This course is broadly divided into 6 parts: Part 1-Introduction/evolution of the immune system (2 lectures) (A/Prof. Chris Hall)
- Covers some historic landmark discoveries that helped establish immunology as an independent field of research before describing the evolutionary origins of innate and adaptive immunity.
Part 2-Architecture of the immune system (2 lectures) (A/Prof. Chris Hall)
- Describes the architecture of the integrated biological systems that make up the immune system, from its cellular components to its organs.
Part 3-The innate immune response (3 lectures) (A/Prof. Chris Hall)
- Covers the innate arm of the immune system, from complement and phagocytosis to pattern recognition and the acute inflammatory response.
Part 4-The adaptive immune response (9 lectures) (Prof. John Fraser; A/Prof. Chris Hall; A/Prof. Nikki Moreland)
- Concerns the cellular and molecular events underlying the adaptive immune response, from humoral immunity and the diversity of antigen receptors to antigen processing, T cell activation and peripheral tolerance mechanisms.
Part 5-The immune system in health and disease (11 lectures) (Prof. Larry Chamley; Prof. Rod Dunbar, Prof. Thomas Proft; Dr Fiona Radcliff; A/Prof. Nikki Moreland)
- Describes the role of the immune system in health and disease, including immunity to bacterial and viral infections, vaccines, immunodeficiency, allergies and hypersensitivity, autoimmunity and tumour immunology.
Part 6-Emerging areas in immunology (3 lectures) (A/Prof. Chris Hall, Dr Fiona Radcliff)
- Introduces some contemporary topics in immunology including the emerging connection between the historically distinct fields of metabolism and immunology, a memory function for innate immune cells and the influence of the gut microbiome on the immune system.