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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2011/2012
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Biological Sciences : Immunology

Undergraduate Course: Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (IMMU10002)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Biological Sciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) Credits10
Home subject areaImmunology Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionAutoimmune and allergic diseases are of increasing prevalence and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in western populations. They result from the central dilemma that faces the immune system - how to provide effective defence against invading pathogens whilst avoiding the unwanted activation of self-reactive T and B cells. This is achieved by two major mechanisms - central tolerance, involving deletion of self-reactive lymphocytes and peripheral tolerance, involving self-unresponsiveness (anergy) and the activity of regulatory cells. The failure of these mechanisms can result in a response to self (autoimmunity) or to innocuous non-self antigens such as food (allergy).

In this course we shall develop an understanding of the pathways leading to these diseases. Firstly we shall study the mechanisms of tolerance in more detail and investigate how autoreactive T cells can avoid tolerance. We shall then discuss how these cells can be initially triggered by self or cross-reactive non-self antigens and the pathways that propagate the established disease process. Finally we shall assess the current approaches being developed to treat these diseases by re-imposing tolerance.

We shall draw on various fundamental aspects of immunology - the role of MHC, antigen processing and presentation, the role of costimulation in the immune response, cytokines, etc. Therefore the core immunology course will be required for this course. The course will involve a mixture of lectures and problem-based learning with an emphasis on discussion of the controversial aspects of the subject.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Immunology 3 (BILG09007) AND Medical Microbiology 3 (BIME09002) OR Molecular Cell Biology 3 (BILG09001) AND Immunobiology (IMMU10001)
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  No Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 09:00 - 13:00
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 09:00 - 13:00
First Class Week 1, Monday, 09:30 - 10:50, Zone: King's Buildings. 9:30 - 12:30 in Honours Room 1, Ashworth Labs.
Additional information Jan-Feb
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course the student will be expected to have an understanding of the topic within the context of general immune mechanisms.
Assessment Information
In course assessment: In course assessment by class test (closed-book assessment) held in the final session of the course.
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
Keywordsautoimm
Contacts
Course organiserProf Stephen Anderton
Tel: (0131 6)50 5499
Email: steve.anderton@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Claire Fox
Tel: (0131 6)50 5454
Email: claire.fox@ed.ac.uk
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