Biology 480 is a three-credit, university-level course that covers the principal concepts of immunology. The course discusses the components of the immune system and presents the immune mechanisms critical to immune function. It also covers the immune response to infection and the diseases that result when immunity is compromised or non-functional. It introduces current methods of studying immunity and its clinical applications in the field.
Students enrolling in Biology 480 must have completed first-year courses in biology and chemistry at the university level. According to the Athabasca University Calendar, students who wish to be exempted from these prerequisites must have the approval of the course professor.
Outline
Biology 480 is divided into 15 units as follows:
Unit 1 Overview of the Immune System
Unit 2 Recognition and Response
Unit 3 Innate Immunity
Unit 4 The Complement System
Unit 5 Organization and Expression of Antibody and Lymphocyte Receptor Genes
Unit 6 The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and Antigen Presentation
Unit 7 T-Cell and B-Cell Development and Activation
Unit 8 Effector Responses: Antibody- and Cell-Mediated Immunity
Unit 9 Barrier Immunity: The Immunology of Mucosa and Skin
Unit 10 The Adaptive Immune Response in Space and Time
Unit 11 Allergy, Hypersensitivities, and Chronic Inflammation
Unit 12 Tolerance, Autoimmunity and Transplantation
Unit 13 Infectious Diseases and Vaccines
Unit 14 Immunodeficiency Diseases and Cancer
Unit 15 Experimental Systems and Methods
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to
explain the components and functions of innate and adaptive immunity.
identify the role of signal transduction in the immune response.
compare and contrast the components of the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses.
explain the function and components of the complement system.
describe antigen presentation and the role of the major histocompatibility complex.
explain the principles of hypersensitivity reactions, inflammation, and autoimmunity.
review the immune response to infectious diseases and the role of vaccines in immunity to disease.
discuss the role of the immune system in AIDS, cancer, and transplantation.
Evaluation
To receive credit for BIOL 480, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent), and grade of at least 50 percent on each assignment, laboratory quiz, and invigilated examination.
The laboratory component provides you with the opportunity to learn basic immunological applications and reinforce important concepts in this course. There are five online laboratories in BIOL 480, meaning you are not required to perform work in an actual laboratory. Rather, you are required to understand the laboratory procedures; study the photos, figures, and tables; and watch the videos in each online laboratory. You will be tested on your understanding of each laboratory with an associated laboratory quiz
The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Assignment 1
10%
Assignment 2
10%
Assignment 3
10%
Assignment 4
10%
Midterm Exam
20%
Final Exam
20%
Laboratory Quiz 1
4%
Laboratory Quiz 2
4%
Laboratory Quiz 3
4%
Laboratory Quiz 4
4%
Laboratory Quiz 5
4%
Total
100%
The midterm and final examinations for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Punt, J., Stranford, S.A., Jones, P & Owen, J.A. (2019). Kuby Immunology (8th ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. (Print)
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.