Immunology
1655-Lek21IMMU-J
In the course of lectures students are going to be familiar with: a) innate and adaptive immunity characteristics (the cell types and humoral factors involved; their immunoregulatory and effector functions), b) hypersensitivity reactions of type I, II, III and IV; mechanisms of their action, and significance in physiological immune response and imunopathology, c) the basics of immunity to infection: immune response in local and systemic infections (classification); the role of immune system in protection against viral, fungal, bacterial and parasitic infections, d) mucosal immune system; significance of gastro-intestinal tract microflora in immune system regulation; probiotics (definition, significance in immunity), e) autoimmunity (definition, mechanisms); natural antibodies and their significance, f) autoimmune diseases (immune mechanisms, classifications), g) immunodeficiency’s diseases and their classifications, diagnosis and treatment, h) vaccines, their types and mechanisms of immune response induction.
During lectures on Immunology, students will learn the exact structure and functions of the human central and peripheral immune system. They acquire knowledge about innate and acquired defense mechanisms and types of immune response (humoral, cellular). Students learn the components of innate and adaptive mechanisms.
They will learn about all types of hypersensitivity reactions with clinical examples. The lectures also include immune deficiencies and their classification, mechanisms of immune tolerance and their importance for the proper functioning of the immune system.
The exercises are devoted to the structure and classification of antigens, antibodies and cytokines. Students will learn the detailed structure and functions of all immune cells.
They learn about cytotoxic mechanisms, learn basic methods for assessing the humoral and cellular response of the body, including immunoezymatic and immunofluorescent techniques, immune cell isolation methods and tissue culture techniques, and are introduced to the basics of flow cytometry and its wide range of applications - in diagnostic and scientific research.
The seminars are devoted to issues of transplantation immunology (including the characteristics of the MHC system), the basics of the development of post-vaccination immunity (including the issue of immunological memory), and the classification of immunodeficiencies.
Total student workload
.The workload associated with activities requiring direct participation of academic teachers is:
- participation in lectures: 10 hours
- participation in laboratories: 10 hours
- participation in seminars: 10 hours
-test from exercises 3 hours, test from seminars 3 hours, final test: 2 hours
The workload associated with classes requiring direct participation of academic teachers is 38 hours, corresponding to 1,52 ECTS points.
2. Balance of student workload:
- participation in lectures: 10 hours
- participation in laboratories: 10 hours
- participation in seminars: 10 hours
- reading the indicated literature: 12 hours
- preparation for exercises: 8 hours
- preparation for seminars: 8 hours
- preparing for presentation: 5 hours
- preparation for the colloquium and participation in the colloquium: 10 + 2 = 12 hours
The total student workload related to the implementation of the course is 75 hours, which corresponds to 3 ECTS points.
3. Workload related to scientific research:
- not applicable
4. Time required for preparation and participation in the assessment process:
- not applicable
5. Time required for compulsory placement:
- not applicable
Learning outcomes - knowledge
W1: Student discusses the development and construction of the immune system in all its components: immune cells, tissues and organs (including the division into central and peripheral organs)- (A.W1).
W2: Student defines the division of defense mechanisms into congenital and acquired ones. Distinguishes individual elements of the immune system due to their specific and non-specific effects – (A.W2)
W3: Student knows the types of immune response: cellular and humoral. Describes cellular and humoral reactions.
- (C.W18)
W4: Student describes defensive mechanisms in the fight against viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections. – (C.W18)
W5: Student characterizes and classifies immunodeficiency diseases: primary and secondary. – (C.W20)
W6: Student describes immunological mechanisms of all types of hypersensitivity (types I, II, III, IV). – (C.W20)
W7: Student describes the examples of all types of hypersensitivity diseases (types I, II, III, IV). – (C.W20)
W8: Student discusses the basics of immunization, construction and types of classical vaccines, the current vaccination calendar - (C.W20)
W9: Student characterizes the effects of non-specific immunostimulation; natural and synthetic immunostimulators; with examples. Defines the essence of immunomodulation. – (C.W20)
W10: Student knows the basics of cancer immunology and cancer immunotherapy. – (C.W21)
W11: Student knows the rules of immunotherapy – (C.W21)
W12: Student describes defense mechanisms (peripheral and central) against autoimmunity- (C.W21)
W13: Student knows the basic mechanisms of the development of autoimmune diseases – (C.W21)
W14: Student describes the structure and understands the importance of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC / HLA). He discusses the significance of the polymorphism. – (C.W22)
W15: Student discusses the basics of transplantation immune response; types of transplants, defines antigens responsible for transplant rejection. – (C.W22)
W16: Student knows the principles of basic immunodiagnostic methods: flow cytometry, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and discusses their applications in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, cancer and allergies (C.W16)
Learning outcomes - skills
U1: Student can select and perform the basic immunodiagnostic tests necessary for immunity evaluation in the conditions of health and disease - (B.U11)
U2: Student can individually perform the basic immunodiagnostic techniques like ELISA method, isolation of immune system cells from peripheral blood, evaluation of immune cells by flow cytometry method, estimation of cytotoxic and phagocytic abilities of the immune cells (B.U12)
U3: Student can perform immunophenotyping of leucocytes by cytometry methods and knows the interpretation - (B.U12)
Learning outcomes - social competencies
K1: Student can verify and use the appropriate source of information (K_K078).
K2: Student has awareness of its own limitations and has willingness and understands the necessity of self-education. (K_K05).
K3: Student promote preventive and health -promoting behaviors (K_K06).
Teaching methods
K1: Student can verify and use the appropriate source of information (K_K078).
K2: Student has awareness of its own limitations and has willingness and understands the necessity of self-education. (K_K05).
K3: Student promote preventive and health -promoting behaviors (K_K06).
Exploratory teaching methods
- experimental
- laboratory
- seminar
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge concerning biology, cell biology, chemistry and geneticssic knowledge concerning biology, cell biology, chemistry and genetics.
Course coordinators
Term 2025/26Z: | Term 2022/23Z: | Term 2023/24Z: | Term 2024/25Z: |
Assessment criteria
Evaluation methods:
Lesture: W1-W15, U1-U3
For every exercises and seminars short test: (1-10 points) ≥60%: W5, W10-W13, W2,W6,W8,W9,W14,W15, W16
U1-U3
Prolonged observation: (>50%): K1-K3
Student reports and oral answers: (points -1 to +1): W2, W5, W6, W8, W9-W15, U2, K1-K3
Final pass: test (≥60%)
W5, W10-W13, W2,W6,W8,W9,W14,W15, W16
U1-U3
Exam: test (≥60%): W1-W16, U1-U3
Assessment criteria - exam:
90-100% - 5
86-89% - 4,5
75- 85% -4
71-74% - 3,5
60- 70% - 3
0-59% - 2
If student fails the test, he/she can write a make – up test - It is possible to write the test twice.
Practical placement
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors,
localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: