IMMUNOLOGY

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr I Crane and Dr H Wilson

Pre-requisites

BI 25M5

Co-requisites

None

Notes

None

Overview

The course covers all aspects of innate and adaptive immunity: evolution of the immune system; differentiation of cells of the immune system and their functions and interactions; antibody structure and generation of diversity; complement and the innate immune response; cytokines and signalling events in cells of the immune system. Practical classes reinforce this knowledge as well as teaching immunological and generic laboratory techniques and a range of transferable skills.

Structure

3 one hour lectures or tutorials and 1 five hour practical class per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).
Continuous assessment comprises: 7 reports/exercises in different formats based on the practical classes.

Resit: 1 three hour written examination (60%) and previous continuous assessment (40%).

Formative Assessment

- Quiz based tutorial allows students to test their knowledge.
- On-line MCQ quiz for students to test their knowledge.

Feedback

- Practical reports will be marked with written comments.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on course content.
- Quiz tutorial will have immediate oral feedback and opportunity for discussion with lecturers.
- Students receive on-line feedback on completion of the MCQ tests.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr I Crane and Dr H Wilson

Pre-requisites

BI 25M5

Co-requisites

IM 3501

Overview

The course investigates how the various mechanisms of innate and adaptive immunity interact to protect against human disease and how immune dysfunction may cause disease. Immune responses to pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites): immuno-suppressive drugs, organ transplantation; immunobiology of cancer; immunological tolerance and autoimmunity; clinical immunology and immunodeficiency disorders are covered. Practical classes reinforce this knowledge as well as teaching immunological and generic laboratory techniques and a range of transferable skills.

Structure

3 one hour lectures or tutorials and 1 five hour practical class per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one and a half hour written examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).
Continuous assessment comprises: 2 laboratory reports, 1 essay, 1 poster presentation.

Resit: 1 one and a half hour written examination (60%) and previous continuous assessment (40%).

Formative Assessment

- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen on which students can request feedback.
- Tutorial on poster presentation provides feedback on work so far.

Feedback

- Practical reports and essay will be marked with written comments.
- Posters will be discussed with the students when they are presented.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr I Crane & Dr H Wilson

Pre-requisites

IM 3501, IM 3502, MB 3006

Co-requisites

IM 4006

Overview

The content is modularised with the first module building on immunology knowledge acquired at 3rd year and providing students with a broad understanding of all elements of the immune system, how they function to maintain health and how immune dysfunction can cause disease. Topics covered will include the factors that determine the effectiveness of immune responses to micro-organisms and tumours as well as an understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which the immune system can cause disease including allergy, autoimmunity and transplant rejection and potential methods for controlling such responses.
The second module explores current knowledge of protein structure and function as proteins are central to all immunological processes, and understanding them is essential. It will cover the relationships between primary sequence and final structure, consequences for function, including interactions, as well as insights into mutations that cause disease and into the evolution of biological systems.
The third module will provide insights into the processes and mechanisms that control gene expression in the context of differentiation, development and the adaptation to changes in the environment, using examples from bacteria, yeast and animal systems. Specific examples will include transcriptional control networks, post-transcriptional control by alternative splicing and control of mRNA stability.
The fourth module will utilise a series of tutorials and workshops to explore current important hypotheses and advances in immunological theory and practice.

Structure

5 x 1 hour lectures or tutorials per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 x three-hour examination (80%) plus in course assessment (20%).
Continuous assessment comprises: 1 essay (2000 words).

Formative Assessment

- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen.
- Problem-solving tutorials.
- Presentation and critical assessment of research literature at tutorials .

Feedback

- Essay will be marked with written comments.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on essay writing.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on problem-solving, presentation and critical assessment of research literature.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr S Wong / Dr F Ward / Dr I Crane

Pre-requisites

IM 3501

Overview

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.

Structure

2-3 one hour lectures/tutorials per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written paper (66.7%), in-course assessment (33.3%). In course assessment comprises: 2 essays (2000 words).

Formative Assessment

- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen.
- Problem-solving tutorials.
- Presentation and critical assessment of research literature at tutorials .

Feedback

- Essays will be marked with written comments.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on essay writing.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on problem-solving, presentation and critical assessment of research literature.

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Professor K Docherty

Pre-requisites

MB 3006, IM 3501.

Co-requisites

IM 4006

Overview

The core element of the course is a research project that involves 10 weeks laboratory work and production of a thesis. Assessment is on the basis of the performance in the laboratory, the thesis, and the project seminar. 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 course coordinator.

Structure

Research project: 10 weeks with minimum of 6 hours per day, 4 days a week in laboratory.
Two research tutorials: 4 hours.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 two-hour examinations (2 elements each) and 1 four-hour examination (3 elements) (63.6%); in-course assessment (36.4%) consisting of: Laboratory work (1 element); Honours thesis (2 elements) (5,000 words) and Thesis defence (1 element).

Formative Assessment

- Practice oral presentations of research data.
- Mock exam allows students to practice for essay based exams and receive feedback on their performance.
- Practice exam essay allows students to write under exam conditions and receive feedback on their performance.
- Problem-solving sessions.

Feedback

- Practical reports and essays will be marked with written comments.
- Problem solving questions will be discussed during a lecture/feedback session.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on course content.
- Written comments will be provided on the mock exam question.

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Dr I Crane, Dr R Scott and Dr D Shewan

Pre-requisites

PA 3004, IM 3501, PA 3802, BM 3501

Co-requisites

IM 4006, PA 4005, PA 4302

Overview

The core element of the course is a research project that involves 10 weeks laboratory or literature work and production of a thesis. Assessment is on the basis of the performance in the research and the thesis.

Structure

For literature-based projects, minimum of 2hr tutorial each week for 10 weeks plus all day (9am-5pm) Powerpoint presentations session.

For laboratory-based projects,maximum 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, for 10 weeks plus Powerpoint presentations session.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment of day-to-day performance throughout project duration (25%), supervisor assessment of project report (25%) and independent second marker's assessment of project report (50%).

Resit: Continuous assessment of day-to-day performance throughout project duration (25%), supervisor assessment of project report (25%) and independent second marker's assessment of project report (50%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback