Immunology

Code: BIO12417L

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

3. Saúde de qualidade - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

4. Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

9. Indústria, inovação e infraestruturas - Construir infraestrutura resiliente, promover a industrialização inclusiva e sustentável, e fomentar a inovação.

Learning Goals

1. Understanding of the functional homeostasis in animals through the immunological system. Life support.
2. Study of the organs, cells and molecules responsible for the immune responses.
3. Understanding of the immune mechanisms for the discrimination of self and non-self.
4. Laboratory exercises for the study of the immune responses of animals.

1. Theoretical programme
a. Introduction to the immune system. General aspects.
b. Components of the immune system
c. Antigens and antibodies
d. Gene organisation and expression of immunoglobulins
e. Immune responses
f. Effector mechanisms of the immune response
g. The immune system in the health and disease
h. Monoclonal antibodies
i. Experimental immunology
2. Laboratory programme
a. Introduction. Programming of the course
b. Experimental immunisation
c. Purification of immunoglobulins
d. Test to the students natural immunity
e. Immunoprecipitation techniques
f. Observation of blood cells
g. ELISA
h. Autonomous laboratory work: goat immunisation and its characterisation

Teaching Methods

The teaching methods are aligned with an active, student-centered pedagogical model:
Lectures: interactive oral exposition supported by audiovisual resources and discussion of current topics;
Theoretical?practical classes: analysis and discussion of scientific articles, clinical cases, films, and other pedagogical materials; group presentations on specific topics (e.g., vaccines), followed by discussion moderated by the professor.
Laboratory classes: Execution of basic experimental immunology procedures.

Assessment

Evaluation is continuous and includes theoretical, practical, and laboratory components:
Theoretical evaluation (written tests): 60% (minimum grade: 9.5/20);
Theoretical?practical evaluation (presentation and discussion of projects): 20% (minimum grade: 9.5/20);
Practical evaluation (laboratory notebook): 20% (minimum grade: 9.5/20);
Minimum attendance: 75% in TP and laboratory sessions.
Students who do not achieve a passing grade through continuous evaluation may undertake a final individual examination, covering all programmatic contents of the curricular unit.