Basics of Immunology (part 1)
This learning journey is designed to introduce general features of the immune system, types of immunity, antigens, and antibodies/immunoglobulins. The pathways of the complement system and their physiological functions are also discussed in this journey.
Table of Contents
- How is the immune system organised: the downside and the upside
- Innate immunity vs. adaptive immunity
- Overview of innate immunity and leukocyte development
- Overview of adaptive immunity and antibody functions
- How do vaccines work?
- How does the immune system recognise antigens?
- Immunoglobulin classes and subclasses
- The antibody as an adapter molecule
- The complement system: classical, lectin and alternate pathways
- Physiological functions of the complement system
- What are the outcomes of complement activation?
1. How is the immune system organised: the downside and the upside
By Prof. Herman Waldmann – University of Oxford, UK
An excerpt from Introduction to the immune system
2. Innate immunity vs. adaptive immunity
By Prof. Shiv Pillai – Harvard Medical School, USA
An excerpt from The immune system: an overview - innate immunity
3. Overview of innate immunity and leukocyte development
By Prof. Kevin Maloy – University of Glasgow, UK
An excerpt from Cells of the innate immune system
4. Overview of adaptive immunity and antibody functions
By Prof. Shiv Pillai – Harvard Medical School, USA
An excerpt from The immune system: an overview - adaptive immunity
5. How do vaccines work?
By Dr. Anita Milicic – University of Oxford, UK
An excerpt from Vaccination
6. How does the immune system recognise antigens?
By Prof. Herman Waldmann – University of Oxford, UK
An excerpt from Antigen recognition in the immune system
7. Immunoglobulin classes and subclasses
By Dr. Mike Clark – University of Cambridge, UK
An excerpt from Antibody structure and function: antibody structure
8. The antibody as an adapter molecule
By Dr. Mike Clark – University of Cambridge, UK
An excerpt from Antibody structure and function: antibody function
9. The complement system: classical, lectin and alternate pathways
By Prof. Michael Holers, Dr. Ashley Frazer-Abel
An excerpt from The complement system - an introduction for undergraduates
10. Physiological functions of the complement system
By Prof. Steven Sacks – King's College London, UK
An excerpt from The complement system in innate and adaptive immunity: normal functioning of the complement system
11. What are the outcomes of complement activation?
By Prof. Sara Marshall – Wellcome Trust, UK
An excerpt from Hypersensitivity diseases: type II-IV hypersensitivity