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Immunopathology

Module description

In this optional module you will explore the critical role the immune system plays in physiology.

You will learn how the immune system has evolved to recognise and destroy a myriad of pathogens (bacteria, virus, fungus, parasites), but also how an unrestrained immune response can lead to immunopathology and cancer. Throughout this module, you will identify major components and pathways of the immune system and how they relate to diseases with major global impact (e.g., SARS-CoV-2 and Helminth). You will also recognise how our acquired knowledge in immunology has allowed us to develop therapeutics (e.g., monoclonal antibodies and cancer immunotherapy) and diagnostic assays. In seminars/lectures, workshops, and practical work (to develop basic practical/research skills and your ability to critically appraise data), you will evaluate the importance of immunology in almost every aspect of biomedical science and research.

Pre-requisites:

CSC1005 IHP or an equivalent module in Biosciences.

Module aims - intentions of the module

In this module:

1.  You will establish the fundamental principles of immunology, and how these relate to successful elimination of pathogens (virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite) and malfunctioning of the immune system may lead to immunopathology (e.g, autoimmunity and allergy) and cancer.
2. You will appraise how immunology has been used in biomedical research and therapeutic intervention in disease, such as vaccination and in transplantation.
3. You will identify how the immune system is important for maintaining health, and why disorders in key immune pathways can lead to disease development.
4. You will learn to evaluate the impact of cutting-edge research into development of immunotherapy and its application for treatment and diagnostics.

We will use primary literature, clinical trials, practical examples and research expertise within the University of Exeter Medical School to supplement textbook knowledge.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Identify the key components of the human immune system, and define the key principles of innate and adaptive immunity
• 2. Describe how the immune system fights infection
• 3. Describe how disorders of the immune system can lead to disease with illustrative examples of diseases with major global impact (including autoimmunity, immunodeficiency and allergy)
• 4. Indicate how the immune system develops and how its function varies with age
• 5. Indicate differences in congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies
• 6. Compare current immunotherapeutic approaches (e.g. antibodies, vaccination, cell-based therapy)
• 7. Illustrate how antibodies can be used for diagnostic purposes

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. Identify how immunological concepts underpin basic and applied research, diagnosis and therapy of human health and disease
• 9. Develop in-depth knowledge of some standard immunological laboratory techniques and analyse data

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 10. Communicate ideas effectively and professionally by visual and written routes
• 11. With limited guidance, apply skills of critical thinking, problem-formulation and problem-solving to clinical science practice
• 12. Connect academic theory with real-world application

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows: 

• Introduction/Recap to the immune system (Properties and Components)
• Innate immunity (Complement, Cells, Receptors)
• Antigen capture and processing (Cells, Pathways, HLA)
• Antigen receptors and Immune repertoire (TCR, BCR, rearrangement)
• T cell – mediated immunity (activation and effector function)
• B cell – mediated immunity (activation and effector function)
• Mucosal immunology and microbiome
• Responses to Infection (bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite); Vaccination
• Autoimmunity (Immunological Tolerance; recombinant antibody)
• Tumours and Transplantation (Recognition of malignant and normal foreign cells, immunosuppression, CAR-T cells))
• Hypersensitivity (Types, Allergy)
• Immunodeficiencies (congenital and acquired)
• Immune-based diagnostic approaches: e.g. ELISA, immunofluorescence & quantitative RT-PCR, flow cytometry and lateral flow cassette assay

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Please refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

These key textbooks (available electronically through the University of Exeter library) will be a useful source of information.

Primary: Janeway’s Immunobiology (Tenth Edition) by Kenneth M. Murphy, Casey Weaver and Leslie J. Berg; W.W. Norton & Company

Secondary: Cellular and Molecular Immunology (Tenth Edition) by Abul K. Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman and Shiv Pillai; Elsevier

Additional essential and optional reading, accompanying the lecture/workshop, in the from primary research publications and review articles will be provided on the CSC2008 ELE2 pages.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

NICE pathways (http://pathways.nice.org.uk/)

Bite-sized Immunology (https://www.immunology.org/public-information/bitesized-immunology)

Key words search

Immunology, immunopathology antibody, vaccine, autoimmunity, infectious disease, diagnostics, therapeutics, immunotherapy, microbiome