This course describes the immune systems of vertebrates that enable them to recognize and respond specifically to foreign substances. The molecular and cellular basis of immunity will be emphasized.The roles of antigens, antibodies and immunocompetent cells in pathogenesis and immunity to infectious diseases will be covered. Specific topics include antigens and antigenic determinants, antigen-antibody reactions, antibody structure and formation, anatomy and physiology of immunocompetent tissues, cellular immune responses, the complement system and other immune modulators, phagocytosis, monoclonal antibody formation, immunogenetics and the histocompatibility antigens, diseases of the immune system and immunopathology, tolerance, inflammation, allergies, and hypersensitivity reactions.
The applications of immunology in the design of vaccines, immunotherapeutics, immunodiagnostics, and organ transplantation will be discussed, as well as the uses of immunology in biological research.