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This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the immune system, designed for both Bachelor's and Master's students. It covers fundamental concepts from the basic structure and function of the immune system to its role in defending the body against infections and diseases. Key topics include innate and adaptive immunity, immune cells and organs, antigen presentation, and the regulation of immune responses through cytokines and chemokines. Special emphasis is placed on immunological memory, vaccination, immunotherapy, and immune system malfunctions such as autoimmunity and hypersensitivity. The course is especially recommended for Bachelor students aiming to pursue a Master’s degree in Immunology.
Last update: Dobeš Jan, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (17.09.2024)
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K. Murphy, Wever, C: Janeway's Immunobiology (Immunobiology: The Immune System (Janeway)), 9th Edition, Garland Science Publishing 2017, 924 pages, ISBN-13: 978-081534505
Last update: Dobeš Jan, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (17.09.2024)
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The exam assesses the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of the immune system. It takes the form of a written test with thirty questions. For 25 questions, students select all correct answers from a choice of four options, with any number of answers potentially being correct (multiple choice test). If you select all correct answers and only the correct ones, you will receive 5 points. If we agree on three answers, you receive 3 points, and for two correct answers, 1 point. Agreement on one or no answers is not scored. The remaining 5 questions are open-ended and are graded on a scale of 0–5 points based on the correctness of the answer. The test must be completed within a sixty-minute time limit. Grading of the written exam:
The December pre-exam session with limited capacity is conducted orally. Last update: Dobeš Jan, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (26.06.2025)
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1. Immune System: A Bird’s-Eye View This lecture will provide an overview of the immune system, highlighting its importance in protecting the body from infections and diseases. We will introduce the basic distinction between innate immunity, the body’s first line of defense, and adaptive immunity, which offers more specialized and long-term protection. This session is designed as a teaser for the key topics we will explore throughout the semester, offering a snapshot of what’s to come, from immune cells and organs to complex processes like antigen presentation, immunological memory, and immunotherapy. 2. Cells and Organs of the Immune System This session will cover the development, classification, and functions of various immune cells. It will also explore the critical role that primary lymphoid organs, such as the bone marrow and thymus, play in the maturation of immune cells, and how secondary lymphoid organs, like the lymph nodes and spleen, contribute to their activation and function. 3. Innate Immunity: The Body's First Line of Defense This lecture will examine the mechanisms of innate immunity, focusing on how physical mucosal barriers (like the skin, gut or lungs), the activation of the complement system, and the function of phagocytic cells protect the body. We will also discuss pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and their role in detecting pathogens, as well as how inflammation is triggered and contributes to the immune response. 4. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and Antigen Presentation This session will focus on the structure and function of MHC class I and II molecules, explaining how they bind and present antigens to T cells as well as on the role of antigen presenting cells. We will explore the process of peptide loading, the mechanisms of antigen presentation, and the crucial role MHC plays in immune recognition, including its significance in transplantation. 5. Adaptive Immunity: T Cells and B cells functions This lecture will introduce the key players in adaptive immunity, focusing on how T cells and B cells recognize specific antigens through their unique receptors. We will discuss clonal selection and the polarization of T cells. We will tuch upon regulation of adaptive immune responses. Additionally, we will cover B cell functions, including the production of antibodies, the different classes of antibodies, and their roles in various immune reactions. 6. Cytokines and Chemokines: Orchestrating the Immune Response This session will explore immune cell communication and migration, focusing on the roles of cytokines and chemokines in regulating these processes. Additionally, we will cover inflammation regulation, and highlight key cytokine families and their receptors. 7. Fighting Infections: the main function of the immune system This lecture introduces the immune system's essential role in defending the body against infections, including viral, bacterial, and fungal threats. We will explore the basic mechanisms the immune system employs and how various cell types work together to resolve infections. 8. Harnesing immunity 1: Immunological Memory and Vaccination This session will cover immunological memory formation, long-term protection, the role of memory cells, and the principles behind vaccination. 9. Harnesing immunity 2: Immunotherapy in Disease Treatment This session will explore the therapeutic manipulation of the immune system, focusing on immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy, and monoclonal antibodies, as well as the challenges faced in the field. 10. When thinks go wrong: Immunopathology - Autoimmunity and Hypersensitivity This session will cover autoimmunity, where the immune system targets self-antigens, leading to autoimmune diseases, as well as hypersensitivity reactions, including allergies and anaphylaxis. Last update: Dobeš Jan, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (17.09.2024)
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1. The Immune System: A Bird’s Eye View The student will be able to define the concepts of innate immunity and adaptive immunity and list their main characteristics and functions (Remember). Furthermore, they will explain the essential role of the immune system in protecting the organism against infections and disease development (Understand). They will state the relationships between key topics of the subject (e.g., immune cells, antigen presentation, memory) and integrate them into the overall context of host defense (Apply). 2. Cells and Organs of the Immune System The student will distinguish and describe the development, classification, and main functions of immune cells (Understand). Furthermore, they will explain the critical role of primary (bone marrow, thymus) and secondary (lymph nodes, spleen) lymphoid organs in the maturation, activation, and function of immune cells (Understand). 3. Innate Immunity: The Body's First Line of Defense The student will describe and explain the mechanisms of action of the three main components of innate immunity: physical barriers, the complement system, and phagocytic cells (Understand). They will be able to analyze and explain the role of pattern recognition receptors (PRR) in pathogen detection and break down the cascade of events leading to the development of inflammation and its contribution to the immune response (Analyze). 4. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and Antigen Presentation The student will explain the differences in the structure, function, and cellular expression of MHC Class I and MHC Class II molecules (Understand). Furthermore, they will analyze the processes of peptide presentation and the mechanisms by which Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs) utilize MHC molecules to activate the adaptive immune response (Analyze). Finally, they will demonstrate an understanding of the clinical significance of MHC in immune recognition and its key role in the context of transplantation (Apply). 5. Adaptive Immunity: T and B Cell Functions The student will describe the process of clonal selection and explain the mechanism by which T and B cells recognize specific antigens through their unique receptors (Understand). They will compare and distinguish between the main types of T cells (helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells) based on their polarization, specific functions, and role in the adaptive response (Analyze). Furthermore, they will explain the function of B cells, including antibody production, and provide an example of the role of the main antibody classes in different immune reactions (Understand). 6. Cytokines and Chemokines: Organization of the Immune Response The student will identify and list the main families of cytokines and describe their receptors (Remember). They will be able to sequence and analyze the role of cytokines and chemokines in immune cell communication and migration during the immune response and inflammation (Analyze). 7. Fighting Infections: Main Functions of the Immune System The student will break down and explain the key mechanisms the immune system uses to eliminate various types of infections (Analyze). Furthermore, they will discuss how different types of immune cells from the innate and adaptive systems cooperate to ensure effective host defense against pathogens (Analyze). 8. Utilizing Immunity 1: Immunological Memory and Vaccination The student will explain the mechanism of immunological memory formation and the critical role of memory cells in long-term protection (Understand). Furthermore, they will interpret and explain the fundamental principles and effectiveness of vaccination as a method of inducing adaptive immune memory (Apply). 9. Utilizing Immunity 2: Immunotherapy in Disease Treatment The student will categorize the main types of immunotherapies (e.g., checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy, monoclonal antibodies) and describe their basic mechanism of therapeutic action (Analyze). They will be able to weigh the pros and cons and evaluate the current challenges and future potential of immunotherapy in treating serious diseases (Evaluate). 10. When Things Go Wrong: Immunopathology – Autoimmunity and Hypersensitivity The student will break down the mechanisms leading to autoimmunity and explain why the immune system begins to attack the body's own tissues (Analyze). Furthermore, they will distinguish between the main types of hypersensitivity reactions and provide an example of a disease for each category (Understand). Based on a description of symptoms and the pathological mechanism, they will diagnose the underlying disorder and propose a principle for a therapeutic approach (Evaluate). Last update: Dobeš Jan, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (06.01.2026)
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This course is not formally linked to any specific class, however, knowledge of cellular and molecular biology at the level of the courses Cell Biology (MB150P31) and Molecular Biology (MB140P41) is essential for understanding the topics discussed. Last update: Dobeš Jan, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (17.09.2024)
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