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Core Immunology

dna

Learn about the immune system and how each part works. This course will provide a foundational understanding for more complex courses.

Course Content

A Snapshot of the Immune System Course
7 Topics
1 Quiz
Introduction – Snapshot
Generalities of innate immunity
Watch – Complement
Components of the innate immune system
Some Lymphocytes Behave Like Innate Immune Cells
Generalities of Adaptive Immunity
Elements of Adaptive Immunity
A Snapshot of the Immune System Test
Ontogeny of the Immune System
7 Topics
1 Quiz
Introduction – Ontogeny
Hematopoiesis Occurs in Human Bone Marrow
Production of Specific T and B Lymphocytes Occurs in Antigen-Independent and Antigen-Dependent Phases
T Cell Development Originates in the Thymus – Functional Effector Cells and Memory Cells Are Produced in Peripheral Lymphoid Tissues
B Cell Development Begins in the Bone Marrow – Functional Effector Cells and Memory Cells Are Produced in Peripheral Lymphoid Tissues
Natural Killer Cells Also Develop in the Bone Marrow
The Mature Immune System
Ontogeny of the Immune System Test
The Innate Immune System
10 Topics
1 Quiz
Mononuclear Phagocytes Produce Key Inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines
Dendritic Cells Produce Inflammatory Cytokines and Initiate Adaptive Immunity by Presenting Antigens to T Cells
Mast Cell Mediators Regulate a Variety of Physiological Systems
Watch – The action of mast cells
Basophils and Eosinophils Also Participate in Innate Immunity
Natural Killer Cells Recognize and Kill Virus-Infected Cells
Natural killer T (NKT) cells.
Mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells
B-1 cells and MZ B cells
Watch – The different killing mechanisms, including NK cells and ADCC
The Innate Immune System Test
MHC & Antigen Presentation
8 Topics
MHC Background
MHC Structure and Function
Features of MHC-I and MHC-II molecules
Antigen Presentation
Watch – Antigen Presentation by MHC II
Nomenclature of HLA
Rules that dictate the nomenclature of HLA
Listen – TB Host Directed Therapy and MHC/Antigen Presentation
Overview of T Cell Subsets
9 Topics
Introduction – Overview of T Cell Subsets
Lymphocytes Perform Adaptive Immune Functions
Memory T cells
How T cells “see” Antigen
Antigen Processing and Presentation Follows Different Pathways for Cytosolic (Endogenous) and Vesicular (Exogenous) Antigen
The Interaction Between APC and T Cells Influences Which T Cells Are Activated
Watch – T cell and B cell interactions
Th1 Cells Signal Macrophages to Kill Engulfed Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens
Watch – The different killing mechanisms, including CD8 CTL
Thymic T Cell Development
8 Topics
Background – Thymic T Cell Development
Central vs. Peripheral Tolerance
Central T-Cell Selection
T cell receptor gene rearrangement
Thymic microenvironment and Thymopoeisis
Central Tolerance generation in the thymus
Research tools for Thymus and T cell development studies
Listen – Tolerance
gamma/delta T Cells
5 Topics
Introduction – Unconventional T cells
Unconventional T cells: gamma/delta T cells
Major features of alpha-beta and gamma-delta T cells
Recognition of “phosphoantigens”
Why are gamma/delta T cells of interest for tumor immunotherapy?
B Cell Activation and Plasma Cell Differentiation
4 Topics
Activation of B cells
Precursors of plasma cells
The germinal center (GC) reaction
Listen – Germinal centres and tfh cells
Antibody Structure and Classes
7 Topics
Immunoglobulin Structure
Biological Functions of Immunoglobulins
The Family of Immunoglobulins Includes Five Functional Classes of Antibodies
Antigen-Independent and Dependent B Cell Development
Somatic Hypermutation and Isotope Class Switch Recombination
B Cell Activation and Antibody Production and the Antigen Antibody Reaction
Listen – ADCC and Antibody functions
Central and Peripheral Tolerance
5 Topics
Introduction – Central and Peripheral Tolerance
Central vs. Peripheral Tolerance
Mechanisms of peripheral T-cell tolerance
B-cell Tolerance
Listen – Tolerance
Virtual Grant Writing
Virtual (Required)