BCH 477 Immunochemistry

Course Description:The fundamental aspect of innate and adaptive immunity. Humoral immunity: antibodies: classes and subclasses, structure and function, biosynthesis, reaction with antigen. Complement system. T-lymphocytes and cell mediate immunity. Human HLA antigens and transplation immunity; immunosuppression; hypersensitivity; autoimmunity; vaccination. Disorders; of the immuno deficiency. Immunochemistry techniques.

Course Objective: Main purpose of this course is to gain essential knowledge in the field of immunology. This includes understanding fundamentals, recognize different types of antigens, appreciate the differences between innate and adaptive immune response, understand humoral immunity (antibody structure function relationships, antibody biosynthesis, complement system), understand cell mediated immunity, appreciate immune system’s role in organ transplants, developing tolerance and autoimmunity and immunity against cancer. Also understand the principles and applications of antigen-antibody reactions.

Course Content:
1- Fundamentals of immunology – basic terms, types of immunity, main organs of immunity and cells of immunity. Inflammation and its role in health.
2- Innate immunity: anatomical barriers, cellular and humoral components, phagocytosis – macrophages, NK cells. PAMPs, DAMPs, PRRs (Toll like receptors), stranger vs danger model of immunity.
3- Antigens: characteristics of a ideal antigen for good immune response, type of antigens-T-dependent antigens, T-independent antigens, sequestered antigens, super antigens, antigenic determinants recognized by T and B cells.
4- Humoral immunity: (antibody mediated immunity), structure of antibody, general and effector functions of antibodies, structure-function relationship, classes of antibody.
5- Antigenic determinants of antibodies: isotypes, allotypes, ideotypes. Ideotypic networks. Discovery, differences and applications in vaccine development.
6- Ig biosynthesis: Ig genes-heavy chain genes, light chain genes arrangement. Significance of order of rearrangement of genes in B cell, generation of diversity – germline theory, somatic mutation theory, junctional diversity, N-region insertion, monoclonal antibodies – applications and production by hybridoma technology.
7- Complement system: 3 pathways – main differences, regulation and role in health.
8- Cell mediated immunity: T cells,  antigen presenting cells, T cell maturation, types of T cells, Th, and Tc cell roles, importance of regulatory T cells in controlling immune response, role of macrophages, Tc killing mechanisms.
9- MHC and transplantation immunology : MHC classes – structure and functions, role in antigen presentation, types of antigen presentation, types of grafts, GVHD, polymorphism of MHC-significance.
10- Tolerance and autoimmunity: generation of tolerance – central and peripheral tolerance, role of Treg cells,  factors effecting tolerance – clonal deletion, clonal anergy, receptor editing,  experimental induction of tolerance, autoimmunity- systemic and organ specific.
11- Tumor immunity: immunity against tumors, tumor antigens – tumor specific and tumor associsated antigens, how tumors escape immune system, immunotherapy against cancer-active and passive. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) developments and applications.
12- Tumor immunity: immunity against tumors, tumor antigens – tumor specific and tumor associsated antigens, how tumors escape immune system, immunotherapy against cancer-active and passive. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) developments and applications.
13- Antigen-antibody reactions: concepts of affinity, avidity, cross-reactivity, specificity. Factors effecting Ag-Ab reactions, agglutination tests, precipitation tests, immune-electrophoresis, ELISA, flowcytometry (FACS) principles and applications.

Assessment Tasks for Students: 
- 1st midterm exam                                                        10/7/1442-22/2/2021                                                      (25 Marks)
- 2nd midterm exam                                                       17/8/1442- 30/3/2021                                                       (25 Marks)
- Literature search  report & oral presentation                 Along semester                                                                  (10 marks)
- Final exam                                                                                                                                                              (40 Marks)

 Learning Resources:​

• Immunology – A Short Course. Eli Benjamini and Leskowitz
• Biochemistry    Lehninger
• Roitt’s essential immunology
• Immunobiology by Janeway
• Molecular and cellular immunology by Abul K abbas