IMMUNOLOGY

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor C J Secombes and Dr J Liversidge

Pre-requisites

BI 2504

Overview

A comprehensive course in basic immunology to provide the student with a thorough understanding of how the immune system functions in health and disease. The course covers all aspects of innate and adaptive immunity: differentiation of cells of the immune system, their functions and how they interact to maintain homeostatis in health and how immune dysfunction may cause disease; antibody structure and generation of diversity; complement and the innate immune response; immune responses to pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites): immuno-suppresive drugs, organ transplantation; immunogenetics; immunobiology of cancer; immunological tolerance and autoimmunity; clinical immunology and immunodeficiency disorders.
30 credit point ‘blocked’ course extending over 6 weeks.
6 one-hour lectures/tutorials per week and 10 four-hour laboratory practicals.
Examination (60%) and continuous assessment of laboratory work (40%). Pass required in both components.

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Dr J Sternberg/Dr I Stansfield/Dr J Liversidge

Pre-requisites

BT 3004, MB 3003, IM 3802.

Co-requisites

IM 4501.

Overview

The formal teaching comprises a core lecture programme (thread 1) plus two options (thread 2) (each 15 hours contact time). The core (45 x 1 hour lectures) covers advanced aspects of protein structure, gene expression, development biology, cell biology and genome organisation and analysis. Two options will cover immunology, in detail working from the original literature under the supervision of 1-3 members of staff. Three essays will be written and examined. All students are required to prepare for, and to attend, a reading party in the week prior to term. Tutorials will be held at regular intervals with a tutor appointed by the Head of Department.


10 weeks – 45 hours lectures over ten weeks (core lecture programme) plus 30 hours further contact time (covering two options) and two one-hour tutorials.
2 three-hour examinations at the end of Semester 1 (73%) and continuous assessment (27%).

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Dr J Sternberg/Dr I Stansfield/Dr J Liversidge

Pre-requisites

BT 3004, MB 3003, IM 3802.

Co-requisites

IM 4001

Overview

The core element of the course is a research project that involves 9 weeks laboratory work, starting one week prior to the beginning of semester 2, and production of a thesis. Assessment is on the basis of the performance in the laboratory, the thesis, and the project seminar. A project essay that covers the subject of the laboratory research will be completed and assessed as part of the Semester 1 Honours course. Students are expected to spend a minimum of 25 hours in the laboratory each week. Two research tutorials will be organised by academic staff and will be assessed by examination at the end of the semester. Tutorials will be held at regular intervals with the tutor appointed by the Head of Department.
9 weeks project work at 25 hours per week.
1 two-hour, 1 three-hour and 1 four-hour examination at the end of Semester 2 (62%); continuous assessment (38%).