IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
In order to attend fruitfully the class, the student should possess the basic notions in Immunology
The final exam consists of a written test characterized by eight multiple choice questions plus two open-ended questions chosen by the student from a list of four; thereafter the written test will be discussed in an oral exam. In this way the teacher will verify the preparation and presentation skills of students. Students are expected to have a comprehensive knowledge of current immunology and a basic understanding of some experimental methods. The final grade is evaluated as follow: 8 points for the eight multiple choice questions, 10 points for the first open-ended questions, 10 points for the second open-ended questions, 3 points for the oral discussion (the sum of these marks is 30+1, 30 cum laude).
The principal goals of the course of immunopathology are to provide a) a comprehensive knowledge of immunopathology and the underlying immune regulatory circuits b) some notions about selected areas of current immune research, that is b1) immunity of infectious diseases and microbiota, b2) immunology of cancer, b3) neuroimmunology. The aim is to furnish a useful complement to other Classes of BMS dealing with Microbiology, Oncology and Neurobiology. Currently a knowledge of Immunopathology is mandatory for the training of the biologist aiming at studying Biomedicine.
After the Course the student will be able to explain the concepts underlying current immunology in health and disease and to describe some basic experimental strategies.
The first part of the course will be used to refresh the basics of Immunology
Section A
Immune regulatory circuits
-innate receptors, pathogen associated molecular patterns PAMP and PRR
-conventional T helper cells, Th1, Th2 and Th17
-the thymus and central tolerance, an outline
-peripheral tolerance, second and third signal in priming of T cells
-regulatory T cells
-damage associated molecular patterns DAMPs and sterile inflammation
Atopic diseases
type I, II, III and IV Hypersensitivity
Autoimmunity
-epidemiology and classification of autoimmune disorders
-pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmune disorders
-selected example of autoimmune diseases
-therapy of autoimmune diseases, classical and current approaches
-autoinflammatory diseases and the inflammasomes
Section B
Immunology of infectious diseases and the science of vaccines
-arms race between pathogens and their hosts, escape strategies from immune responses
-vaccines, epidemiology and herd immunity
-classical and novel approaches to vaccine design
-social aspects in vaccination
The mucosal immune system and its relationship with symbiotic microbiota
-gut microbiota, general concepts
-functional anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract, a focus on immunity
-gut dysbiosis promoting illness inside and outside the gastrointestinal tract
Cancer Immunology and the new field of cancer immunotherapy
-cancer immune surveillance theory
-tumor antigens (tumor-specific or tumor-associated)
-immunotherapy of cancer, adoptive cell transfer and chimeric antigen receptors (CAR)
-immunotherapy of cancer, immune checkpoints inhibitors
-cancer cachexia
Selected topics in Neuroimmunology
-the complex bidirectional interaction between microbiota and nervous system, microbiota and autism
-brain immune privilege, classical and current view. Recent discoveries about meningeal lymphatic system and glymphatic system
-inflammatory reflex in health and disease, bioelectronic medicine
Tak W Mak et al Primer to Immune Response Academic Cell
Abul K Abbas et al Cellular and Molecular Immunology Elsevier
Reviews or original papers on the subject and lecture’s files provided by the teacher on the e-learning platform
The course consists of lectures supported by Power Point presentations (48 hours, 6 CFU). As a complement to the section B, the lecturer will discuss briefly some seminal papers (journal club)
The lecturer is available on appointment (a.delermabarbaro@uninsubria.it) for meeting students to explain or further discuss the issues treated in the class.