Spring 2025 - HSCI 427 D100
Immune Responses in Health and Disease (3)
Class Number: 3506
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
BurnabyJan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Mani Larijani
mlarijan@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
MBB 326 or HSCI 326, with a minimum grade of C, or permission of the instructor.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Defects in the immunologic responses to bacterial, viral and parasitic infections. The mechanisms of action of vaccines. The causes of immune-mediated diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivity reactions (including asthma and allergy) and organ transplant rejection. The reaction of the immune system to cancer and immunotherapy for cancer. Students with credit for MBB 427 may not take this course for credit.
COURSE DETAILS:
The immune system is a complex and delicately balanced system of many sub-systems, and its action has both good (maintaining health) and harmful (causing or contributing to disease) impacts. The central philosophy of this course is to break apart the 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 and causing or being involved in disease. The course explores how the immune system can cause and propagate cancer, how pathogens can subvert the immune system for their gain, and how it has co-evolved in a constant arms race with pathogens.
The material will start with the level of an introductory immunology textbook but will move into advanced topics covering historical and recent/current primary literature. The breadth of topics includes molecular and cellular immunology, structural biology and biochemical aspects of immune system molecules, and evolutionary immunology in divergent non-human species.
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:
- Generation of receptor diversity: necessary for immunity but also a driver of cancer
- Anti-viral factors that restrict virus replication, and their subversion by viruses and roles in cancer
- The links between immunodeficiencies, autoimmunity and cancers
Grading
- 3 exams (22% each) 66%
- Group presentation (team-based) 20%
- Class participation and attendance 14%
REQUIREMENTS:
MBB / HSC 326
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Original research articles and review articles
Janeway's Immunology, 10th Ed., Murphy, Weaver, and Berg, W.W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 978-0393884876
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.
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
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.