SIIK19001U Skin Immunology

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc in Immunology and Inflammation - compulsory

Content

Teaching revolves around a series of lectures by specialists in basic and clinical skin immunology, including professors from ISIM or invited lectures. The course covers the cellular composition of the skin both resident cells and cells recruited during inflammation, microbiology in healthy and diseases skin, mechanisms of common inflammatory skin diseases, skin cancers and wound healing. Students take part in journal clubs and case-based teaching for which they read selected examples from the latest skin immunology literature and learn how to present, discuss and analyse complex problems in the field of skin immunology.

The aim of the course that the students acquire a thorough knowledge of skin immunology, which enable them to participate in scientific discussion within the field. Furthermore, to give the students an excellent background needed for starting a career within the field within either academia or industry. 

Learning Outcome

After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:

Knowledge:

  • Describe the structure of the skin
  • Describe barriers of the skin
  • Describe the organization of the innate immune system within the skin
  • Explain the interplay between skin cells and resident immune cells in healthy and inflamed skin
  • Explain the interplay between resident and peripheral immune cells in healthy and inflamed skin
  • Explain the characteristics of different immune mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of selected common inflammatory skin diseases
  • Describe the etiological and pathological mechanisms involved in selected infectious skin diseases
  • Explain the mechanisms involved in the development of different types of skin cancer
  • Discuss hypotheses for the propagation of acute wounds to chronic wounds

 

Skills:

  • Discuss the role of different skin cells and different components within the immune system in healthy and diseased skin
  • Propose relevant  studies aimed at clarifying the immunological mechanisms involved in infectious and inflammatory skin disease
  • Discuss the balance between inflammatory and regulatory immunological mechanisms in healthy and diseased skin
  • Suggest new strategies for treatment of skin diseases  

 

Competencies: 

  • Will be able to critically analyse and discuss experimental and clinical data in the field of skin immunology
  • Will conceptually be able to develop and initiate small research projects within the field of skin immunology
  • Can contribute to interdisciplinary projects involving basic research, clinical research, biomarker and drug development within skin immunology
Literature

Immunology of the skin. Edited by Kenji Kabashima, Springer, latest edition.

Original articles and reviews.

Participated and passed previous course in Basic Immunology is recommended
Lectures and case-based-learning
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 24
  • Class Instruction
  • 12
  • Preparation
  • 168
  • Exam
  • 2
  • Total
  • 206
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
On-site written exam, 2 hours under invigilation
Type of assessment details
The exam consists of a set of issues that draw from course content
Exam registration requirements

None

Aid
Without aids
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Internal examiners
Re-exam

In case of 10 or fewer students registered for re-exam

Type of assessment: Oral examination

Assessment details: 20 minutes examination

Preparation: None

Aids: None

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:

Knowledge:

  • Describe the structure of the skin
  • Describe barriers of the skin
  • Describe the organization of the innate immune system within the skin
  • Explain the interplay between skin cells and resident immune cells in healthy and inflamed skin
  • Explain the interplay between resident and peripheral immune cells in healthy and inflamed skin
  • Explain the characteristics of different immune mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of selected common inflammatory skin diseases
  • Describe the etiological and pathological mechanisms involved in selected infectious skin diseases
  • Explain the mechanisms involved in the development of different types of skin cancer
  • Discuss hypotheses for the propagation of acute wounds to chronic wounds

 

Skills:

  • Discuss the role of different skin cells and different components within the immune system in healthy and diseased skin
  • Propose relevant  studies aimed at clarifying the immunological mechanisms involved in infectious and inflammatory skin disease
  • Discuss the balance between inflammatory and regulatory immunological mechanisms in healthy and diseased skin
  • Suggest new strategies for treatment of skin diseases