BB2445 The Immune System in Health and Disease

Admission requirements for programme students at KTH:
At least 150 credits from grades 1, 2 and 3 of which at least 100 credits from years 1 and 2, and bachelor's work must be completed.  The 150 credits should include a minimum of 20 credits within the fields of Mathematics, Numerical Analysis and Computer Sciences, 5 of these must be within the fields of Numerical Analysis and Computer Sciences, 20 credits of Chemistry, possibly including courses in Chemical Measuring Techniques and 20 credits biochemistry, microbiology and genetics/molecular biology.

Admission requirements for independent students:
A total of 20 university credits (hp) in biochemistry, microbiology and genetics/molecular biology. 20 credits of Chemistry, possibly including courses in Chemical Measuring Techniques and 20 credits within the fields of Mathematics, Numerical Analysis and Computer Sciences, 5 of these must be within the fields of Numerical Analysis and Computer Sciences, Documented proficiency in English corresponding to English B.

On completion of the course, the student should master and be able to explain:

- Innate and adaptive immunity.

- Development of B-cells and T-cells.

- Clonal selection.

- Generation of diversity of T and B-cells.

- Antigen recognition of T lymphocytes and T-cell-mediated immunity.

- Humoral immunity (mediated by B cells and antibodies).

- MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex)

- Antibodies (structure and function)

- T-Cell receptors (structure and function)

- Cell communication.

- When the immune system has malfunctioned: Autoimmunity, allergy.

- The body defence against infection.

- What happens when the immune system malfunctions.

- Allergy and allergic diseases.

- Autoimmunity and transplantation.

- How one can manipulate the immune system.

The biotechnological industry in Sweden is growing with many new strong knowledge-based companies with independent research discoveries and innovations. This is a development where we have seen only the beginning, and it means that a good understanding of the immune system is a precondition to be successful as a researcher, developer, or leader in the biotechnological industry of the tomorrow. The future engineer should master the basics of immunology, especially regarding potential applications within medicine (new vaccines, immuno-modulating treatments). Such ability is a precondition to be able to exploit knowledge within biological sciences and for an understanding of biotechnological and biomedical research and its applications.

The course intends to give a basic understanding of the parts and function of the immune system. The course also intends to give deep insight into different diseases and when the immune system malfunctions.