BMS308 Immunology (8)

This subject covers the structure and function of the mammalian immune system, dynamics of the immune response in fighting infections, and immune system dysfunction. It also focuses on immunological assays and their application in the laboratory. This subject has a compulsory 4 day residential school.

Availability

* Offering has a residential school. Please view following information for further details.

Session 1 (30)
On Campus
Wagga Wagga Campus
Online *
Wagga Wagga Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: BMS308. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Biomedical Sciences

Assumed Knowledge

Assumed knowledge for BMS308 Immunology includes:

  • proteins:  their function and hierarchy of structure,  carbohydrates: their occurrence and structural roles in vertebrates;
  • nucleic acids: structure and function including recombination, gene expression and vertebrate inheritance pattern as covered in BMS241 or other molecular biology subject;
  • the host  pathogen interactions as covered in Introductory Microbiology (BMS115 or MCR101)

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to describe the structure and properties of the tissues, cells and molecules involved in immune responses and apply this knowledge to the overall function of the immune system
  • be able to explain the mechanisms of immune responses and of anti-microbial defences of the mammalian immune system in order to discuss immunological responses in a range of situations and compare the outcome of immune responses in normal and pathological situations
  • be able to evaluate the importance of various components of the immune system and how they interact with each other during an immune response
  • be able to evaluate the range of immunological techniques capable of being employed in modern biomedical science
  • be able to perform a range of immunological techniques and report, interpret and analyse the data generated
  • be able to explain the pathology of the immune system with particular reference to immunodeficiency diseases, hypersensitivity reactions, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases and discuss the suitability/importance of various assays used in the diagnosis of these conditions

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • Introduction to immunology, including anatomy of the immune system
  • Cells involved in the immune system: lymphocytes, macrophages, mast cells and other accessory and effector cells; their ontogeny, occurrence and the generation of T and B cell antigen recognition diversity
  • Innate and adaptive immunity
  • The complement system
  • Cellular interaction and T cell and B cell activation in adaptive immunity
  • Cytokines in the ontogeny of immune cells and in the induction and expression phases of immunity
  • Immunoprecipitation, including immunoelectrophoresis
  • Immunoassays, with special reference to ELISA, particle agglutination, haemagglutination, neutralisation and complement-fixation techniques
  • Immunofluorescence techniques
  • Clinical Immunology
  • The pathology of the immune system
  • Immunodeficiency diseases
  • Hypersensitivities
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Isolation, identification and enumeration of cells of the immune system in the evaluation of immunodeficiency diseases.

Residential School

This subject contains a 4 day Compulsory Residential School.

Students to obtain a practical understanding of immunology and to learn to perform key laboratory techniques used to evaluate diseases of the immune system and perform important immunological assays

Special Resources

This subject has a compulsory 4 day residential school
 

Contact

For further information about courses and subjects outlined in the CSU handbook please contact:

Current students

Future students

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: May 2019. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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