03766 - Immunology (AK-A)

Course contents

Immunology for Medical School

Introduction to the Immune System (IS): functions and features of IS; innate and acquired immunity; cells of the IS: 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, SI associated to the mucoses). Lymphatic System and lymphocyte recirculation. Evolution of the IS.

Innate Immunity: physical barriers, preformed proteins, professional phagocytes, NK and NKT cels, gamma-delta lymphocytes. Mechanisms of phagocytosis and cytotoxicity NK. Mechanisms of antigen recognition of Innate Immunity (TLR, KIR). NLR and inflammasome. The memory of Innate Immunity: the trained immunity.

Specific Immunity: features and functions, antigen receptors of cells of the specific immunity (membrane-linked antibodies and TCR), antigen recognition; creation of the receptor repertoire, somatic recombination, clonal distribution. MHC molecules, antigen processing and presentation; proteasome and immunoproteasome. Dendritic cells.

B Lymphocytes: features, development, maturation and activation; structure of B cell receptor. Functions in the Immune response: secreted antibodies: structure, functions, classification.

T lymphocytes: features of T helper (CD4+) and cytotoxic (CD8+), development, maturation and activation; structure of T cell receptor. Functions in the Immune response: cell-mediated immunity. Production of cytokines, Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes, natural and induced Treg. Cytotoxicity. Regional immunity: the intestinal mucoses. Relationships with the gut microbiota. Th17 lymphocytes.

T-B Cooperation; costimulation: role of accessorial molecules; T-dependent and independent responses; isotypic switch; suppression of T cell response. Cytokines and cytokine receptors. Th1 and Th2 responses.

Tolerance: recognition and discrimination between self and non-self. Mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance (anergy, deletion and suppression).

Effective phase of the Immune Response. Complement; activation of macrophages M1 and M2; delayed type hypersensitivity; Cytotoxic T lymphocytes activation; response to intra and extra cellular bacteria; response to viruses and parasites. Apoptosis, its role in the IS. Mechanisms of escape from the immune response of viruses, bacteria and parasites.

Vaccines, vaccine strategies, different types of vaccines.

How the IS ages: immunosenescence. Consequences of the decreased immune response on the susceptibility to age-associated diseases. Inflammation as a driving force of aging (inflammaging).

Immunopathology, response to pathogens and transplant immunology: for this part of the program, please refer to the web page of the module (AK-b) hold by Dr. Miriam Capri.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Peter Parham: IL Sistema Immunitario, 2017 (seconda edizione) EdiSES. 

Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai, Cellular and molecular immunology, 2018 (ninth edition), Elsevier. 

Teaching methods

frontal lectures with ppt slides

Assessment methods

The examination is in written form and consists of two parts: a first part of quiz of the type "true-or-false" and a second part consisting in a question with open answer on a theme of the program.
The second part of the examination can be given in oral form, by request of the student.

Attention: a single exam grade will be registered by averaging the two grades of Immunology and Molecular Pathology. 

The person in charge of the registration is the Responsible for the Integrated Course, Prof. Patrizia Nanni.

It is strongly suggested to obtain the two grades within one year.

Teaching tools

files di power point available at https://campus.unibo.it/cgi/search/simple?q=salvioli&_action_search=Search&_order=bytitle&basic_srchtype=ALL&_satisfyall=ALL

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Salvioli