Course content

This course aims to provide an understanding of the components (organs, cells and molecules) of the vertebrate immune system and their mood of action. The lectures will focus both on mammalian species and on bony fish. In the general part, the course will particularly discuss on how the immune system protects the body from infectious microorganisms like virus, bacteria, fungi and parasites. The student will learn how immune responses, including both innate and adaptive responses, are initiated and terminated, and how the immune system "remembers" a pathogenic intruder such that it can respond stronger at subsequent infections (the basis for vaccination). In the fish immunology part, an overview of the immune system in fish, with emphasis on aquaculture species, is provided.

Prerequisites

BIO-2601 General microbiology, MBI-1001 Cell and molecular biology or BIO-1601 Introduction to microbiology, BIO-2601 General microbiology, MBI-1002 Cell- and molecular biology

Bachelor`s degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification, with a major in biology of minimum 80 ECTS. An average grade of equivalent to C or better in the Norwegian grading system is required.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge: The Candidate

knows the key differences between innate and adaptive immunity
knows the principal organization of lymphoid organs of mammals and fish
knows about the most important immunological cell types and their effect or mechanisms
which function various cytokines and the complement system has
knows the essential immune molecules / receptors - B and T cell receptors and MHC Class I and II
understand the mechanisms that provide the B and T cells with the great repertoire of molecule detection
have knowledge about the principles for clonal selection of antigen-specific lymphocytes
know the main differences in the defense against bacteria and viruses
is able to understand the immunological principles behind vaccines

Skills: The Candidate can

evaluate the effects of different prophylactic treatments including vaccines and vaccination strategies
evaluate the impact of different immunological parameters, i.e. antibody responses, cellular responses and immune gene profiling by qPCR

General knowledge: The Candidate