Course Description

Course covers immunologic concepts of cells and humoral products of the immune system, the in-vivo and in-vitro interactions and antigen-antibody reactions. These basic concepts will be correlated to clinical applications as they relate to laboratory testing manifestations of disease, such as autoimmunity, hypersensitivity, transplantation, tumor immunology and immunodeficiency.

Credits/Modes of Instruction

Credits:  3

Participants should anticipate spending approximately 135 hours on the course, or an average of 9-12 hours per week for 15 weeks. The course is web-based. Modes of instruction and course format include online instruction, online discussion, and directed study through journal, textbook, Internet readings, and written examinations. There will be an emphasis on clinical case studies that highlight immunological diseases.

Prerequisites

Bachelor’s degree including previous coursework and/or experience in clinical immunology.

Course Goals and Outcomes:

Goals

The goals of the course are to provide the students with in depth knowledge of the structure and function of the immune system, enhance students understanding of immune response, regulation of the immune response, inflammatory response, autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency diseases, immunity to infections agents, major histocompatibility complex, transplantation, tumor immunology, and immunotherapy, and discuss new developments in the scientific literature.

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Describe the structure and function of the immune system.
Describe cell mediated and humoral immunity.
Discuss the immunological mechanisms and pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases.
Discuss the molecular and cellular events of inflammatory response and response to infectious agents.
Describe the structure and function of the major histocompatibility complex and transplantation immunology.
Describe genetic principles governing tissue transplantation: The law of transplantation.
Discuss immunological factors influencing the incidence of cancer.
Discuss the concept of immunotherapy and its application in oncology and transplantation.
Relate the course content to current developments in research.