Course description
This is a full-time course, which consists of 2 parts. In part 1 we discuss basic immunological concepts underlying innate and adaptive immune responses. In part 2 we revisit and discuss these concepts in the context of disease. More specifically, in part 1 we will discuss development and function of key cell types mediating immune responses, pathogen recognition by cells of the innate immune system, generation of antigen receptor repertoires, principles of self/non-self discrimination and immunological tolerance, and mechanisms of humoral and cellular immune responses. In part 2 this knowledge will be applied to more clinical contexts such as defense against infection, autoimmune diseases, allergic diseases, tumors, or transplantation.
Part 1 will take four full days and one half-day. The second part will follow after a teaching-free period of two weeks and will take 3 full days and one half-day. The purpose of dividing the course into two parts, and having some teaching free time in the two course weeks is that the participants should have time to thoroughly study the literature from part 1 (fundamental immunological mechanisms) before learning more applied immunology in part 2, and to complete the group assignment. Considering the substantial literature requirement plus work on the assignments, we estimate that an extra 2 days of self-studying/group work is needed during the teaching free period.
Prerequisites and Selection
Prerequisite courses, or equivalent
While no prior knowledge in immunology is required, basic immunological concepts will be discussed in depth and detail. Basic understanding of cell and molecular biology is therefore necessary (as an example - you should roughly remember what ‘translation’, ‘G1 phase’, ‘splicing’, or‘endocytosis’ all are off the top of your head (molecular details not necessary)).
Selection
The student will: 1) learn basic concepts in immunology, 2) get an overview of the various immune cell types and their function and development, and 3) meet the immunology faculty of Karolinska Institutet.
This course is a good starting point for more advanced/thematically-focused courses in immunology. While no prior knowledge in immunology is required, basic immunological concepts will be discussed in depth and detail. Therefore, the course is also valuable for students that wish to broaden and deepen their general immunological knowledge.
Course director
Course Organisers:
Olivia Thomas, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Solna
Centre for Molecular Medicine
https://www.cmm.ki.se/research-groups-teams/hans-gronlund-group/olivia-thomas-team/
Olivia.Thomas@ki.se
Carmen Gerlach, Department of Medicine, Solna
https://ki.se/en/meds/research-group-carmen-gerlachLinks to an external site.
https://gerlachlab.com/Links to an external site.
carmen.gerlach@ki.se
Takuya Sekine, Department of Medicine, Huddinge
https://ki.se/en/people/takuya-sekine
takuya.sekine@ki.se
Course syllabus
K8F6035
Department
Department of Clinical Neuroscience
Doctoral programme
Allergy, immunology and inflammation (Aii)
Type of course
**Other course
Keywords
Immunology, immunologi