Spring 2021 - HSCI 727 G100

Immune System II: Immune Responses in Health and Disease (3)

Class Number: 5301

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 11 – Apr 16, 2021: Wed, Fri, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    MBB/HSCI 426 or permission of the instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The immunologic response to bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, immunological diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency, hypersensitivity reactions (including asthma and allergy) and transplantation-rejection reactions. Immunotherapeutics and vaccine development. Students with credit for MBB 427, HSCI 427 or MBB 727 may not complete HSCI 727 for credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Description

Many diseases are caused by dysregulation of the immune system.  This course will examine the immunological mechanisms underlying human immunodeficiencies, infection, asthma and allergy, autoimmunity, and organ transplantation.  Immune responses to cancer and cancer immunotherapy will also be discussed.  The course will emphasize recent scientific literature and encourage all students to undertake an independent investigation of recent advances related to the field of immunology.

Please note that this course will require a live, virtual discussion session every Friday from 14:30-16:00.

Lecture Topics

  1. Review of innate and adaptive immunity
  2. Evasion and subversion of host defenses by pathogens
  3. Mechanism of action of vaccines
  4. Primary immunodeficiencies
  5. Acquired immunodeficiency
  6. Allergy and hypersensitivity
  7. Physiological induction and maintenance of tolerance
  8. Autoimmunity
  9. Transplantation
  10. Tumor immunology and immunotherapy

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Students will gain a specialized knowledge of the molecular and cellular interactions that comprise the immune response and how dysfunction in these interactions can lead to disease.  A strong emphasis will be placed on reading and discussion of recent research publications and review articles taken from the primary literature.  Individual research and presentation skills will be enhanced through a semester-long independent project in which students independently investigate a specific immunology topic in greater detail.

By the end of this course, students should be able to explain the following:

  • Essential cellular and non-cellular components of the immune system, including interactions and mechanisms by which they function to maintain health.
  • How the body responds to a pathogen infection or cancer cell, and how a pathogen or cancer cell can evolve or adapt to evade host immunity.
  • Mechanisms of immune regulation, and how immune dysregulation can result in a range of human diseases, including allergy and autoimmunity.
  • How modern laboratory-based methods contribute to the study of immunology and associated diseases, including flow cytometry and “omics” based platforms.
  • Strategies that are currently being tested to alter the immune system to improve human health (e.g.: vaccines, therapeutics, biologics).

Students should also demonstrate competence in identifying and interpreting primary research literature, and acquire skills to present novel scientific concepts to a knowledgeable audience of their peers.

Grading

  • Eight written paper summaries 30%
  • One written research report 30%
  • One in-class research presentation 20%
  • Attendance and participation 20%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Original research articles and review articles

RECOMMENDED READING:

The Immune System, 4th Ed., Peter Parham, 2015. Garland Science.
ISBN: 978-0-8153-4466-7

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2021

Teaching at SFU in spring 2021 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).