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 aims

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
• An introduction to immunopharmacology

Learning outcomes

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

• Analyse the key components of the innate and adaptive immune systems.
• Explain mechanisms of immunological diversity.
• Explain cytokine and cytokine receptor interactions.
• Apply immunological principles to hypersensitivity and autoimmune conditions.
• Explain T cell and B cell mediated immunity.
• Analyse and interpret clinical immunological data

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

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