SBIK19002U Current and Experimental Immunology

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Biotechnology - semi compulsory
MSc Programme in Molecular Biomedicine - semi compulsory

 

Content

The course will focus on emerging knowledge in modern immunology, with special emphasis on the current research areas of interest to the biotech industry. 

You will learn about the basic principles of the immune system and how its regulation can be used to develop novel therapeutic options and how the regulation can be influenced by environmental factors, such as microorganisms and diet. 

The practical course will focus on modern immunological techniques, which apart from basic techniques, will include cultivation and purification of leucocytes from blood and lymph organs, flow cytometry and molecular signaltransduction techniques.

Learning Outcome

The objective is to provide the student with an updated and applied knowledge about the immune system and its interaction with the environment. 

The course we will focus on diseases caused by lack immune regulation. This will include Allergy, Autoimmunity and Cancer and the current/future treatment strategies. 

The practical course will cover a variety of currently used molecular cellular immunological-techniques, which can also be used in non-immunological research. The course will also include critical reading and discussion of original research articles.

Knowledge:
- State of the art knowledge about current immune based treatment of     cancer, autoimmunity and allergy.

- Insight into novel immune regulatory mechanisms such as   immunometabolism and microbiota.

- A basic understanding of how diet can influence the immune system.

- Insight in the molecular signal regulation of immunity, including cytokines and intracellular signal mechanisms.

- Perform immunological experiments, including critical evaluation of the results. 

Skills:
Use immunologically founded reasoning on various scientific problems concerning health and related issues. 
Use various immunologically and molecular techniques to solve questions raised in immunology and related fields. 

Competences:
Have acquired knowledge to discuss immunological literature, immunological problems, techniques and an updated knowledge of molecular immunology - both basic and more specialized areas. 
Have a technical foundation to suggest experimental analysis of some immunological questions.

Literature

Janeway's Immunobiology, 9th edition.

Novel research articles

Manuals for practical course in Immunology.

SBIK19001U Basic Immunology, or similar introductory immunology course
Lectures, problem solving, journal club and practical laboratory course (nine days incl. report writing)
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 12
  • Preparation
  • 110
  • Theory exercises
  • 16
  • Practical exercises
  • 68
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)

The primary feedback will be given during the theoretical exercises and journal club. There will also be thorough interaction and feedback during the practical exercises.

Feedback on the reports will be given written or orally.

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 20 min
Type of assessment details
Oral presentation and discussion of immunological material
Exam registration requirements

Approved practical course and at least 80% attendance in the practical course.

Submission of 4 out of 4 reports. Even if you did not participate in some parts of the practical exercise, it will still be possible to hand in the report.

Aid
Without aids
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period

Several internal examiners

Re-exam

If the requirement of approved practical course and at least 80% attendance in the practical part of the course is not fulfilled, the student  must take the course again next year

Criteria for exam assesment

See learning outcome