Immunology

The theoretical classes are aimed at the detailed presentation of the program contents. Use an expository-active methodology, appealing the direct intervention of the students, favouring openly an abundant iconography instead of the detriment of a theoretical-descriptive teaching 
A theoretical-practical aspect of the teaching of Immunology will be approached focusing on the analysis of cases involving quantification, phenotypic and functional characterization of the different cells of the immune system and methods of dosage of cytokines and its analysis and discussion.

The student should acquire the knowledge of:
• Innate and acquired immunity.
• Cells of the immune system and soluble mediators.
• Lymphopoiesis. Primary and secondary lymphoid organs.
• Phases of the immune response.
• Antigen processing and presentation.
• Chemokines and cell migration.
• Effectors mechanisms of the immune response.
• Diseases of the Immune system.
• Laboratory evaluation of the immune system.
The student should acquire the skills to:
• Identify changes in cellular or humoral immunological parameters in a normal or abnormal context.
The student should acquire the competences of:
• Develop, retain and expand their knowledge in the Immunology field.
• Know the cells and the soluble mediators involved during an immune response in a normal or pathological
condition.
• Know the laboratorial methodologies more often used to evaluate the immune system and to analyze the obtained
results in normal or pathological conditions.

An overview of the immune system: Innate and acquired immunity; cells and soluble mediators.Different phases of an immune response.
Lymphoid system: Lymphopoiesis; Primary and secondary lymphoid organs; Cell migration.
Antigens, antibodies and cell receptors.
Immunogenetics: Major histocompatibility complex; inflammatory genes.
Antigen recognition by the immune system. Antigen processing and presentation.
Cell cooperation during a cellular or humoral immune response. Cytokines and chemokines.
Effectors mechanisms of an immune response: immunocomplex, complement activation, cellular and antibody
dependent cell cytotoxicity.
Immune response regulation and tolerance induction.
Immune response to virus, bacteria and tumor.
Physiopathology of autoimmune diseases, primary immunodeficiency´s and of allergy.
Basic principles of flow cytometry and files analysis.
Other immunological laboratory tests.

NAO