ID:
501708
Durata (ore):
52
CFU:
6
SSD:
PATOLOGIA GENERALE
Anno:
2024
Dati Generali
Periodo di attività
Secondo Semestre (03/03/2025 - 13/06/2025)
Syllabus
Obiettivi Formativi
The aim of the course of Immunology is to introduce students to the complexity of the immune response by defining the pillars of Immunology, how these are organized and cooperate and why they are the result of evolution over hundreds of millions of years. Examples from recent literature are provided to highlight how humanity can harness immunity to empower molecular medicine and device biotechnological applications. The Biocomputing Laboratory is designed to provide students with access and usage of computational biology tools for the investigation and design within the realm of the proteins of the immune system. At the end of the course, students should have acquired the overall knowledge on how the immune system is organized and received several intellectual stimuli to be inspired by the creativity and proficiency of modern scientists and science.
Prerequisiti
Appraisal of the topics covered in the course of Immunology requires a basic knowledge in immunology and a general acquaintance on how the immune system is organized and works. Although the general concepts underlining the organization and functioning of the immune system are discussed and presented during lecture time, a basic level of knowledge is expected or should be reinforced by autonomous study. The intellectual drive necessary to be exposed to and appreciate molecular biology tools and biotechnological applications in the realm of immunology is expected from the students.
Metodi didattici
Lectures, self-assessment, multimedia tools, discussion of recent publications related to lecture topics, hands-on in silico laboratory, refinement of critical evaluation of scientific literature and presentation skills. Frequent teacher-students interactions to foster discussion and comprehension in class.
Verifica Apprendimento
Complete attendance to the Biocomputing Laboratory accounts to a maximum of 10 points. The grade is determined by the attendance, interaction and, most importantly, the final presentation. Grades are communicated a few days after presentations take place.
The Paper Presentation (maximum 5 points) is an oral presentation with critical analysis of one paper published in a peer reviewed international journal. Scientific reports are provided by the Course Lead and relate to the course topics. The list of papers is provided to the students in advance and the selection of papers is operated interactively the following week during a frontal lecture. Depending on the number of students taking the assignment (set in advance), one, two or three lecture sessions can be dedicated to the presentations. Each student has 20 min for the presentation, followed by a short discussion (max 5 min) involving the class and the course lead, at the end of each presentation. Immediate feedback will be given to students. Grades are communicated a few days after all presentations take place.
Therefore, students that opt for the Biocomputing Laboratory (BL) and/or the Paper Presentation (PP) can acquire up to 5 (PP), 10 (BL) or 15 (PP & BL) points that are going to be summed to the final exam points to form the final grade.
The final exam is in written form and is divided into open questions (maximum 5 points each). The exam is divided as follows: 6 questions (120 min) for the students that did not attend the complete Biocomputing Laboratory and did not perform the Paper Presentation; 5 questions (100 min) for the students that did not attend the complete Biocomputing Laboratory but performed the Paper Presentation; 4 questions (80 min) for the students that attended the Biocomputing Laboratory but did not perform the Paper Presentation; 3 questions (60 min) for the students that attended the complete Biocomputing Laboratory and performed the Paper Presentation.
The Paper Presentation (maximum 5 points) is an oral presentation with critical analysis of one paper published in a peer reviewed international journal. Scientific reports are provided by the Course Lead and relate to the course topics. The list of papers is provided to the students in advance and the selection of papers is operated interactively the following week during a frontal lecture. Depending on the number of students taking the assignment (set in advance), one, two or three lecture sessions can be dedicated to the presentations. Each student has 20 min for the presentation, followed by a short discussion (max 5 min) involving the class and the course lead, at the end of each presentation. Immediate feedback will be given to students. Grades are communicated a few days after all presentations take place.
Therefore, students that opt for the Biocomputing Laboratory (BL) and/or the Paper Presentation (PP) can acquire up to 5 (PP), 10 (BL) or 15 (PP & BL) points that are going to be summed to the final exam points to form the final grade.
The final exam is in written form and is divided into open questions (maximum 5 points each). The exam is divided as follows: 6 questions (120 min) for the students that did not attend the complete Biocomputing Laboratory and did not perform the Paper Presentation; 5 questions (100 min) for the students that did not attend the complete Biocomputing Laboratory but performed the Paper Presentation; 4 questions (80 min) for the students that attended the Biocomputing Laboratory but did not perform the Paper Presentation; 3 questions (60 min) for the students that attended the complete Biocomputing Laboratory and performed the Paper Presentation.
Testi
Lecture material, research articles discussed in class and any other material pertaining to the course will be made available to the students in Kiro.
Suggested books for autonomous study:
Punt J, Stranford SA, Jones PP & Owen JA. Kuby Immunology (8th Ed). 2019 New York: Macmillan Learning
Murphy KM, Weaver C & Berg LJ. Janeway's Immunobiology (10th Ed). 2022 WW Norton & Company
Suggested books for autonomous study:
Punt J, Stranford SA, Jones PP & Owen JA. Kuby Immunology (8th Ed). 2019 New York: Macmillan Learning
Murphy KM, Weaver C & Berg LJ. Janeway's Immunobiology (10th Ed). 2022 WW Norton & Company
Contenuti
Introduction to the Immunology Course Structure and Concepts in Immunology.
Innate Immunity. PAMPs, DAMPs and the Molecular Beauty of Toll Like Receptors.
Links Between Innate and Adaptive Immunity. The IgM Case (natural antibodies), Complement and Cell Bridges.
B and T Cell Development.
Adaptive Immunity. Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies (extreme examples of adaptive immunity and source for passive immunotherapy drugs and vaccine development).
The Cytokine Network: The CCL5:CCR5 Axis, Key in Infection and Inflammation.
Aberrant Immune Reactions. Allergy, Transplantation, Graft versus host disease & Autoimmune Diseases.
Immunodeficiencies. The case of the “general” disruption of immunity caused by HIV-1 infection and the “rare” preservation of immunity brought about by broadly neutralizing antibodies (an extreme example of adaptive immunity and a source for passive immunotherapy drugs and vaccine development).
The IgE system from allergy to cancer. Features of IgE system, its potency and regulation, and discussion altogether in class on why mammals developed this antibody isotype in the course of evolution. The huge potential of turning a powerful foe into a good friend (IgE against cancer).
Immunotherapy of Allergy. Allergy is being tackled by different immunotherapy approaches, some of which represent the history of our understanding of allergic manifestations.
CAR-T and other CARs. The powerful Chimeric Antigen Receptor tool in cancer and beyond will be analyzed in class with special emphasis on the protein design and engineering.
Antibody Engineering. Using Molecular Biology to Harness the Immune System.
Guest lectures (two remote from USA and Japan and one in person). Topics to be defined.
Student Oral Paper Presentations.
Scientific reports are selected by the students from a pool provided by the course lead (one paper per student).
Biocomputing Laboratory.
The Biocomputing Laboratory is an activity in which students are exposed to hands-on Computer Lab sessions covering topics related to in silico biomedical matters such as: phylogenetic trees, amino acid sequence analysis, protein structure analysis and prediction, rational protein modification and design, protein-protein interaction and drug-protein interaction. Biocomputing sessions are conducted in a mixed mode: lecturer instruction (how to perform operations); students hands-on; knowledge dissemination by the lecturer (handling and interpretation of data, problem understanding and solving and interactive Q & A sessions); performance of remote (web-based databases and software servers) and local (downloaded and installed free computer programs) tasks. Students will acquire essential skills through hands-on laboratory, instrumental for the development of the basic knowledge necessary to interrogate in silico systems (including artificial intelligence agents). The module is divided into six sessions of which the first five take the students progressively deeper into protein design with examples from the Faculty research and immunology-related matters. The last session consists in the presentation of essays by the students divided into groups. In the presentations students will have to tackle a biocomputing aspect of their choice yet related to immunology and demonstrate that they familiarized with the bioinformatic tools experienced during the Biocomputing Laboratory module.
Innate Immunity. PAMPs, DAMPs and the Molecular Beauty of Toll Like Receptors.
Links Between Innate and Adaptive Immunity. The IgM Case (natural antibodies), Complement and Cell Bridges.
B and T Cell Development.
Adaptive Immunity. Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies (extreme examples of adaptive immunity and source for passive immunotherapy drugs and vaccine development).
The Cytokine Network: The CCL5:CCR5 Axis, Key in Infection and Inflammation.
Aberrant Immune Reactions. Allergy, Transplantation, Graft versus host disease & Autoimmune Diseases.
Immunodeficiencies. The case of the “general” disruption of immunity caused by HIV-1 infection and the “rare” preservation of immunity brought about by broadly neutralizing antibodies (an extreme example of adaptive immunity and a source for passive immunotherapy drugs and vaccine development).
The IgE system from allergy to cancer. Features of IgE system, its potency and regulation, and discussion altogether in class on why mammals developed this antibody isotype in the course of evolution. The huge potential of turning a powerful foe into a good friend (IgE against cancer).
Immunotherapy of Allergy. Allergy is being tackled by different immunotherapy approaches, some of which represent the history of our understanding of allergic manifestations.
CAR-T and other CARs. The powerful Chimeric Antigen Receptor tool in cancer and beyond will be analyzed in class with special emphasis on the protein design and engineering.
Antibody Engineering. Using Molecular Biology to Harness the Immune System.
Guest lectures (two remote from USA and Japan and one in person). Topics to be defined.
Student Oral Paper Presentations.
Scientific reports are selected by the students from a pool provided by the course lead (one paper per student).
Biocomputing Laboratory.
The Biocomputing Laboratory is an activity in which students are exposed to hands-on Computer Lab sessions covering topics related to in silico biomedical matters such as: phylogenetic trees, amino acid sequence analysis, protein structure analysis and prediction, rational protein modification and design, protein-protein interaction and drug-protein interaction. Biocomputing sessions are conducted in a mixed mode: lecturer instruction (how to perform operations); students hands-on; knowledge dissemination by the lecturer (handling and interpretation of data, problem understanding and solving and interactive Q & A sessions); performance of remote (web-based databases and software servers) and local (downloaded and installed free computer programs) tasks. Students will acquire essential skills through hands-on laboratory, instrumental for the development of the basic knowledge necessary to interrogate in silico systems (including artificial intelligence agents). The module is divided into six sessions of which the first five take the students progressively deeper into protein design with examples from the Faculty research and immunology-related matters. The last session consists in the presentation of essays by the students divided into groups. In the presentations students will have to tackle a biocomputing aspect of their choice yet related to immunology and demonstrate that they familiarized with the bioinformatic tools experienced during the Biocomputing Laboratory module.
Lingua Insegnamento
INGLESE
Altre informazioni
Contact to request an appointment:
luca.vangelista@unipv.it
luca.vangelista@unipv.it
Corsi
Corsi
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS
Laurea Magistrale
2 anni
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Persone
Persone
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