Unit of Study MEDC2001 Immunology (2024)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit
Credit points

12
Faculty & College

Faculty of Health
Placement

No

Pre-requisites

HBIO1010 - Integrated Anatomy and Physiology OR HBIO1008 - Human Physiology II AND; either HBIO1001 - Human Anatomy OR HBIO1003 - Systemic Anatomy

Enrolment information

This unit contains laboratory activities that requires students to meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to attending. Failure to comply by the compliance deadline may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements

Unit description

Extends students' knowledge of the immune system, including concepts of innate and acquired immune responses and how specificity, diversity, memory and tolerance develop. Students gain an understanding of various types of immune functions and dysfunctions, and explore these in laboratory investigations. Herein, students learn how to generate, analyse and interpret immunological data to support the clinical diagnostic process.

Unit content

Foundation concepts of the immune system, including communication, integration and innate and adaptive immunity
Organisation, expression and function of the complement system and immune receptors, including B cell receptors, antibody, T cell receptors and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
Humoral and cellular immunity, including B and T cell development, activation, differentiation and memory, with an understanding of the regulation involved
Immune responses to infectious diseases, and an overview of vaccine development
The development of tolerance with the microbiome, and the importance of immune tolerance in tissue transplantation
Overactive and underactive immune system dysfunctions, including allergy, hypersensitivity, chronic inflammation, autoimmunity and immunodeficiency

Availabilities

Location	Domestic	International
Gold Coast	Term3	Term3

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

summarise and compare immune system development, innate and adaptive immunity, and the generation of immune memory and tolerance

compare immune cell activation, differentiation and effector responses, including the influence different antigens have on these processes, and on vaccine development

participate with proficiency in a group setting to investigate dysfunctions of the immune system

generate, analyse and interpret experimental immunological data to solve scientific problems in the biomedical setting, individually and in collaboration

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method

Tutorial 2 hours (Weekly)

Laboratory 3 hours (Weekly)

Assessment
Infographic	30%
Quiz	30%
Workbook	40%

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts

No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Resources/Equipment

Betts, J.G., Young, K.A., Wise, J.A., Johnson, E., Poe, B., Kruse, D.H., Korol, O., Johnson, J.E., Womble, M., & DeSaix, P., Anatomy and Physiology, 2nd ed., OpenStax, Apr 20, 2022, Houston, Texas, https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/21-introduction
The following items must be purchased and students must use them at each laboratory class:
- Shoes – fully enclosed non-absorbent shoes made from leather, rubber or vinyl. Shoes must have a sturdy sole and fully covered heel, sides, top of foot and toes. If you are unsure of appropriate footwear please see further information on the Lab Safety video available on the Blackboard site or you can check with Lab technical staff on campus.
- Safety glasses – available at Co-op Bookshop. Safety glasses must be worn when performing experiments that involve the use of chemicals or bodily fluids. If you wear prescription glasses, you must purchase safety glasses that fit over your prescription glasses.
- A scientific calculator will also be required.
- A plastic-covered notebook for collecting and writing up experimental data.
- A plastic display folder with plastic sleeves to store/display laboratory manual. These last two items must be impermeable (i.e. plastic) in order to be decontaminated before leaving the laboratory.
A laboratory manual is provided for laboratory classes. Gloves and laboratory coats are provided and must be worn during laboratory activities. Students must watch the Lab Safety video, and the PC2 Lab Safety video available on the Blackboard site, and obtain 100% on each quiz relevant to each video. Students who do not meet the OH&S requirements will not be admitted to the laboratory.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full-fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees.

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