Year 1 Immunology

Explain the importance of immunology for human health Summarise the two basic strategies used by the immune system to recognise danger and initiate a response Innate vs adaptive immunity: differentiate between innate and adaptive immune responses, comparing the timescales in which they occur Clonal selection: summarise the concept of clonal selection, and its role in immune responses Soluble mediators: define cytokines and complement and describe their pathways and functions Toll-like recep

Barriers: recall the physical and chemical barriers used by the immune system in host defense Cell types: list the different cell types of the immune system, explain how they may be distinguished, and briefly summarise their functions Lymphoid organs: recall the primary and secondary lymphoid organs, summarise their structure, and differentiate between their functions Lymphocyte recirculation: summarise the re-circulation of lymphocytes, and explain its importance

Immunoglobulin molecular structure: explain with the aid of a simple diagram the outline structure and function of the immunoglobulin molecule, identifying the antigen-binding site (Fab) and Fc portions of the molecule Antigen binding: explain how antibodies bind to antigen, and the consequences of such antigen binding B lymphocyte origin: explain the origin and maturation of B lymphocytes, including the principle of immunoglobulin gene rearrangement B lymphocyte activation: explain the proce

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules: recall the outline structure, cellular distribution and functions of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II molecules Antigen presenting cells (APCs): list examples of antigen presenting cells, explain the mechanisms by which they process and present antigens, and list their locations T lymphocyte subsets: summarise the origins and functions of T lymphocyte subsets T lymphocyte activation: explain the importance of antigen

Summarise the sequence and timing of events during infection Summarise and give examples of the roles in host defense taken by: physical, chemical and mechanical barriers; antigen presenting cells; and immune regulatory mechanisms Define, explain and compare: innate versus adaptive immunity; humoral versus cellular immunity; defense against bacteria, viruses and fungi; and defense at mucosa versus the skin