Checking date: 18/02/2025 09:27:51


Course: 2025/2026

Introduction to immunology and microbiology
(19762)
Bachelor in Neuroscience (Plan: 517 - Estudio: 389)


Coordinating teacher: LACHOWSKI , DARIUSZ

Department assigned to the subject: Departamento de Neurociencia y Ciencias Biomédicas

Type: Basic Core
ECTS Credits: 6.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Objectives
1. Examine the intricate structures, cellular constituents, and molecular entities comprising the immune system, elucidating their roles and elucidating the implications of primary immunodeficiencies within the realm of infectious diseases. 2. Analyze the fundamental characteristics of both innate and adaptive immune responses, deliberating on the specific contributions of each arm to clinically relevant infections. Assess the ramifications of these responses on critical aspects such as vaccine development and the clinical management of immunocompromised individuals, juxtaposing antibody-mediated immunity with cell-mediated immunity through practical instances sourced from professional experience or self-directed inquiry. 3. Define and scrutinize the sequential phases characterizing an immune response, engaging in critical evaluation and discourse surrounding contrasting theories or models elucidating the functionality of the immune system. 4. Define the diverse categories of vaccines, including their formulation and resultant immune response types. Evaluate factors influencing the efficacy of vaccines, such as adjuvant selection or broader vaccination strategies encompassing molecular, cultural, ethical, or behavioral considerations like herd immunity. Through illustrative cases, analyze the advantages of vaccination over therapeutic interventions, prompting considerations on the optimal approach for disease prevention and control. 5. Foster a comprehensive comprehension of the microbial domain, with particular emphasis on bacteria and viruses. Challenge prevailing assumptions about bacteria in light of recent scientific revelations, and grasp the magnitude and urgency of the antimicrobial resistance crisis. 6. Recollect the influence of genetic variability on macroscopic structural alterations within microbial populations, elucidating mechanisms governing microbial sensing, environmental adaptation, and phenotype modulation relevant to human interactions. 7. Illuminate the mechanisms underpinning mutation, elucidating their impact on microbial populations and avenues for genetic transfer. Explore the metabolic intricacies of bacteria and fungi, and their societal implications. 8. Recapitulate the molecular foundations governing key virulence determinants, providing insights into microbial pathogenicity and strategies for combating infectious diseases.
Learning Outcomes
K6: Knows the different elements that make up the immune system, their organisation and their relationship with infection control processes and other pathologies. Also knows the basic characteristics of microorganisms and their interaction with their hosts. S1: Uses a variety of techniques to find, manage, integrate and critically evaluate available information for the development of professional activities in Neuroscience, especially in the digital sphere S5: Appropriately uses the scientific and technical vocabulary of the different subfields within Neuroscience. S6: Has an understanding of the biological bases of pathologies of the nervous system, as well as the biological and socio-economic effects these pathologies have on the lives of people who suffer from them. C1: Apply knowledge about the biological basis of Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders and their effects to the development of improved diagnostics and treatments. C2: Apply knowledge about the organisation, structure and function of the Central Nervous System (CNS) to contribute to the evolution and improvement of technologies and systems for computing, data handling and analysis. C5: Apply your neuroscience knowledge in a unifying and integrated fashion as part of a multidisciplinary team (pharmaceutical sector, health industry, diagnostic techniques, health information technologies, government agencies and regulatory bodies. C6: Apply the results of your comprehensive training to your everyday professional activities, combining Neuroscience knowledge with a solid foundation of ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights, diversity and democratic values. C7: Apply the scientific and technical principles you acquired during your undergraduate training, together with your own natural learning capabilities, to better adapt to novel opportunities arising from scientific and technological development.
Description of contents: programme
1. Introduction. History of Immunology and its main milestones. Basic fundamentals of immunology. Immune response. 2. Structure of the immune system: cells and molecules of the immune system. 3. The immune response and its effector mechanisms. Immunogens and antigens. Innate and adaptive immune response. 4. Regulation of the immune response. Immunological memory and its importance in vaccine design. 5. Microbiology: Introduction and brief historical perspective. The host-parasite relationship. 6. Morphology and structure of microorganisms. Parasitic protozoa and metazoa. Pathogenic fungi. Bacteria. viruses 7. Acellular infectious agents. 8. Basic physiology and microbial genetics. 9. Mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis, virulence factors and toxicity of micro-organisms. 10. Host-parasite interrelationship, types. Defences against infections. 11. The microbiome.
Learning activities and methodology
Classroom lectures. Face-to-face classes: reduced (workshops, seminars, case studies). Student individual work. Laboratory session. Final exam. Seminars and lectures supported by computer and audiovisual aids. Practical learning based on cases and problems, and exercise resolution. Individual and group or cooperative work with the option of oral or written presentation. Individual and group tutorials to resolve doubts and queries about the subject. Internships and directed laboratory activities.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination/test 60
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 40




Extraordinary call: regulations
Basic Bibliography
  • Abbas, Abul K. ; Lichtman, Andrew H. ; Pillai, S.. Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Elsevier - Health Sciences Division. 2021
  • Madigan, M. ; Aiyer, J. ; Buckley, D. ; Sattley, W. ; Stahl, D.. Brock Biology of Microorganisms. Pearson. 2022
  • Murphy, K. ; Weaver, C. ; Berg, L. ; Janeway, Charles, A.. Janeway's Immunobiology. W. W. Norton & Company. 2022
  • Willey, J. ; Sandman, K. ; Wood, D.. Prescott's Microbiology. McGraw-Hill Education. 2022
Additional Bibliography
  • Chin-Hong, P. ; Joyce, E., A. ; Karandikar, M. ; Matloubian, M. ; Rubio, L. ; Schwartz, B., S. ; Levinson,W.. Levinson's Review of Medical Microbiology & Immunology: A Guide to Clinical Infectious Diseases. McGraw Hill. 2024

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.