The students understand the structure and function of the components of the immune system and mechanisms of the development of immunocompetent cells, as well as foreign / self-differentiation and the regulation of specific immune reactions. They can understand the pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases and phenomena related to the immunological principles and understand the importance of immunological diagnostics for health care. They are able to establish a connection between immunological analysis methods and basic reactions of the immune system and understand the mechanisms of active and passive immunization on the basis of immunological reactions.

Modules of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd semester

• Gain a deeper understanding of the principles of immunology including humoral immunity
• Complement system, APC and MHC
• Antigen processing and presentation
• T cells (T cell marker, T cell receptor construction, and CD3 complex)
• B cells (B cell markers)
• Negative and positive selection of immunocompetent cells in the thymus
• Details of antibody structure, antibody as antigen
• Principles of immunization
• Production of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, isotype switch
• Interplay of innate and adaptive immune system
• Regulation of specific immune reactions
• Immunopathology - inflammation and tissue damage, immune-mediated clinical phenomena: allergy, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, infection control, pre- and neonatal immunology, organ transplantation

Murphy K. M. & Weaver C. (2018), Janeway Immunologie, Spektrum;
Schmetzer O. (2015), Immunologie - Basics, Elsevier;
Staines N. et al. (1999), Immunologisches Grundwissen, Spektrum;
Pezzutto A. et al. (2006)., Taschenatlas der Immunologie, Thieme;
Luttmann W. et al. (2014), Der Experimentator: Immunologie, Spektrum;
Books, journals and websites accordingly the current state of knowledge in the respective fields.

Lectures

Module examination