| Code |
12826
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| Year |
3
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| Semester |
S1
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| ECTS Credits |
6
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| Workload |
PL(15H)/T(30H)/TP(15H)
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| Scientific area |
Biochemistry
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Entry requirements |
Not applicable
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Mode of delivery |
Classroom
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Work placements |
Not applicable
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Learning outcomes |
Two of the most challenging aspects of teaching Immunology are the many important details (cell types, proteins, interactions, and terminology) and the interconnected nature of the response. The main objective of the course is to bring this general overview to the forefront, providing an overview that students can refer to to establish consistent connections between concepts and individual participants in the immune response.
By the end of the Immunology Course, students should be able to:
1. Understand how the immune system is organized and how it functions;
2. Distinguish the innate, adaptive, humoral, and cellular components of an immune response;
3. Understand the mechanisms that regulate the plasticity of the immune system's components;
4. Be familiar with the main immunological techniques and know how to interpret results obtained through their use;
5. Conduct scientific research in reputable databases and present scientific papers;
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Syllabus |
COURSE CONTENTS
1. Theoretical Classes (TE)
1.1. Overview of the Immune System: Important Concepts for Understanding the Immune Response; Cells, Organs, and Microenvironments of the Immune System; Antigen Recognition and Response
1.2. Innate Immune System: Innate and Phagocytic Lymphoid Cells; Receptors and Effector Responses; Complement System; Major Histocompatibility Complex and Antigen Presentation
1.3. Adaptive Immune System: Development, Activation, and Differentiation of T Lymphocytes; Development, Activation, and Differentiation of B Lymphocytes; Effector Responses: Antibody- and Cell-Mediated Immunity; The Adaptive Immune Response in Space and Time
2. Practical-Laboratory Classes (PL)
Main Immunological Techniques; Isolation and Counting of Total Leukocytes (WBC) and Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) from Peripheral Blood + Viability Test; Functional Tests of Immune System Cells: Phagocytosis; Antibody-Mediated Functional Tests: Hemagglutination
3. Theoretical-Practical Classes
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Main Bibliography |
Books
• Main Bibliography:
- Kuby Immunology, 8th Edition. W.H. Freeman & and Company, 2019.
• Additional Bibliography:
- Janeway's Immunobiology, 10th Edition. W. W. Norton & Company, 2022.
- Fundamentals of Immunology, 2nd Edition, 2012. LIDEL Technical Editions, Lisbon.
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Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria |
During the theoretical classrooms, the teaching methodologies include presentation of contents using audiovisual media (PowerPoint presentations), including short videos and animations. In order to students understand the relevance of the contents taught, interactive Quizzes related with the topics taught and resolution of worksheets will be used. During the laboratorial classrooms, students have the opportunity to perform laboratory techniques that allow to visualize peripheral blood lymphocytes and some of the receptors that distinguish them. The theoretical-practical classrooms are basically tutorials where groups of 2-3 students carry out a scientific search of articles in the PubMed database. The objective is to elaborate a small research work focused on a disease that afflicts the developed countries, for example diabetes, atherosclerosis, neurodegeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, etc., and its relationship with the immune system.
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Language |
Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.
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