MED-MM1CF
Immunity, Infection and Inflammation
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleMED-MM1CF
Credits (ECTS)3.5
CategoryMA (Master)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Medical Sciences; Molecular Mechanisms of Disease;
Lecturer(s)
Contactperson for the course
prof. dr. I.J.M. de Vries
Other course modules lecturer
Examiner
prof. dr. I.J.M. de Vries
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2017
Starting block
3
Course mode
full-time
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesNo
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims

After completion of this course you will be familiar with immune regulatory cell-types and circuits, inflammatory reactions, and their biomedical significance in the occurrence and treatment of diseases. You recognise the importance of molecular diagnostics in disease classification and treatment, and know recent developments in tissue engineering, tissue pathology and repair.

Specifically you will: 

  • Recognize the significance of regulatory pathways within the immune system and their involvement in immune-related disorders.
  • Know current developments and applications of stem cells.
  • Value the application of molecular diagnostics in disease management.
  • Define research questions and design research proposals to answer questions.
Content

The course focuses on MMD Theme 1: Infection, Immunity and Regenerative Medicine /Immunity-related Disorders and Immunotherapy and is scheduled from Wednesday 28 October till Tuesday 8 November 2016. Together with the subsequent course "Immunity-related Disorders and Immunotherapy" (MM1TR) it forms the Module "Infection, Immunity and Regenerative Medicine/Immunity-related Disorders and Immunotherapy".

Description MMD Theme 1

Our immune system consists of a dazzling collection of cells and regulatory pathways that protect us from dangers from outside and within. The immune system has the challenging task to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms and eradicate arising tumors, while preventing auto-reactive immune responses harmful to the host. In order to perform this dual task, many activating and inhibitory circuits are in place to either activate or down regulate immune responses. Key molecules include proteins form multiple extra-cellular and intra-cellular protein families, such as toll-like receptors, C-type lectins and suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS). Crucial cells involved in balancing the immune system include the professional antigen presenting dendritic cell and the regulatory T cell. Deregulation of the immune balance results in inflammation and/or autoimmune related disorders. They can both be acute or chronic in nature and involve a complex interplay between many different cell types, including immune- and non-immune cells. Multiple protein families, like cytokines and proteases, are involved in these processes that ultimately lead to tissue-damage and destruction. Unraveling the molecular basis of both the events that trigger the initiation of these diseases and those that fuel disease progression consist one of the major challenges in molecular medicine today. Full understanding of the molecules and regulatory mechanism in immune cells and non-immune cells will allow application of immune-modulatory strategies in diseases ranging from infection and cancer to autoimmunity and transplantation.

The wish to replace damaged/non-functional organs/tissues combined with the shortage of donor organs triggered the rise of a new multidisciplinary scientific research field: Regenerative Medicine. Regenerative Medicine aims at no less than the creation of new tissues/organs, in- or outside the body. Organs are composed of cells embedded in a scaffold. Scaffolds not only provide the strength and structure for an organ, but also create the specific molecular microenvironment in which cells function, e.g. migrate, proliferate and differentiate. Regenerative Medicine nowadays include research involving i) construction of organ-specific scaffolds, ii) development of ceramic implants and most recently iii) the implementation of pluripotent stem cells that have the capacity to differentiate in multiple distinct cell-types.

In this core fundamental course theme 1 the molecular mechanisms of diseases will be covered from bench to bedside. Students will learn to appreciate the value of a multidisciplinary approach in solving complex molecular networks as well as multi-factorial diseases.

Literature

• Assignments and literature are the main materials for this course (See course manual on Blackboard).
• Core textbook: Parham, The Immune System, Taylor & Francis Inc, 3rd edition (2009)

Additional comments
Registration for resits to be done in OSIRIS student.

Topics
Immune-regulation, dendritic cells, (auto)immune diseases, infection, stem cells This is a core course of the master's program Molecular Mechanisms of Disease.

Levels
1st year MSc MMD

Test information
The assessment of the course Infection Immunity and Regenerative Medicine - Core Fundamental consists of four parts:

• Written test (essay questions) (weight 40%)
• Research proposal (weight 40%, 6 groups are formed of 3-4 students)
• Round table discussion (weight 10%, 4 groups are formed of 5 students)
• Journal Club (weight 10%, 4 groups are formed of 5 students)
Both main components must be graded 5.6 or higher to pass the course.

• In case the research proposal project is insufficient, a modified proposal must be reassessed. If the modified project is still not graded sufficient, the student must follow the complete course (including project and written test) in the next academic year. In this case, attendance of seminars is not obligatory.
• In case the essay question examination is graded less then 5.6, the student must register for and do the resit examination. Please note that only the grade obtained last counts. If the resit is graded lower then 5.6, and other parts of the course were sufficient, the student must follow the course (the lectures and written test) in the next academic year.


Tests
Tentamen
Test weight1
OpportunitiesBlock 3, Block 3