Innate and acquired immunity - Applications in parasitology
Code
5573019
Academic unit
Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical
Credits
2,5 ECTS
Teacher in charge
Gabriela Santos-Gomes
Weekly hours
T: 6 TP: 7 S: 2 OT: 8
Teaching language
Portuguese and English
Objectives
At the end of the course the students should be able to: 1. Distinguish cell populations of the immune system and the main mechanisms of activation of innate immunity 2. Understand the specificity of the acquired immune response and recognize their relative importance in the context of the immune system 3. Identify the type of immune response (humoral and cellular) triggered by the parasitized host 4. Recognize the strategies developed by the parasite to evade the action of the host immune system 5. Understand the importance of immune homeostasis 6. Understand the process of development of cell memory and recognize its importance in the design of parasite vaccines Additionally, students should develop the following skills: 7. Acquire laboratory methods of work 8. Select the most appropriate analytical methodologies (lab or in silico) to the proposed problems 9. Transmit and discuss scientific information or facts in a clear and accurate way And the following specific skills: 10. Execute serologic and immunoenzymatic assays 11. Understand the basic principles of cellular and molecular immune methodologies 12. Identify the universe of application of the different methodologies
Prerequisites
Not applied
Subject matter
1. Lectures content 1.1 Innate immune responses of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts infected by parasites. System of Complement. Polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), monocytes / macrophages and dendritic cells. Chemotaxis. Toll-like and NOD cell sensors. Oxidative stress and degranulation. Apoptosis. Antigen presenting cells. Major histocompatibility complex. 1.2. Acquired immune response of the infected host. B cells and immunoglobulin classes. Antigen-antibody binding. Lymphocyteactivation. T helper and cytotoxic (CD8 +)lymphocytes (CD4+). Co-stimulatory molecules. Cytokines and chemokines. Th1, Th2 and Th17. 1.3. Immune homeostasis. Regulation of effector immune response. Differentiation and activation of regulatory T cells (CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+). Th3 response. Central and effector immune memory. Vaccines. 2. Practical classes 2.1. Execution of serologic techniques (immunofluorescence, immunoblot, contraimunoelectroforese). 2.2. Methodologies of cell biology. Flow cytometry. 2.3. Methodologies used to evaluate oxidative stress and degranulation by PMN Seminars The seminars will be conducted by students under the following subjects: 3.1. Parasite / host interaction 3.2. Susceptibility / resistance to parasitic infection 3.3. Use of animal models in the study of immune response to parasites 3.4. Development of parasite vaccines
Bibliography
1. Immunology. 2006. 7ª edição. Roitt I., Brostoff J., Male D. (Ed.), Mosby, London, 544 pg. 2. The cytokine handbook. 2008. 3ª edição. Thomson A. Academic Press, London, 1017 pg 3. Advanced immunology. 1987. 2ª edição. Male D, Champion B, Cooke A, Owen M., Grower, London 4. Review papers 5. Experimental papers
Teaching method
Lectures Laboratory practical classes Seminars
Evaluation method
The evaluation of learning outcomes will take into account: 1. The participation and the quality of student interventions during classes 2. The performance in the preparation of seminar presentation 3. The level of success on final examination Rating equal to or greater than 10 on a scale of 0-20 provides the approval of the course.