Immunology

Objectives

The learning outcomes of the Curricular Unit of Immunology in the course of Nutritional Sciences are that the students:
• Understand the constitution of the Immune System (IS) and the normal mechanisms of Immune Response (IR) as a defense mechanism
• Know the pathology-inducing immune mechanisms and how the IR may be modulated
• Recognize the relationship between nutritional status and IS, and know how to identify the nutrients with a specific role in IS
• Recognize the food allergy mechanisms and know how to guide the diet of an allergic patient
• Know how to relate the role of nutrition in autoimmune, oncological, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
The theoretical course will be accompanied by practical classes with practical demonstrations of the most important laboratory technology, as well as discussion of clinical cases with applicability in the clinical nutritionist practice

General characterization

Code

41012

Credits

4

Responsible teacher

Prof. Doutor Luís Miguel Borrego

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

Not applicable

Bibliography

Abbas, A., Lichtman, A.H., Pillai, S. (2014) 8th ed. Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 9780323222754.

Arosa, F., Caetano, E., Pacheco, F. (2012) 2a ed. Fundamentos de Imunologia. Lidel.
ISBN 978-972-757-856-6.

Owen, J., Punt, J., Stranford, S. (2012) 7th ed. Kuby Immunology W.H. Freeman and Company.
ISBN-10: 1-4292-1919-X.

Murphy, K. (2011) 8th ed. Janeway's Immunobiology. Garland Science. ISBN 978-081-534-243-4.

Teaching method

• 14 weeks of lectures (2h/week, taught with computer support methods) and theoretical-practical classes (2x1,5h/week, taught with audiovisual media, exemplification and eventual execution of laboratory techniques).
• Discussion of clinical cases and interpretation of laboratory results with clinical applicability for nutritionists.
• Distribution of students by 5 classes (minimum ratio: 1 teacher/15 students).
• Handhouts, bibliography and scientific articles available at the Moodle platform.

Evaluation method

• Final UC evaluation: 1 theoretical written test (1st season); 2 practical written tests or oral examination (2nd and special season).
Each Practical Written test: multiple-choice test with 20 questions (five options per question, only one correct), each corresponding to 1 value. Duration: 30 minutes. In case of failure of at least one of these tests the student must have a final oral practical examination (in case of failure in this test the student will not be able to perform the theoretical exam)
Theoretical Written test (QuizOne platform): multiple-choice test with 80 questions (five options per question, only one correct), each corresponding to 0.25 values. Duration: 120 minutes.
Consultation of tests: by prior registration in time to be scheduled by the regent of the UC.

UC Final classification = (0.20*Practical evaluation[(P1+P2) /2]) + 0.80*Theoretical examination)
Approval: minimum classification of 10 values in each item of the evaluation.
• In case of failure in the present year the student must repeat all the components of evaluation in the following year.
• The students must also present a topic to be debated in the class (working group)
In case of total e-learning the evaluation will be performed only by a final written exam (with all taught topics)

 

Subject matter

• SI: Constitution and operation
• Innate and Adaptive Immune Response
• Complement System
• Complement and disease
• Maturation of T and B cells
• Antibodies and Antigens
• MHC and mechanisms of antigen presentation
• Immune Response Mediated by T and B cells
• Immune Tolerance and Regulation Mechanisms
• Hypersensitivity reactions
• Primary Immunodeficiencies
• Allergy and Hypersensitivity
• Autoimmunity
• Food allergy
• Immunity and Nutrition
• Immunopathology Diabetes
• Nutrition and Immunity
• Allergy and Cross Reactivity: Clinical Cases
• Allergy and Food Intolerance
• Immunosuppression in Exercise;
• Immune Response Evaluation in clinical practice: clinical and laboratory integration

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: