Resources for Immunology Flipped Course

Leading scientists explain the fundamentals of the inflammatory response, B and T cell development, autoimmunity, and plant immunology. This course is designed as a graduate-level introduction to immunology.

Session 1: Introduction: Which Cells Are the Players?

Starting with a basic review of the immune cells, this session provides a general overview of the immune system and its activation. It focuses on the following concepts:

• Review of the immune cells, innate and adaptive immune systems, antigen presentation, T cell activation via MHC-I and MHC-II molecules.
• Recognition of self- versus non-self, dendritic cells, lymphoid tissues, innate versus adaptive immunity, inflammation, macrophages, Toll-Like Receptors, B cells, T cells and T cell receptors, CD8/CD4 T Cells, and T cell communication with dendritic cells.
• MHC Class I molecules and activation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells.

Session 2: The Inflammatory Response: Activation of the Innate Immune System

This session will help you understand the molecular basis of inflammation. In summary, the body has specialized immune cells (sensor cells) that detect homeostasis disturbances and activate a series of responses that help clear the inflection and restore homeostasis. Important topics include:

• Homeostasis, inflammation, sensors, effector cells, mediators, and resolution.
• Pathology of inflammation and the connection between insulin/glucose homeostasis and the organismal response to viral and bacterial infections.

Session 3: Bridging Innate & Adaptive Immunity

This session provides an overview of regulation of the acquired immune system and the crosstalk that happens between innate and adaptive immunity. The discussion covers:

• Link between innate immunity and adaptive immunity, MHC-I & MHC-II mediated activation, function and maturation of dendritic cells, antigen cross-presentation, activation of T cells by dendritic cells, T cell tolerance, and regulatory T cells (Tregs).
• Immune recognition of self versus non-self, identification and characterization of Toll-Like Receptors, and activation of adaptive immunity.

Session 4: Molecular View of Adaptive Immunity

This session provides a molecular overview of T cell receptor (TCR) activation and signaling. It shows how TCRs bind to their corresponding peptide-MHC complexes to form the immunological synapse. Detailed study focuses on:

• T cell receptor (TCR) activation and signaling cascade and components of the immunological synapse.
• Role of CD45 in the activation of the immunological synapse, cancer-immunotherapy, and the function of actin.