551-0223-00L  Immunology III

SemesterAutumn Semester 2019
LecturersM. Kopf, S. B. Freigang, J. Kisielow, S. R. Leibundgut, A. Oxenius, C. Schneider, E. Slack, R. Spörri, L. Tortola
Periodicityyearly recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish


AbstractThis course provides a detailed understanding of
- development of T and B cells
- the dynamics of a immune response during acute and chronic infection
- mechanisms of immunopathology
- modern vaccination strategies
Key experimental results will be shown to help understanding how immunological text book knowledge has evolved.
Learning objectiveObtain a detailed understanding of
- the development, activation, and differentiation of different types of T cells and their effectormechanisms during immune responses,
- Recognition of pathogenic microorganisms by the host cells and molecular events thereafter,
- events and signals for maturation of naive B cells to antibody producing plasma cells and memory B cells.
- Optimization of B cell responses by intelligent design of new vaccines
Contento Development and selection of CD4 and CD8 T cells, natural killer T cells (NKT), and regulatory T cells (Treg)
o NK T cells and responses to lipid antigens
o Differentiation, characterization, and function of CD4 T cell subsets such as Th1, Th2, and Th17
o Overview of cytokines and their effector function
o Co-stimulation (signals 1-3)
o Dendritic cells
o Evolution of the "Danger" concept
o Cells expressing Pattern Recognition Receptors and their downstream signals
o T cell function and dysfunction in acute and chronic viral infections
LiteratureDocuments of the lectures are available for download at:
https://moodle-app2.let.ethz.ch/course/view.php?id=2581¬ifyeditingon=1
Prerequisites / NoticeImmunology I and II recommended but not compulsory