Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - HSCI 326 D100

Introduction to the Immune System (3)

Class Number: 6713

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Mon, Wed, Fri, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 9, 2020
    Wed, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Mani Larijani
    mlarijan@sfu.ca
    Office Hours: Fridays 3:30 - 4:30 pm by zoom

  • Prerequisites:

    MBB 231.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduction to the structure and function of the immune system and how this system protects against microbial infections. Innate immune responses, including the function of innate immune cells, receptors and complement. Adaptive immune responses, including the organization of lymphoid organs, development and function of T and B cells, and antibodies. Students with credit for HSCI 426, MBB 426 or MBB 326 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Lecture Topics:

  1. Introductory concepts of immunity and immune response
  2. Introduction to cells, components and tissues of the immune system
  3. Innate immune responses – Immediate responses to infections
  4. Innate immune responses – Induced responses to infections
  5. Antibody structure and development
  6. B cell development and function
  7. T cell receptor structure and development
  8. Antigen presentation to T cells
  9. T cell development
  10. T cell activation and clearance of pathogens
  11. B cell activation and effector functions of antibodies
  12. Immune memory and vaccination
  13. Immunodeficiencies
  14. Immunity and cancer

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Lectures are by zoom (synchronous on Mo, We, Fr 2:30 PM – 3:20 PM) Lectures, tutorials and office hours will be delivered online via SFU Zoom. Links to recorded lectures, tutorials and office hours will be posted on Canvas.

Tutorials: By zoom (Wed 3:30 PM, Thurs 2:30 and 3.30 PM, Fri 1:30)

All course materials will be posted on Canvas (https://canvas.sfu.ca/). Log in with your SFU email account ID and password, then select MBB326.

Teaching Assistant:

Faezeh Borzooee

Ph.D. candidate, MBB, SFU Faezeh_borzooee@sfu.ca



Teaching Schedule

  1. Course introduction 9
  2. Introduction to the concept of immunity: Antigens + Immunogens + memory 11
  3. Introduction to the concept of immunity: Antigens + Immunogens + memory 14
  4. Introduction to innate and adaptive immunity and cells of immune system (Ch. 1, 2, 3) Sep 16
  5. Cells and organs of the immune system (Ch. 1, 2, 3) Sep 18
  6. Review session Sept. 23
  7. Exam #1 Sept. 25 (Covers lectures 2-5, worth 20 %)
  8. Antibody structure and function (Ch. 4) 28
  9. Antibody structure and function (Ch. 4) 30
  10. Antibody diversity and B cell development (Ch. 4, 6,9) 2
  11. Antibody diversity and B cell development (Ch. 4, 6,9) 5
  12. Antibody mediated and B cell mediated immunity (Ch. 9) 7
  13. Antibody mediated and B cell mediated immunity (Ch. 4,6,9) 9
  14. Review session Oct. 14
  15. Mid-term exam Oct. 16 (cumulative, worth 25%)
  16. T cell immunity and function (Ch. 5, 7, 8) 19
  17. T cell immunity and function (Ch. 5,7,8) 21
  18. T cell immunity and function (Ch. 5, 7, 8) 23
  19. Natural killer (Ch. 3, 12) 26
  20. Complement system 28
  21. Review session Nov. 4th
  22. Exam #3 Nov. 6 (Covers lectures 16-20, worth 20 %)
  23. Memory and Vaccination (Ch. 11) 9
  24. Memory and Vaccination (Ch. 11) 13
  25. Immunodeficiencies (Ch. 13) 16
  26. Immunodeficiencies (Ch. 13) 18
  27. Immunodeficiencies (Ch. 13) 20
  28. Immunodeficiencies (Ch. 13) 23
  29. Cancers and the immune system (ch.17) 25
  30. Cancers and the immune system (ch.17) 27

Final Exam DATE TBA (cumulative but with a little more emphasis on lectures 23-30, worth 35%)

Question and discussions: Questions may be asked during or after the lecture or at the tutorials. Questions can also be emailed to the instructor and/or TA.

Grading

  • Exam 1 (covers lectures 2-5) 20%
  • Exam 2: Midterm Exam 25%
  • Exam 3 (covers lectures 16 - 20) 20%
  • Final Exam 35%

NOTES:

Exam format and policy:

Exams will be given via Canvas. Exams will contain multiple choice, true/false, short 1-2 sentence and short paragraph answers. Students will see one question at a time and will not be able to return to a question once they have answered it. Exams may be proctored online. If you miss an exam, you must contact the instructor within 24 hours of the exam start time with an explanation. The instructor may require further documentation. If your absence is deemed to be justifiable the remaining exams will be weighted more heavily. The limit is 1 missed exam, after which a grade of zero will be assigned for any further missed exams.

Letter Grading Scheme:

A+ 90 and >

A 85.0 - 89.9

A- 80.0 - 84.9

B+ 75.0 - 79.9

B 70.0 - 74.9

B- 65.0 - 69.9

C+ 60.0 - 64.9

C 57.0 - 59.9

C- 53.0 - 56.9

D 50.0 - 52.9

F < 50.0

REQUIREMENTS:

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 her or his 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

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

The primary learning materials of this course are the lecture slides. The slides may contain information from several different introductory immunology textbooks and form primary published literature outside textbooks, or the instructor’s own teaching notes and pictures. All material in the lecture slides are testable.

The reference book for this course is: The Immune System, 4th Ed., Peter Parham, 2015. Garland Science. ISBN: 978-0-8153-4466-7

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 FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 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).