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Module Catalogue

LF264-15 Immunology

Department
Life Sciences
Level
Undergraduate Level 2
Module leader
Leanne Williams
Credit value
15
Module duration
5 weeks
Assessment
Multiple
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

The aim of this module is to achieve an overview of the immune system with a focus on adaptive immunity.

By the end of the course you will have a good understanding of the main molecular and cellular players in the immune system and how they interact.

You should have a good conceptual grasp of the role of the immune system in defining self from non-self and how T cells and B cells acquire this discrimination.

You should also be able to understand how important the balance of the immune system is and what happens when the normal status quo is disrupted.

Module web page

Module aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to one of the fundamental processes that underpin modern biomedical science: immunology. It builds on the material delivered in BS127 Agents of infectious disease and provides the preliminary understanding for the finally year module BS317 Advanced Immunology. Together with companion modules dealing with specific pathogens, the module considers many disease processes and their mitigation. Immunology deals with the basic processes of immunity to infection, but also covers aspect of hypersensitivity and auto-immune disease.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Immunology is presented as an overview of the immune system with a focus on T cell immunity, including:

  • Recognition of antigen by the adaptive immune system.
  • The TCR and MHC
  • T-cell mediated immunity
  • The humoral immune response
  • Failure of immunity: evasion and subversion and immunodeficiency disease.
  • Mucosal immunity
  • Inappropriate activation: allergy and autoimmune disease
  • Case studies of immune system disregulation and disease, including rheumatoid arthritis,
    multiple sclerosis, and Crohn’s disease

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Level 5 understanding of the innate immune response
  • Level 5 understanding of the adaptive immune response
  • Level 5 understanding of immunological diversity
  • Level 5 understanding of cytokines/cytokine receptors and their role in immune responses
  • Level 5 understanding of clinical immunology
  • Level 5 understanding of T and B cell mediated immunity

Indicative reading list

There are many good Immunology books for this level the rcourse recommended is Murphy, K. M., Travers, P. and Walport, M. Janeway’s Immunobiology, latest edn. (Garland Science).

Subject specific skills

Explain the main molecular and cellular players in the innate and adaptive immune system and their interaction.

Explain the role of the immune system in defining self from non-self and how T cells and B cells acquire this discrimination.

Transferable skills

Adult learning
Self directed learning

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 15 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Supervised practical classes 1 session of 1 hour (0%)
Other activity 10 hours (4%)
Private study 124 hours (55%)
Assessment 75 hours (33%)
Total 225 hours

Private study description

Self directed learning and revision for the final exam

Other activity description

In Module Assessment

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.

Assessment group D
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
In-Module Assessment 30% 30 hours Yes (extension)

Authentic assessment, based on a common immunological problem or dataset researchers would deal with on a regular basis in the academic environment
Online Examination 70% 45 hours No

1.5 hr exam- 45 min short answer question paper / 45 min essay based paper

  • Online examination: No Answerbook required
Assessment group R
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
In-person Examination - Resit 100% No

45 min SAQ paper / 45 min essay paper

  • Answerbook Green (8 page)
  • Students may use a calculator
Feedback on assessment

Final examination feedback is given to returning students as generalised feedback on what constituted a good essay; common mistakes/misconceptions and good practise are identified and shared.

Past exam papers for LF264

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 2 of UBSA-C1B9 Undergraduate Biomedical Science
  • ULFA-C1A3 Undergraduate Biomedical Science (MBio)
    • Year 2 of C1A3 Biomedical Science
    • Year 2 of C1B9 Biomedical Science
  • Year 2 of ULFA-C1A7 Undergraduate Biomedical Science with Industrial Placement (MBio)
  • Year 2 of ULFA-CB18 Undergraduate Biomedical Science with Placement Year

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 2 of UBSA-C700 Undergraduate Biochemistry
  • ULFA-C1A2 Undergraduate Biochemistry (MBio)
    • Year 2 of C1A2 Biochemistry
    • Year 2 of C700 Biochemistry
  • Year 2 of ULFA-C702 Undergraduate Biochemistry (with Placement Year)
  • Year 2 of ULFA-C1A6 Undergraduate Biochemistry with Industrial Placement (MBio)
  • Year 2 of UBSA-3 Undergraduate Biological Sciences
  • Year 2 of ULFA-C1A1 Undergraduate Biological Sciences (MBio)
  • Year 2 of ULFA-C113 Undergraduate Biological Sciences (with Placement Year)
  • Year 2 of ULFA-C1A5 Undergraduate Biological Sciences with Industrial Placement (MBio)