Immunology

Syllabus

Content of lectures

1. Innate immunity - overview of basic functions: role of the immune system, basic concepts, innate and acquired immunity, regulation of immunity.

2. Experimental systems in immunology. Cells and organs of the immune system: lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes, granulocytic cells, primary and secondary lymphoid organs, recirculation of lymphoid cells.3. Antigens: chemical and biological properties, adjuvants, haptens, viral and bacterial antigens, mitogens.Structure and function of immunoglobulins: antigenic determinants on immunoglobulins, Properties and functions of immunoglobulin classes.4. Antigen-antibody interactions: affinity, avidity, cross-reactivity. Immunochemical reactions. Monoclonal antibodies.5. Organisation and expression of immunoglobulin genes: generation of antibody diversity.6. Major histocompatibility complex: structure and function of MHC molecules. T-cell receptor: generation of TCR diversity, MHC restriction, development of T-cells.7. Cytokines: structure and function of cytokines and their receptors. Development of the humoral immune response: primary and secondary response, antigen presentation, role of cytokines.8. Cell-mediated immunity: CTL-mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, delayed-type hypersensitivity. Regulation of immunity and immunological tolerance: cytokine-mediated and idiotypic, immunosuppression. Immunologic tolerance.9. The complement system: classical and alternative pathways of complement activation, regulation. Hypersensitive reactions: immediate and delayed hypersensitivity, anaphylaxis, immune complex-mediated hypersensitivity.10. Vaccines: inactivated, attenuated, subunit, recombinant. Immune response to infectious diseases: viral and bacterial infections, parasitic diseases.11. Transplantation immunology: transplantation antigens, mechanisms of graft rejection, immunosuppression.Immune response to tumors: malignant transformation of cells, tumor antigens, cancer immunotherapy.

Annotation

Basic course of immunology for students of Bc. and Mgr. study programme. Students get acquainted with the structure and function of the immune system, with natural and adaptive immunity and their regulation.

Lecture is a prerequisite for following lectures like Immunology II and Immunity to Parasites.