Fall 2017 - MBB 726 G100

The Immune System I: Basis of Innate and Adaptive Immunity (4)

Class Number: 3761

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Mon, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Fri, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 9, 2017
    Sat, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    MBB 331 or permission of the instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The basic organization of the immune system, including structure, function and genetics of antibodies, T-cell receptors, innate immune receptors, and the complement system. Innate, antibody and cellular immune responses and their control, and development of the cells involved in these responses. Students with credit for MBB or HSCI 426, MBB 826 or HSCI 726 may not complete MBB 726 for credit.

COURSE DETAILS:


The course will consist of lectures, based almost entirely on the readings in the required textbook, weekly in-class activiites, an in-class 20-min presentation of a primary paper from the primary immunology literature by each grad student, and accompanying 3-4 page summary of it, as well as attendence and participation in some of the undergrad tutorials (those in which students present papers from the primary literature).

Should the class decide, there will be 4 in-class, non-comprehensive quizzes, and no final examination (otherwise the last quiz will be taken during exam week).

Further details and a schedule of lectures, readings, presentations and in-class activities will be provided in a syllabus that will be uploaded to the course website.


Lectures Topic Chapters
 1-2  Properties and Overview of Immune Responses  1
 3-4  Innate Immunity: The First Lines of Defense  2
 5-6  The Induced Responses of Innate Immunity  3
 7-8  Antigen Recognition by B-cell and T-cell Receptors    4
 9-10  The Generation of Lymphocyte Antigen Receptors  5
 11-12  Antigen Presentation to T Lymphocytes  6
 13-14  Signaling through Immune System Receptors  7
 15-16  The Development and Survival of Lymphocytes I  8
 17-18  The Development and Survival of Lymphocytes II  8
 19-20  T-cell Mediated Immunity  9   
 21-22  The Humoral Immune Response  10   
 23-24  Dynamics of Adaptive Immunity  11   
 25-26  The Mucosal Immune System  12

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

This 4-credit course will be a lot of work, but you will learn a lot of very cool immunology. My intention is for you to develop a firm foundation in the basics of the immune system and how it functions, which will prepare you for advanced immunology courses (e.g., Immune System II (MBB/HSCI 427/727) and Vaccine Immunology (HSCI 477/727)). My goal is for you to become a more independent learner, to become fluent in concepts in the current immunology literature, and to learn to effectively research topics in immunology and communicate the results of that research. In short, I hope to provide you with the basic knowledge and skills to think critically in immunology, and to function successfully in a graduate immunology program (or, really, in any graduate program in cell/molecular biology).

Grading

  • Weekly in-class activities (15 pts) 5%
  • Tutorial participation (10 pts) 3.3%
  • 20-min presentation and summary (65 pts) 21.7%
  • Four 40-min quizzes (210 pts) 70%

REQUIREMENTS:

The textbook is required for this course, as is attendance to the in-class activities and tutorials in which student presentations will be held.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

A. K. Abbas et alCellular and Molecular Immunology. 9th Edition. 2017. Elsevier Inc. http://www.elsevier.ca/ISBN/9780323479783/Cellular-and-Molecular-Immunology
ISBN: 9780323479783

RECOMMENDED READING:

Those interested in medicine & clinical sciences might like the companion text:

R. Geha & L. Notarangelo.  Case Studies in Immunology. 7th Ed. 2016.  Garland Publishing
http://www.garlandscience.com/product/isbn/9780815345121
ISBN: 9780815345121

A good molecular biology reference is Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell (5th or 6th Ed), 2014 or 2007, respectively, Garland Science, New York. 

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:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/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

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS