.

T lymphocytes: characteristics of helper (CD4+) and cytotoxic (CD8+) T lymphocytes, development, maturation and activation; structure of the T lymphocyte antigen receptor or TCR; functions in the immune response: cell-mediated immunity. Th1, Th2 lymphocytes, thymic and induced Tregs. Cytotoxic action. Regional immunity: the intestinal mucous membranes. Relationships with the gut microbiota; Th17 lymphocytes. Engineered T lymphocytes: CAR-T cells and their new generation.

Cooperation between T, B and APC cells: co-stimulation: role of accessory and adhesion molecules; T-dependent and T-independent responses; suppression of the T response. Concept of cytokine field and cellular polarisation, cytokine receptors. Th1 and Th2 responses.

Tolerance: recognition and distinction between self and non-self; self-tolerance. Mechanisms of central tolerance 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, check point molecular mechanisms.

Effector mechanisms of humoral immunity: the complement system, its functions, regulation and possible deficits.

Immunity to pathogens: extra and intra-cellular bacteria, viruses and parasites. Overview of the mechanisms of the immune system responses to pathogens and mechanisms of evasion of the immune response by pathogens. Types of vaccines and mandatory vaccinations: vaccination strategies and risk assessment.

Transplant immunology: classification of transplants: auto-, allo- and xenografts; biological basis of transplant rejection; the types of rejection; GvHD; strategies to avoid rejection: HLA typing, test for donor and recipient -match and immunosuppressive drugs.

Immunopathology: the alterations of the immune response; classification of immunopathologies; type I hypersensitivity: allergy; hypersensitivity of type II, III and IV; disruption of tolerance and autoimmune diseases: molecular mechanisms, examples of different autoimmune diseases and possible therapeutic approaches.

Congenital or primary immunodeficiencies related to innate and adaptive immunity. Acquired immunodeficiencies: HIV and AIDS.

Immunity and cancer: antigenic characteristics of tumors; capacity of the S.I. to recognize cancer cells. Immunotherapies: Monoclonal Ab, checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cells.

How SI Ages: Immunosenescence. Consequences of decreased immune response on susceptibility to age-associated diseases. Inflammation as an immunological driver of aging (inflammaging). Inflammatory storm and cytokine release: the case of corona virus SARS-CoV-2 and the disease COVID-19.

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.

Abul K. Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman, Shiv Pillai, Sarah Henrickson Language: English, Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 11th Edition - September 15, 2025 Imprint: Elsevier

- 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 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 the lessons will be given to the students by means of web site VIRTUALE. Some relevant reviews will be inserted in the same web tool.

Office hours

See the website of Miriam Capri