Undergraduate Course: Immunity to Eukaryotic Parasites (IMMU10005)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Immunology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Parasitic protozoa and helminths have complex life cycles, comprising a number of developmental stages within and also outside the mammalian host. This unit will highlight the differences and the similarities of immune mechanisms that are activated to cope with this diverse group of pathogens ranging from unicellular protozoa to multicelluar metazoan parasites (helminths). Infections by such parasites are frequently recurrent and/or chronic, and many are characterised by highly polarised immune responses. These immune responses can be beneficial or harmful to the host, and we will examine the immune mechanisms that mediate protection and the immune pathways that lead to pathology. Strong emphasis will be placed on the role of cytokines in regulating the balance between anti-parasite immunity and pathogenesis. There will be five two-hour lectures starting with an overview of cytokine regulation, followed by lectures on immune responses to protozoan parasites and metazoan parasites. Lecture topics will include 1) a comparison of immune mechanisms controlling intracellular and extracellular protozoan parasites, 2) a session on the requirement for balanced immunity in the control of infection with pathogenic protozoa 3) the distinct immune pathways activated by gastrointestinal helminths which infect over a quarter of the worlds population and 4) the astounding ability of tissue-dwelling helminths such as filaria and schistosomes to manipulate the mammalian immune response in order to establish long-lived chronic infection. The lecture sessions will be interspersed with five two hour sessions in which student working groups will address and discuss original papers relevant to the previous lecture. The relationship of parasitic disease to other immunological diseases such as allergy and asthma will be discussed during these sessions. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: No |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | | 09:00 - 13:00 |
| First Class |
Week 2, Friday, 09:00 - 13:00, Zone: King's Buildings. Honours Room 1, Ashworth Labs |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Immunity to Eukaryotic Parasites | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
| Basic understanding of the current field of Immunoparasitology. Advanced skills in reading and understanding the primary literature. Development of Scientific problem solving skills. Oral presentation skills. |
Assessment Information
| Exam (Dec) |
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 |
| Keywords | immeuka |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Rick Maizels
Tel: (0131 6)50 5511
Email: R.Maizels@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Claire Fox
Tel: (0131 6)50 5454
Email: claire.fox@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:15 am
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