IM4006: CURRENT RESEARCH IN IMMUNOLOGY (2019-2020)

The content comprises two modules. In the first module, Infection, Immunity and Disease, students will study immune function in the context of disease to understand how immunological dysfunction can lead to a pathological inflammatory response and disease. How tolerance to non infectious- or self-antigen is broken will be examined and the role of T lymphocyte subset differentiation and bias in autoimmunity and asthma. In addition how pathogens subvert the immune response to avoid immune detection and establish chronic infections will be considered. The complex cellular and molecular immune mechanisms underlying the recognition of and responses toward microorganisms and the co-ordinated series of events linking the innate with the adaptive immune response to infection will be considered in detail. Examples of immune responses to specific bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic agents will be given. The second module explores current knowledge of molecular Immunology focussing on recent discoveries that have shaped our understanding of how the adaptive immune system (mainly comprised of B and T lymphocytes) discriminates and functions at a molecular level. Specific areas will include T-cell interaction with polymorphic major histocompatibility molecules (MHC); T-cell mediated immunological tolerance; the decision-making processes that permit T-cells to generate an appropriate response after antigen encounter; immune evasion strategies at a molecular level; and the balance of activational and inhibitory receptors.

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

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There are no assessments for this course.