1

 

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

This module aims to provide :

1. an overview of the components of the immune system and their 

functions.

2. an understanding of the basis for the innate and acquired immune responses.

3. an understanding of the role of the immune system in health and disease.

4. an appreciation of the basis for the diagnosis, control and treatment of 

immune mediated diseases.

THEMES

Some of the subthemes should be considered in conjunction with the themes

covered in other modules. These subthemes are shown in italics.

Defence of the body:

1. What are the roles of innate and acquired immunity in the defence of the body?

2. How does antigen initiate the immune response?

3. How is the immune system orchestrated and integrated?

Disorders of the Immune System

4. What are the mechanisms of tissue damage by hypersensitivity reactions?

5. What are autoimmune diseases?

6. What are immunodeficiencies?

7. How does the body handle transplants?

8. How do tumours evade the immune system?

9. How do microbes stimulate the immune system?

10.What drugs will affect the immune system?

IMMUNOLOGY

 

  2

 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, the student will be able:

(A) DEFENCE OF THE BODY

THEME 1 : What are the roles of innate and acquired immunity in the defence

of the body?

1.1 to identify the physical, chemical and cellular barriers in innate immunity

and discuss the consequences when they are breached.

1.2 to compare and contrast passive and active immunity and discuss the role

each plays.1.3 to distinguish between cellular and humoral mediated immunity, and

describe the constituent cellular components, their subsets, and the

immunoglobulins and cytokines secreted by each of these type of cells.

THEME 2 : How does antigen initiate the immune response?

2.1 to define the term “antigen”, and explain the concepts of “immunogenecity”

and “reactivity”.

2.2 to describe how different antigens are processed and presented to T and Bcells.

2.3 to recognise the factors influencing immunogenecity.

2.4 to define an epitope and the basis of cross reactivity of antigens.

2.5 to appreciate the value of vaccines and to discuss the routes of 

administration and the role of adjuvants.

THEME 3 : How is the immune system orchestrated and integrated?

3.1 to appreciate the central role of T cells and describe how T cells influence

the function of B cells, NK cells, macrophages and other T cells.

3.2 to list the different types of antibodies and describe their properties andfunctions.

3.3 to describe the specificity and affinity of antigen-antibody binding.3.4 to explain how the complement system is activated and to describe the

functions of complement in cell killing, cell recruitment and opsonisation.

3.5 to identify the domains of the immunoglobulin heavy and light chains and

appreciate the functions of the constant domain of the heavy chain

3.6 to appreciate the generation of diversity.

3.7 to appreciate the concepts of immune memory and tolerance.

IM/def /L1–L2,

L4, L7, L14

P1 

IM/def/ L3

IM/def/L4 -

L9, T2

 

  3

 

(B) DISORDERS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM 

THEME 4 : What are the mechanisms of tissue damage by hypersensitivity

reactions?

4.1 to define types I, II, III, and IV hypersensitivity reactions and to explain the

 basis for each.

4.2 to list the types of tests used for the diagnosis of these reactions.

4.3 to discuss the principles of treatment of each of these reactions.

THEME 5 : What are autoimmune diseases?

5.1 to define autoimmunity.5.2 to distinguish between autoimmunity and auto-immune diseases.

5.3 to appreciate the mechanisms underlying common autoimmune

diseases.

5.4 to appreciate the principles of the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

THEME 6 : What are immunodeficiencies?

6.1 to define, compare and contrast primary and secondary immunodeficiencies.

6.2 to list the main types of immunodeficiencies and explain the primarydefects.

6.3 to list the types of infections associated with different types of 

immunodeficiencies.

6.4 to list the tests used for the diagnosis of these diseases.

6.5 to appreciate the principles of the treatment of these diseases.

THEME 7 : How does the body handle transplants?

7.1 to explain the immune basis of graft rejection.

7.2 to list the types of clinical transplants.

7.3 to list the types of graft rejection and to explain the immunological basis for 

each.7.4 to discuss how the risk of graft rejection can be minimised.

7.5 to discuss the special features of certain transplants like graft versus hostreaction and cornea transplant.

7.6 to discuss the principles of treatment of graft rejection and the potential

complications of commonly used drugs.

IM/dis/L6,

L11, L19P4 

IM/dis/L10,L11, L19 ,

P4, T1 

IM/dis/ L12,L19,P4

IM/dis/L13L19 

 

  4

 

THEME 8 : How do tumours evade the immune system? 

This topic will be covered under the oncology module.

THEME 9 : How do microbes stimulate the immune system?

9.1 to discuss the important defence mechanisms against different types of 

microbes.

9.2 to discuss the different microbial escape mechanisms against the immune

system.

9.3 to explain the principles by which passive and active immunization areapplied in the prevention of infection.

THEME 10 : What drugs will affect the immune system?

10.1 to list common drugs that are (1) immunosuppressives,

(2) immunostimulatory, (3) anti-inflammatory.

10.2 to appreciate the mechanisms of actions of the above drugs.

10.3 to appreciate the toxicity of the above drugs.

Cross refer CA/mmb/L2

IM/dis/L14 ,

L19, T1, P2 

IM/dis/L15-18

Gsl/M2/c:/ 24Dec99