Immunology

Imunologia

Curse code:9554204

Renata Catarina Gonçalves Ramalho

Learning outcomes of the curricular unit:

The general aims of Immunology Curricular Unit are to improve student’s knowledge on basic immunology and to contribute to the understanding of the relationship between nutritional status, immune competence and pathology. It also has specific objectives: to improve critical thinking and to encourage research in nutritional immunology.

Skills to be developed:

• To recognize the main cells, organs and tissues of the immune system.
• To distinguish between innate immunity and acquired immunity.
• To understand the humoral and the cellular immune responses.
• To recognize the role of homeostasis in the immune system function and its relation to immunopathology.
• To understand the importance of nutritional status and immunopathology association.
• To be able to recognize the role of inflammatory mediators in the genesis of diseases in which nutrition plays a decisive role.

Syllabus:

1. BASIC IMMUNOLOGY
   Introduction to Immunology.
   Recognition of antigens.
   Maturation, activation and regulation of lymphocytes.
   Effector mechanisms of the immune response.
2. IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
   Hypersensitivities.
   Mechanisms of autoimmunit.
   Primary and secondary immunodeficiencies.
   Tumor immunology.
3. NUTRITIONAL IMMUNOLOGY

Suggested Bibliography:

• Delves PJ, Martin SJ, Burton DR & Roitt IM (2012) Roitt's Essential Immunology, 12th ed., Willey-Blackwell. ISBN: 978-1-4051-9683-3
• Abbas AK & Lichtman AH (2006) Basic Immunology, 2nd ed., Saunders Elsevier. ISBN: 1 4160 2974 5
• Aggrarwal BB & Heber D (2014) Immunonutrition: interactions of diet, genetics, and inflammation, CRC Press. ISBN-13: 978-4665-0386-1