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SL22138: Immunity and immunotherapy

[Page last updated: 03 June 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Life Sciences
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CWES 20%, EXOB 80%
Assessment Detail:
  • Essay (CWES 20%)
  • Open book examination (EXOB 80%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: After successfully completing this unit, students will be able to:
* Describe the innate, adaptive and inflammatory host defence mechanisms against infectious agents
* List the key features required by micro-organisms to cause human disease
* Explain the role of excessive stimulation of host defence mechanisms in themselves causing human disease;
* Justify the use of pharmacology of agents targeted at the exogenous infection or endogenous host defence response,
* Explain the uses and limitations of antibodies in the laboratory and in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
* Apply their knowledge of host defence mechanisms to interpret clinical case studies.


Synopsis: Explore the pathogenic mechanisms of infectious disease, the human host response to infection and the pharmacology of anti-infective agents. Develop an understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with the acute inflammatory response. Explore the pathology of chronic inflammatory diseases and investigate the pharmacology of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents.

Content: The innate and adaptive immune system - antibodies, T and B lymphocytes, antigen presenting cells and the MHC, effector functions,
* Mechanisms by which micro-organisms cause infectious disease.
* Pharmacology of anti-infective compounds.
* Mechanisms of tolerance and autoimmunity, acute and chronic inflammation,
* Pharmacology of anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic agents and potential novel therapeutic approaches.
* Use of antibodies as laboratory, diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
* Problem based learning applied to relevant clinical case studies.

Course availability:

SL22138 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Chemistry
  • USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) with professional placement (Year 2)
  • USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology and Pharmacology) (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology and Pharmacology) with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology and Pharmacology) with professional placement (Year 2)
  • USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry and Pharmacology) (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry and Pharmacology) with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry and Pharmacology) with professional placement (Year 2)
  • USSC-AFM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) with professional placement (Year 2)
  • USSC-AFM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology and Pharmacology) (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology and Pharmacology) with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology and Pharmacology) with professional placement (Year 2)
  • USSC-AFM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry and Pharmacology) (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry and Pharmacology) with Study year abroad (Year 2)
  • USSC-AKM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry and Pharmacology) with professional placement (Year 2)
Department of Life Sciences
  • USSL-AFB13 : BSc(Hons) Pharmacology (Year 2)
  • USSL-AKB13 : BSc(Hons) Pharmacology with professional placement (Year 2)
  • USSL-AKM13 : MPharmacol(Hons) Pharmacology with professional placement (Year 2)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.