IMMUNOLOGY

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course covers an integrated introduction to the immune system of the body. Course materials include lectures about the structure, the function, and genetics of system molecules such as antibodies, T and B lymphocyte receptors, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, cytokines, as well as development and activation of lymphocytes. The course, also, refers to the binding of antigens to antigen-presenting cells (APCs), as well as to the types of immune response and how the immune system responses to infections by bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, and helminths.

In addition, the basic processes of immunization and immunodeficiency, immune tolerance and autoimmune disorders and tumor immunity are presented. Emphasis is given on recent advances in immunology regarding the diagnosis and therapeutic interventions (ie. monoclonal antibodies and recombinant molecules that induce immunity).

The course aims to enable students to understand the function of the immune system and its contribution to defense and maintenance of the homeostasis of organisms. An additional goal of the course is to help students understand the importance of testing the humoral and cellular immune response for the detection of infections as well as primary or acquired immunodeficiency.

 

Upon completion of the course the students will be able to:
•Know the cells of the immune system, including their characteristics, recognition mechanisms, tissue distribution, and cell to cell interactions.
•Understand how immune responses are induced, the related molecular mechanisms and the regulation of immune responses at cellular level.
•Distinguish the basic functions of the immune system in infectious diseases.
•Perform laboratory procedures carefully, produce accurate results, understand the theoretical basis of the techniques used in the laboratory and present a complete review of the results and of the relative conclusions
•Write a comprehensive review of current knowledge and advances on certain topics of Immunology

 

SYLLABUS

Theory
1. Introduction to the Immune System. The main milestones in the evolution of the science of Immunology. Cells, tissues and organs of the Immune system.
2. Antigen binding molecules I. Immunoglobulins (basic structure and variants of the structure of immunoglobulins, classes and subclasses of immunoglobulins, antibody synthesis). The complement system via the classic and alternative pathway. The importance of complement deficiencies and how the complement is determined.
3. Antigen binding molecules ΙΙ. T cell receptors and MHC. Structure and biological significance of T cell receptors and major histocompatibility complex molecules. Immunobiology of transplants.
4. Types of immune response. Mechanisms of innate immunity. Initiation of the immune response with innate defenses. Presentation of the antigen, co-stimulation and cell activation pathways.
5. Parts of the immune system. Κφρια εκτελεςτικά ςκζλη τησ ανοςοαπάντηςησ. TH2 immune response with antibody production, TH1 immune response and mononuclear phagocytes, cytotoxicity (cytotoxic cells and NK cells). Cytokine production.
6. Defense against infectious agents. Immune responses to various types of infections. Increased susceptibility to specific infections due to immunodeficiency. Flexibility of the immune system and adaptability of pathogens.
7. Immunity against bacteria and fungi.
8. Immunity against viruses
9. Immunity to Protozoa and Worms
10. Primary immunodeficiency. Deficiency of congenital immunity. T cell deficiency. B cell deficiency. Deficiency of myelogenous cells. Stem cell deficiency.
11. AIDS and secondary immunodeficiency. Vaccination.
12. Immune tolerance, autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases. Etiology of the immune reaction. Pathogenetic mechanisms in autoimmune diseases.
13. Transplantation and transplant rejection. Tumor immunology. Disposal mechanisms, rejection prevention. Tumor immunotherapy
14. Hypersensitivity type I, II, III, IV. Anaphylactic sensitivity, atopic allergy, Cytotoxic sensitivity to antibodies, Hypersensitivity to immune complexes, Slow-type hypersensitivity, Stimulating hypersensitivity

 

Laboratory
The laboratory part of the course will include theory and practice in:
1. Immunization and isolation techniques of white blood cells and lymphocytes. Animal immunization and antibody production.
2. Antigen and antibody interactions, in vitro. Precipitation Analysis by Diffusion in Gels. Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion and radial immunodiffusion.
3. Hemagglutination reactions
4. Electrophoresis of proteins in diagnosis of immunological deficiencies. Rocket and
opposite immunoelectrophoresis.
5. Immunofixation, nephelometry, turbidity.
6. Flow Cytometry. Measurement of CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells after staining with anti- CD4+ and anti- CD8+monoclonical antibodies.
7. ΕLISA (I). Quantitative immunoassay of autoantibodies against isolated nuclear antigens (ENA profile).
8. ΕLISA (II). Quantitative immunoassay of autoantibodies against Thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO).
9. Indirect immunofluorescence (Ι). Binding and localization of autoantibodies in the serum of patients against nuclear antigens in HEp-2 cells
10. Indirect immunofluorescence (ΙΙ).
11. Determination of autoantibodies against double-stranded DNA (anti-ds-DNA) in Crithidia luciliae and anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA).
12. Line or dot immunoblotting
13. Immunochromatography, hemolytic supplement
14. Determination of HLA. Cytotoxicity method.
All laboratory exercises are performed in the Immunology Laboratory equipped with the appropriate, calibrated instruments (fluorescence microscope, cytometer, spectrophotometer, electrophoresis devices, centrifuges, Vortex, water bath and light field microscope).