03766 - Immunology (AK-B)

Course contents

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

Immunity against pathogens: extra and intra-cellular bacteria; virus and parasites. Integrated immune system responses against pathogens and their escaping strategies/mechanisms.

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

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

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.  

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

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

Books:

Parham, Il Sistema Immunitario, II ed., 2017, EdiSES s.r. l.

Abbas, Lichtman, Pillai, Immunologia Cellulare e Molecolare, 2018 (9th edition), Ed. Elsevier-Masson.

Janeway, Immunobiologia, 2012 (ottava edizione), Ed. Piccin, Padova.

Abbas, Lichman, Le basi dell'immunologia, 2011 (terza edizione aggiornata), Ed. Elsevier-Masson.

Teaching methods

Frontal classes with presentation in ppt

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 over a theme of the program.

If not satisfied of the score obtained, the student can ask for an oral examination. If still not satisfied, the student can refuse the score, but in this case he/she will have to repeat the exam starting from the written part.

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

Teaching tools are slides projected in order to help students to recognise most important concepts and take home messages

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/SitoWebDocente/default.aspx?UPN=miriam.capri%40unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Miriam Capri