Medicine and Surgery

General objectives of the course: To understand the molecular and cellular basis of the immune response. To understand the fundamental mechanisms responsible for protection and for tissue damage, and to comprehend their specific role in the resistance against pathogens, the immune surveillance against tumors, and immune-mediated diseases. To be capable of describing the main events and mechanisms that define the development of protective and pathological immune responses. Specific Objectives of the course: Knowledge and understanding: passing the exam guarantees the understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of the immune response and the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms responsible for protection and for tissue damage. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: passing the exam guarantees the ability to comprehend the specific role of the mechanisms responsible for protection and for tissue damage in the resistance against pathogens, the immune surveillance against tumors, and immune-mediated diseases. Autonomy of judgment: passing the exam implies the ability to critically judge and describe the main events and mechanisms that define the development of protective and pathological immune responses. Communication skills: passing the exam implies the ability to effectively use the communication tools of publications and scientific communications. Learning skills: passing the exam implies the transversal learning capacity common to the logic of scientific investigation in the biomedical field. Course Subjects: General aspects of the immune system: cellular and molecular participants to innate and adaptive immune responses. Cytokines and their receptors. Innate immunity: cellular and molecular components, cell differentiation, activation, effector functions, and their regulation. The molecular basis of antigenicity, antigen receptors and the generation of diversity. The Major Histocompatibility Complex and antigen presentation. Maturation, activation and effector functions of B and T lymphocytes. Biology of T cell subsets: helper (Th), cytotoxic (CTL), and regulatory (T reg). Antibodies: molecular structure, effector functions, Fc receptors, the antigen/antibody reaction. The complement cascade: activation pathways and regulation. Natural Killer (NK) cells. Hematopoiesis, lymphoid organs, leukocyte migration and trafficking. Mucosal immunology. Development and regulation of immune responses. Immune responses against different classes of pathogens: viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, and mechanisms of pathogen evasion. Principles of vaccination. Immune responses against tumors and principles of immunotherapy. Type I hypersensitivity reactions (allergies). Type II hypersensitivity reactions and elements of immunohematology. Type III and type IV (delayed-type) hypersensitivity reactions. Mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance; autoimmune diseases. Transplantation immunology. Primary and acquired immunodeficiencies. The most common immunological techniques.

Competence in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and cell biology, physiology, and anatomy is required.

1. IMMUNOLOGIA CELLULARE E MOLECOLARE 10° edizione (anche e-book) A.K. Abbas, A.H. Lichtman. Ed. EDRA (2022) 2. Janeway’s IMMUNOBIOLOGIA 9° edizione K. Murphy, P. Travers, M. Walport, Ed. Piccin (2019) ADDITONAL READING: Casi Studio di Immunologia Clinica - Un compendio clinico. R. Geha, L. Notarangelo, Ed. Piccin (2019)

The course will mainly consist of lectures, with some exercises. The lessons aim to deepen the pivotal points of immunology and immunopathology. The exposition of scientific problems, of study techniques in biomedical research contributes to the autonomy of judgment, to the development of communication skills, to develop problem solving skills, and to develop learning skills.

Compulsory attendance

Oral examination

Casi Studio di Immunologia Clinica - Un compendio clinico. R. Geha, L. Notarangelo, Ed. Piccin (2019)

The course will mainly consist of lectures, with some exercises. The lessons aim to deepen the pivotal points of immunology and immunopathology. The exposition of scientific problems, of study techniques in biomedical research contributes to the autonomy of judgment, to the development of communication skills, to develop problem solving skills, and to develop learning skills.

General aspects of the immune system: innate and adaptive immune responses. The molecular basis of antigenicity. Hemopoiesis; cells and organs of the immune system; regional immunity. Mechansims of leukocyte migration and trafficking. Antigen receptors and the generation of diversity. The Major Histocompatibility Complex and antigen presentation. Maturation, activation and effector functions of T lymphocytes. Maturation, activation and effector functions of B lymphocytes. Major families of innate immunity receptors. Phagocytes: differentiation, activation, and effector functions. Natural Killer cells: differentiation, activation, and effector functions. The complement cascade: activation pathways and regulation. Inflammatory reaction: development and regulation. Antibodies: molecular structure, effector functions, Fc receptors, the antigen/antibody reaction. Development and regulation of immune responses. Immune responses against different classes of pathogens: viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, and the mechanisms of evasion. Principles of vaccination. Immune responses against tumors and principles of immunotherapy. Primary and acquired immunodeficiencies. Mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance; autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. Type I hypersensitivity: mechanisms and clinically relevant examples. Type II hypersensitivity: mechanisms and clinically relevant examples. Type III hypersensitivity: mechanisms and clinically relevant examples. Type IV hypersensitivity: mechanisms and clinically relevant examples. Transplantation immunology. Principles of immunohematology. The most common immunological techniques. Main therapeutical strategies for immune system modulation.

Requirements: competence in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and cell biology, physiology, and anatomy is required.

Lessons must be attended in the class

Oral Examination

The course wil mainly consist of lectures, with some exercises. The lessons aim to deepen the pivotal points of immunology and immunopathology. The exposition of scientific problems, of study techniques in biomedical research contributes to the autonomy of judgment, to the development of communication skills, to develop problem solving skils, and ot develop learning skils.