CBI-30806 Immunotechnology

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Individual Paper0
Lecture10
Tutorial10
Practical40
Group work12
Independent study0
Course coordinator(s)dr. E Tijhaar
Lecturer(s)RHP Wilbers
prof. dr. MM van Oers
dr. E Tijhaar
Examiner(s)RHP Wilbers
prof. dr. MM van Oers
dr. E Tijhaar

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Molecular Biology, Immunology, Virology; CBI-10306 Cell Biology; CBI-20306 Cell Biology and Health.

Continuation courses:

Thesis CBI, Thesis VIR, Thesis NEM

Contents:

Note 1: This course has a maximum number of participants. The deadline for registration is one week earlier than usual. See Academic Year.(http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/Current-Students/Agenda-Calendat-Adacemic-Year.htm) -> Registration for Courses.

Note 2: This course continues with compulsory activities during the education-free study week! The hours usually available for self-study during this week have been integrated during the first 4 weeks of this course and all exams for this course will have been done before the education-free study week (week 7).
Immunotechology focuses on the use of modern biotechnology to design immune intervention strategies that are based on a thorough knowledge of immunological mechanisms. Thereto, the innate and adaptive immunity and the cross talk between both arms of the immune system will be discussed at the molecular and cellular level. The understanding of how the immune system maintains tolerance against self-antigens and interacts with microbes and parasites forms the basis for the design of immune intervention strategies. discussed questions are:
- what is the molecular toolbox that pathogens and parasites use to avoid immune destruction?;
- how do hypersensitivities and autoimmune diseases develop?;
- how can immunotechnology be used to design better vaccines, diagnostics and therapies for allergies, autoimmune diseases, other hyper immune diseases and cancer.
During the practical part of the course students design and carry out a research project related to one of these topics.

Learning outcomes:

After sucessfull completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- assess health problems with an immunological background;
- develop approaches for immune intervention;
- write a proposal and carry out the appropriate experiments for small research project (practical);
- present the results of the research-project professionally.

Activities:

This course comprises self-study, tutorials (Case studies, presence compulsory!), response lectures, writing of a research proposal, practicals and presentations. During the first 4 weeks of the course the focus will be on theory and assessment of immunology and diseases. After this you will write a research proposal for a small research project that will be carried out in weeks 5-7 of the course. You will present your results during a poster presentation session and as a PowerPoint presentation.
The self-study and response lectures will deal with the theoretical aspects of molecular immunology and relevant biotechnological and biomedical applications. The knowledge acquired by self-study will be applied during the tutorials by solving Case studies dealing with diseases/experiments related to the studied theory.

Examination:

- 3 exams on the theory of the course (2 topics at a time, in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week of the course (10% per test, 30% in total of the final mark);
- written test (case) exam with questions (open book) (30%);
- research project (proposal, practical work and poster presentation (40%).
The average of the 3 theory exams, the case exam (open book) and the research project needs a minimum mark of 5.0 for each of these 3 parts to pass and a final minimal course mark of 5.5 is required.

Literature:

Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 9th edition, Abbas, ISBN 9780323479783, Elsevier (or the 8th edition), for sale at the WUR-shop is recommended, but not obliged. A pdf document and computer modules (SoftChalk) that will be accessible for free in Blackboard.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Compulsory for: MBTBiotechnologyMScC: Medical Biotechnology5MO
Restricted Optional for: MBIBiologyMScF: Health and Disease5MO
MBIBiologyMScH: Molecular Development and Gene Regulation5MO
MBTBiotechnologyMScA: Cellular/Molecular Biotechnology5MO
MMLMolecular Life SciencesMScA: Biomedical Research5MO
MPBPlant BiotechnologyMScB: Plants for Human and Animal Health5MO