The course will provide the student with basic knowledge on the human immune system and on the mechanisms of the immune response in both physiological and pathological conditions; moreover information on blood groups and how to prepare and use the blood components.
Course Prerequisites
An adequate knowledge of cellular biology is needed.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, for which Power Point slides are used. They will be available to students on the KIRO platform.
Assessment Methods
Oral examination. Oral exams focus on the topics considered during the lessons. The test focuses on at least three distinct topics. The ability to communicate and the use of appropriate scientific language will also be taken into account in the evaluation.
Texts
Del Gobbo V. Immunologia per le lauree sanitarie. Piccin, 2007 Coico R, Sunshine G. Immunologia. Un percorso breve. Edi.Ermes, 2018 Abbas AK, Lichtman AH, Pillai S. Immunologia cellulare e molecolare. Ed. Edra, 2018 Quinley ED. Immunohematology. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2010
Contents
Natural immunity: phagocytosis, complement, NK cells, the inflammatory response. Acquired immunity: humoral and cell-mediated. Antigens. Antibodies and their structure. Antigen-antibody interaction. Lymphoid organs: lymph nodes, spleen, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. T and B lymphocytes and their receptors. The major histocompatibility complex. Cytokines. Transplantation immunology and cancer. Immunity to microorganisms. Hypersensitivity reactions. Autoimmunity and immunodeficiencies. Production of monoclonal antibodies.
Blood groups. The ABO system. The Rh system. Other blood groups. Hemolytic disease of the newborn. Donation of blood and preparation of blood components. Blood components and plasma products: characteristics, indications, preparation and storage. Stem cells from peripheral blood. Complications of transfusion therapy. Hemapheresis. Compatibility tests. Direct and indirect Coombs test.
