Pre-requisites: Consent of instructor.
Expanded description and explanation: The focus of this course is on the molecular events that are critical to the development of the immune response. The objective of this course is to provide the student with an up-to-date, detailed, and comprehensive overview of the molecular and cellular elements that are critical to development of the immune response. The student will obtain a broader appreciation of the molecular complexities of the immune response. The teaching format will involve primarily lectures. Specific topics to be covered include: Basic Concepts of the Immune System, Basic Principles of Innate & Adaptive Immunity, Antigens & Antibodies, Cellular Interactions in the Immune System, Antibody Structure & Function, Immunoglobulin Genes, Ig Gene Rearrangement & Generation of Ab Diversity, Introduction to Immunogenetics & the MHC, MHC Protein Structure, Antigen Processing & Presentation, MHC Genes, TCR Complex & TCR Gene Rearrangement, Antigen Receptor Signaling, and Other Lymphocyte Signals.
This course represents the first in a three-course sequence (GMS 6031, GMS 6032, GMS 6033) dealing with the biological and biochemical aspects of immunology, where the emphasis in this course is on the molecular events involved in the development of an immune response. The second course focuses on effector mechanisms of the immune response, and the third course focuses on the role of the immune system in health and disease.
Faculty: Dr. Wayne McCormack will be the Director of this course. He will be assisted in the presentation of material to the students by various Graduate Faculty of the College Medicine.