This course will enable the students to learn about structural and functional features of components of immune system. The major emphasis of this course will be on development of immune system and mechanisms by which our body elicits immune response. This will be imperative for students as it will help them to predict about nature of immune response that develops against bacterial, viral or parasitic infection, and prove it by designing new experiments.
History of Immunology
Innate and acquired immunity
Cells of the Immune system: Hematopoiesis and differentiation, B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes, Monocytes, Macrophages, Dendritic cells, NK cells, Eosinophils, Neutrophils, Basophils, and Mast Cells.
Organization, structure, and function of lymphoid organs
Nature and biology of antigens and super antigens
Immunoglobulin: structure, types and their function
HLA typing and Major histocompatibility complex
T-Cell Receptors: Generation and diversity
Complement system
Antigen processing and presentation
Generation of Humoral and Cell mediated immune responses: B- and T- cell maturation (MHC restriction, Immunological tolerance), activation and differentiation, T-cell regulation
Cytokines and their role in immune regulation
Cell-mediated cytotoxicity: Mechanism of T cell and NK cell mediated lysis, Antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity, and macrophage mediated cytotoxicity
Precipitation, Immunodiffusion, Immunoelectrophoresis, Agglutination, RIA, Immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, ELISA, ELISPOT Assay, lymphoproliferation assay, mixed lymphocyte reaction.
Hypersensitivity, Autoimmunity, Vaccine development and immunization programme, Transplantation, Immunity against infectious agents (intracellular parasites, helminthes and viruses), Tumor immunology, AIDS and other immune-deficiencies, Monoclonal antibodies: Hybridoma Technology, Phage display, Humanized antibody.
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