BMB 307: Basic Immunology

Syllabus
Introduction to immunology: Innate and adaptive immunity, features of adaptive immune
responses; cells and soluble mediators of immunity - complement, cytokines and
antibodies; antigens, phases of adaptive immune responses - recognition of antigens,
clonal selection and activation of lymphocytes, effector phase of immune responses,
homeostasis; inflammation, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, defenses against extracellular and
intracellular pathogens, vaccination, immunopathology.

Cells of the immune system:

Cells of the innate immune system: Mononuclear phagocytes and polymorphonuclear
granulocytes, morphology and functions of phagocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils
and mast cells, platelets, natural killer cells.
Cells of the adaptive immune system: Antigen presenting cells, lymphocytes,
morphological heterogeneity of lymphocytes, resting blood T and B cells, characteristic
surface markers of lymphocytes, cluster designation (CD), families of cell surface
markers, T-cell antigen receptor complex, B-cell differentiation, lymphoid tissues.
 Syllabus
Immunoglobulins: Distribution of major human immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin classes
and subclasses, physicochemical properties and functions of human immunoglobulin
classes, general properties of immunoglobulins, molecular structure of antibodies - general
feature, variable and constant regions, association between heavy and light chains;
antibody effector functions; structure of immunoglobulin in relation to function - enzymatic
cleavage of human IgG1, structure in relation to antigen binding, genetic basis of antibody
diversity - isotype, allotype, idiotype.

Antigens: Chemical basis of antigenicity, immunogenicity, antigenic determinants, haptens,

antigen-antibody binding, antibody affinity and avidity, antibody specificity and cross-
reactivity; physiological significance of high and low affinity antibodies

The complement system: Complement proteins, activation and regulation of complement

pathways - classical, alternative and lectin pathways; membrane attack complex (MAC),
biological effects of complement

Techniques in antigen-antibody interactions: Precipitation reactions, agglutination

reactions, simple immunodiffusion, double immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis,
counterimmuno-electrophoresis, two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis, complement
fixation, radioimmunoassay (RIA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),
imunofluorescence, agglutination of bacteria, hemagglutination, nephelometry.
 Syllabus

Introduction to immunology: Innate and adaptive

immunity, features of adaptive immune responses; cells
and soluble mediators of immunity - complement,
cytokines and antibodies; antigens, phases of adaptive
immune responses - recognition of antigens, clonal
selection and activation of lymphocytes, effector phase of
immune responses, homeostasis; inflammation,
chemotaxis, phagocytosis, defenses against extracellular
and intracellular pathogens, vaccination,
immunopathology.
 Overview of the Immune System
• Fundamental to survival

• Protects body from external intruders (virus, bacteria,

parasites and even other external agents)

• Comprises powerful defense mechanism

• Can distinguish between self vs non-self

• Act against pathogen but not against beneficial commensal

flora

• Different organism have different types of immune system

 Overview of the Immune System
• Because mammals are warm-blooded and long-lived, their
immune systems have evolved particularly sophisticated
systems for recognizing and destroying pathogens.

Why do warm-blooded, long-lived animals require particularly

complex immune defenses?

Infectious agents such as bacteria can divide rapidly in

warm-blooded creatures. Animals have to remain healthy
during their reproductive years to raise offspring.
Overview of the Immune System

Immune System

Innate Adaptive
(Nonspecific) (Specific)
1o line of defense 2o line of defense
 Overview of the Immune System

Immune
System

Innate Adaptive
(Nonspecific) (Specific)

Cellular Humoral Cell- Humoral

Components Components Mediated (Ab)
 A typical immune response

INNATE IMMUNITY ACQUIRED IMMUNITY

Rapid responses to a Slower responses to
broad range of microbes specific microbes

External defenses Internal defenses

Phagocytic cells
Skin Humoral response
Antimicrobial proteins (antibodies)
Mucous membranes
Inflammatory response
Secretions
Natural killer cells
Invading Cell-mediated response
microbes (cytotoxic
Complement
(pathogens) lymphocytes)
 Innate immunity vs Adaptive Immunity
Innate Immunity Adaptive Immunity
(first line of defense) (second line of defense)

No time lag (Rapid) A lag period (Slow)

Not antigen specific Antigen specific

No memory Development
of memory

Cells: Monocytes Cells: Mainly T

/Macrophages, and B cells
Neutrophils, etc.
The innate immune System

Innate Immune
System

External Internal
defenses defenses
 Innate immune system: External defenses

Anatomical Barriers - Mechanical Factors

• Skin

• Mucociliary escalator

• Flushing action of
saliva, tears, urine
 Innate immune system External defenses
Anatomical Barriers – Chemical factors
Antimicrobial HCl in stomach Lysozyme in tears /saliva
Peptides in sweat
 Innate immune system External defenses

Anatomical Barriers – Biological factors

Normal flora – microbes in many parts of

the body

Normal flora – > 1000 species of

bacteria

Normal flora – competes with pathogens

for nutrients and space
 Innate immune system: Internal defenses
Innate immune system: components of Blood
Complement proteins

Coagulation proteins Extracellular

Cytokines

WBCs
 Innate immune system: Internal defenses
White blood cells (WBCs) Macrophages

B-lymphocytes

T-lymphocytes

Natural killer(NK) cells