This course focuses on enabling students to develop a detailed understanding of the development and function of the cells of the immune system and awareness of recent developments in innate and adaptive immunity.

Normally, there are 3 hours of teaching on Mondays, which may be split over more than one session.

None

The course will be assessed by a 2-hour examination (75%) and in-course assessment consisting of a brief report on a scientific paper in the format of Nature Immunology's "News and Views" articles (25%). 

The aims of this course are to develop:

■ a comprehensive understanding of key topics fundamental to the current understanding of the development and function of the immune system;

■ an awareness and knowledge of recent developments in innate and adaptive immunity.

By the end of this course, students will be able to: 

■ analyse how structure relates to function in primary and secondary lymphoid organs; 

■ discuss the development of T and B lymphocytes at the molecular and cellular level, and the mechanisms of selection that occurs during the development of these cells; 

■ give an account of the diversity and role of innate immune cells, and appraise how they sense and respond to microbial products; 

■ evaluate the properties and function of dendritic cells, and their roles in antigen presentation; 

■ critically analyse the role of various T cell subsets during adaptive immune responses and peripheral tolerance; 

■ discuss interactions between the microbiota and the immune system; 

■ relate the processes involved in lymphocyte interactions to the functions of the germinal centre.