Immunology
BISC 422
Syllabus, Spring 2002
Instructor: Dr. Holly C. Pinkart
Text: Immunology, A Short Course, 4th Ed. Benjamini, Coico and Sunshine
Course Objectives: This course is intended as an introduction to the field of Immunology.
This field is a dynamic one, with new advances occurring at a very rapid rate. This course
is designed to provide a framework for understanding how the immune system works.
The concepts of innate and acquired immunity, antigen structure and recognition,
antibody production, cellular immunity, and immune system dysfunction will all be
covered in this course. Additionally, you will learn to read and critique primary literature.
Prerequisites: BIOL 323 (Microbiology), CHEM 361 (Organic Chemistry)
Most useful courses – Cell Biology (BIOL 220) and Genetics (BIOL 321)
Course Schedule:
Topic Chapters
Introduction 1
Elements of Innate and Acquired Immunity 2
Antigen and Antibody Structure and Function 3, 4
Antigen- Antibody Interactions 5
Antibody Variation 6
EXAM I – April 11, due April 16
B-Cell Biology 7, 8
T-Cell Biology 9, 10
Immune Regulation and Communication 11, 12
Complement 13
Hypersensitivity 14-16
EXAM II – May 2, due May7
Autoimmunity and Immunodeficiency 17, 18
Transplantation 19
Tumor Immmunology 20
Resistance and immunization 21
FINAL EXAM – May 30, due June 4
Grade Determination – Your Exams are worth 60% of your grade. Weekly quizzes
(given at 8:40AM on Thursdays) will be worth 15% of your grade. Discussion is worth
25% of your grade (also on Thursday). Participation in discussion is mandatory. Due to
the extremely detailed nature of the material, exams will be “take-home”. Although I
assume that you will discuss the questions outside of class, I expect that your answers
will be unique, individual efforts. Be sure to read the questions carefully, and ask
questions if you don’t understand what is expected.
Discussion. Everyone is expected to read each paper prior to discussion, and participate
in discussion. Simply presenting your paper and never contributing again will only earn
you full credit for the day you present. Also, when presenting your paper, stating
something like “the paper said this, but I don’t really understand it” is not acceptable. If
you don’t understand something either ask me (PLEASE come to my office hours!), or
look it up yourself. The papers I have chosen are current scientific research papers from
journals such as Science, Nature and Infection and Immunity. The discussion is intended
to allow you to become familiar with scientific literature, scientific method, areas of
research in immunology, immunology techniques and to encourage critical thinking.