Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2024 - HSCI 727 G100

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

Class Number: 4443

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 8 – Apr 12, 2024: Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 8 – Apr 12, 2024: 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:

The immune system is a complex and delicately balanced system of many sub-systems, and its action often has both good and deleterious impacts.  The theme of this course will be to deconstruct the simplified one-dimensional view of the immune system as a force of protection for the good of the host, and to explore its dual roles in maintaining health but also in causing or being involved in disease.  Furthermore, pathogens interact in complex ways with the immune system, often subverting it for their own gain or re-directing it to cause future health problems in the host. 

Lecture Topics
This course aims to explore the complexities and molecular/cellular mechanisms that underpin the balance between the dual roles of the immune system in health and disease.  We will do so in the context of three modules:

  1. Generation of receptor diversity: necessary for immunity but also a driver of cancer
  2. Anti-viral factors that restrict virus replication, and their subversion by viruses and roles in cancer
  3. The links between immunodeficiencies, autoimmunity and cancers

Grading

  • 2 mid-term exams (35% each) 70%
  • Individual presentation 25%
  • Written summary and presentation 5%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Original research articles and review articles

The Immune System, 5th Ed., Peter Parham, 2021.  Norton.
ISBN: 978-0-393-53334-7

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

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 website 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