Medicine and Surgery

General Immunology • General properties of the immune response: humoral immunity and cellular immunity; primary and secondary response. • Ontogeny of the immune system. Hemopoiesis. • Antigens: factors determining immunogenicity; concepts of hapten, carrier, and antigenic determinant; molecular bases of antigenicity. • The lymphatic system: morphological and functional organization; primary and secondary lymphoid organs; circulation, migration, and distribution of lymphocytes. • Cells of the immune system: T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, innate limphoid cells and cells with accessory functions (origin and differentiation; surface markers; differentiation antigens, interaction molecules, receptors, etc.); other cells involved in immune and inflammatory processes (NK cells, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, mast cells). • The major histocompatibility complex (MHC): organization of class I and II genes and molecular structure of their products. • Antigen receptors of T and B lymphocytes: gene organization and molecular structure of gene products. • Mechanisms that determine diversity. • Immunoglobulins (Ig): molecular structure, isotypes, allotypes, idiotypes. • Complement: genetics and molecular structure of complement components; activation mechanisms: classical pathway, lectin pathway, and alternative pathway; biological functions and evaluation of the complement system; hereditary deficiencies of components and natural inhibitors. • Antigen-antibody reaction: reactions with haptens, with macromolecular antigens. The complement system: genetics and molecular structure of the complementary components; activation mechanisms: classical pathway, lectin pathway, and alternative pathway; biological functions and evaluation of the complement system; inherited deficiencies of components and natural inhibitors. • The antigen-antibody reaction: reactions with haptens, macromolecular and particulate antigens; primary and secondary phenomena; affinity, avidity, specificity, and valence of antigens and antibodies. • Induction of the immune response: antigen presentation and MHC restriction; cellular interactions and molecular events; activation mechanisms and signal transduction. • Mechanisms of immune response control: help and suppression; idiotypic network, etc. • Growth factors and soluble mediators of immune responses: interleukins, interferons, TNF, chemokines, etc. • Effector mechanisms of the immune response: specific and non-specific cytotoxic cells (biology of Helper T lymphocytes (Th4), CD8 Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), Th17 and regulatory T lymphocytes (Tr), NK cells, macrophages, cytokine-activated cytotoxicity, etc.). • Immune tolerance, non-specific immunosuppression. • Tumor immunology: tumor antigen systems; specific and non-specific response mechanisms; mechanisms of immune evasion ("escape"); principles of immunotherapy. • Immunity and infections: defense mechanisms against infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, protozoa, etc.); mucosal immunity; vaccines and principles of seroprophylaxis and serotherapy. • Monoclonal antibodies: principles of methodology; applications in research and clinical practice. Immunopathology • Immediate hypersensitivity reactions (types I, II, and III) and delayed hypersensitivity (type IV). Autoimmunity: etiopathogenetic mechanisms; systemic and organ-specific diseases. • Transplant immunology: transplant genetics; mechanisms of rejection; graft-versus-host reaction. • Diseases from congenital and acquired immune deficiencies. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Lymphoproliferative diseases. • Hyperimmunoglobulinemias. • HLA-disease associations. • General principles of immunopharmacology and immunotherapy. Immunohematology • Genetic, immunological, and biochemical aspects of red blood cell group systems. • Specific systems of leukocytes and platelets. • Immunological aspects of blood transfusion.

IMMUNOLOGY, Ermes, 1st Edition. Edited by Umberto Dianziani and Carlo Emilio Michele Pucillo CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY, Abul K. Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman, Shiv Pillai. Edra-Masson, 10th Edition IMMUNOBIOLOGY, Janeway – Murphy. Edited by Fabrizio Mainiero and Massimo Locati. 9th Edition, Piccin, 2020 IMMUNOLOGY, J. Kuby - Kindt - Goldsby - Osborne. UTET 2007 IMMUNOLOGY, Ivan Roitt, Jonathan Brostoff, David Male. Elsevier, 7th Edition, 2007 The Immune System, Peter Parham. Translated by S. Formisano. EDIses 2011 I

Cells and tissues of the immune system. Innate immunity. Antigens and antibodies. Antigen recognition, TCR-BCR. The major histocompatibility complex, processing and presentation to T lymphocytes Cytokines. Hypersensitivity reactions. Autoimmunity. Transplants and transplant rejection. Immunoassays in the clinical laboratory.

The student must have acquired the preliminary knowledge, a good study methodology and adequate self-assessment skills.

Suggested textbook: Janeway's Immunobiology Piccin Molecular and cellular immunology. di Abul K. Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman, Shiv Pillai Editore: Edra Masson PPT files and literature provided by the teacher

Lectures in the classroom using visual means.

mandatory attendance

The oral exam is held with the other teaching teachers, the final grade is expressed in thirtieths.

Lectures in the classroom using visual means.

General aspects of the immune system: cellular and molecular participants to innate and adaptive immune responses. Cytokines and their receptors. Innate immunity: cellular and molecular components, cell differentiation, activation, and effector functions. The molecular basis of antigenicity, antigen receptors and the generation of diversity. The Major Histocompatibility Complex and antigen presentation. Maturation, activation and effector functions of B and T lymphocytes. Biology of T cell subsets: helper (Th), cytotoxic (CTL), and regulatory (T reg). Antibodies: molecular structure, effector functions, Fc receptors, the antigen/antibody reaction. The complement cascade: activation pathways and regulation. Natural Killer (NK) cells. Hematopoiesis, lymphoid organs, leukocyte migration and trafficking. Mucosal immunology. Development and regulation of immune responses. Immune responses against different classes of pathogens: viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, and mechanisms of pathogen evasion. Principles of vaccination. Immune responses against tumors and principles of immunotherapy. Type I hypersensitivity reactions (allergies). Type II hypersensitivity reactions and elements of immunohematology. Type III and type IV (delayed-type) hypersensitivity reactions. Mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance; autoimmune diseases. Transplantation immunology. Primary and acquired immunodeficiencies. The most common immunological techniques.

Students need to possess the knowledge of microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and cell biology, physiology, and anatomy.

- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 10th Edition (2023, Elsevier, also e-book) Abul K. Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman, & Shiv Pillai - Kuby Immunology, 8 Edition (2018, W.H. Freeman and Company) J. Owen, J. Punt, S. Stransford - Janeway’s Immunobiology, 9th Edition (2016, Garland Science, Taylor Francis Group, also e-book) Kenneth M. Murphy

classroom-taught lessons and practical (interactive) activities (small groups).

Mandatory

oral examination. The exam will ascertain student's ability to describe the main cellular and molecular mechanisms at the basis of protective and pathological immune responses

- Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 10th Edition (2023, Elsevier, also e-book) Abul K. Abbas, Andrew H. Lichtman, & Shiv Pillai - Kuby Immunology, 8 Edition (2018, W.H. Freeman and Company) J. Owen, J. Punt, S. Stransford - Janeway’s Immunobiology, 9th Edition (2016, Garland Science, Taylor Francis Group, also e-book) Kenneth M. Murphy

classroom-taught lessons and practical (interactive) activities (small groups).