Undergraduate Course: Th2 in Immunity, Allergy and Health (IMMU10013)

Course Outline
School	School of Biological Sciences	College	College of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	10	ECTS Credits	5
Summary	The dichotomy of T cell responses into Th1 and Th2 remains a major paradigm in immunology, despite the appearance of multiple other T cell subsets. This unit will focus on the development and functions of the Th2 arm, which is uniquely responsible for a suite of essential immune defences (eg against helminth parasites), but also associated with specific pathologies (eg allergy) as well as body maintenance functions (wound healing and metabolism). By studying Th2, we can readily illustrate and understand the regulation and balance within the immune system that dictates when different modes of immunity are selected or repressed, thereby leading to better therapies for infection or immune dysfunction. A further fascinating aspect of this topic is the complementarity between the innate and adaptive immune systems, particularly with the recent definition of innate lymphoid cells which mirror the functions of Th2 cells. Moreover, there is a important set of "Type 2" innate effector cells, including eosinophils, basophils and alternatively activated macrophages, which are involved in both the induction of Th2 response but also in executing effector functions downstream of Th2 signals. These cells are also intimately linked with wound healing and the response to injury, as well as maintaining optimal metabolic status, because Th1/Th2 imbalance is associated with various forms of physiological malfunctions such as type II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The module will include both lectures and analysis of the primary literature. The course will start with lectures on the basic differentiaton and function of Th2 cells, as well as an overview of the innate Type 2 populations, together with an evolutionary perspective of the Th2 arm of immunity. Following sessions will be a combination of lectures focussing on specific themes and discussion of the primary literature. Topics covered will include immunity to helminths, the development of allergy, modes of regulation of the Th2 response, and the role of the Type 2 response in wound healing and metabolism. Review of the primary literature will be in the form of presentations and question-and-answer sessions. Students will be expected to read the papers in advance and actively engage in an analysis of the papers¿ findings.
Course description	The dichotomy of T cell responses into Th1 and Th2 remains a major paradigm in immunology, despite the appearance of multiple other T cell subsets. This unit will focus on the development and functions of the Th2 arm, which is uniquely responsible for a suite of essential immune defences (eg against helminth parasites), but also associated with specific pathologies (eg allergy) as well as body maintenance functions (wound healing and metabolism). By studying Th2, we can readily illustrate and understand the regulation and balance within the immune system that dictates when different modes of immunity are selected or repressed, thereby leading to better therapies for infection or immune dysfunction.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites	Students MUST have passed: Immunology 3 (BILG09007) It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Clinical Immunology & Haematology 3B (MSBM09004)	Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	None

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: None
Course Start	Semester 1
Course Start Date	19/09/2022
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 30, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Revision Session Hours 3, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 63 )
Assessment (Further Info)	Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment)	Course is assessed through a Scientific Opinion essay due at the end of the course.
Feedback	Not entered
No Exam Information

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: Basic understanding of the current field of Th2 immunology. Advanced skills in reading and understanding the primary literature. Development of scientific problem solving skills.