Units
Principles of Immunology
Unit code: LQB387
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Immunology is the study of the physiological systems used to defend the body from invasion by foreign organisms and the pathologies associated with inappropriate immune responses. In order for you to work effectively and with confidence as a medical laboratory scientist it is essential you have knowledge relating to the immune system and application of basic immunological procedures in the laboratory. This unit is positioned in the introductory phase of the course and assumes knowledge and practical skills from your first year units LQB181, LSB250 and LQB281. This unit also provides you with critical foundation knowledge and practical skills for the clinical units LQB462, LSB465, LQB562, LSB555, LSB565, LSB625, LQB683, LSB655, LSB665 and Work Integrated Learning Internship in later Semesters of the course.
Aims
This unit is in the course to provide you with knowledge related to fundamental principles and practical skills relevant to an immunology laboratory. You will also develop your problem-solving and information literacy skills, along with your ability to communicate your knowledge in spoken and written contexts for a range of purposes and audiences, including international and intercultural communication contexts.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you will demonstrate:
1. Evidence of your higher order thinking capacity to problem-solve in immunology including the principle and rationale of various investigations that are used in diagnostic clinical pathology;
2. Appropriate knowledge and skills base relating to the mechanisms of the immune processes, and the role of immunological procedures in the laboratory;
3. Evidence of your ability to locate, interpret and communicate your and learning in spoken, written and online/digital contexts for a range of purposes and audiences, including international and intercultural communication perspectives.
Content
This unit focuses on the study of the physiological mechanisms of the immune process and the laboratory-based procedures used to investigate them. It assumes that you have a good understanding of the fundamentals of immunology including the nature of antigens, antibodies, antigen-antibody reactions and control of the humoral and cell mediated immune responses studied in LQB281 in first year. Topics in this unit include:
· The immune system and antigens and antibodies;
· Antigen-antibody reactions;
· Generation of antibody diversity;
· Vaccines and immunisation;
· Complement;
· Myeloma and monoclonal antibodies;
· MHC and T-cell receptors;
· Antigen processing;
· Cell interactions;
· Molecular basis of the immune response;
· Host mechanisms for resisting infection, clearing infections and resisting re-infection;
· Hypersensitivity and autoimmunity;
· Transplantation.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
This unit will be based on 2 hours of lectures and a 3 hours practical class each week. Practical classes are designed to introduce students to a range of procedures which detect and quantitate immune reponses, and develop your competance and confidence in performing key immunological and serological procedures. You do not have to submit formal practical reports for this unit, but you are encouraged to take notes and to record data as questions related to your practical work and skill development constitute a significant component of your formal assessment for this unit. It will be assumed that you have prepared for your practical classes and final written examination by studying the lecture material, reading the notes in the practical manual and your own laboratory results/notes from practical class each week.
All students will also be provided with the opportunity to develop their oral communication skills, and each week, in practical class, students, selected at random, will present a 3-5 minute oral presentation in which you will summarise a scientific article you have read online or in the Library in the previous week. The choice of article is your own, as long as you source it from a refereed international journal. You may find the ¿News and Views¿ sections in Nature and Science of interest, or articles in New Scientist.
Assessment
All assessment tasks must be screened to monitor academic integrity using Turnitin software, and a mark of zero will be given if your work contains ANY copied material. You will be able to screen your work using Turnitin prior to final submission to help you to identify, remove and rewrite any copied material. All assignments should also be submitted as a hard copy and on a CD, and must be accompanied by a standard QUT coversheet.
You should refer to the past examination papers held in the QUT Library as early as possible in the Semester and practice answering the questions. You should also attempt to answer the 'Test Yourself' questions at the bottom of each lecture outline. If you have any questions or would like to review your answers to these questions you are encouraged to contact the unit coordinator for feedback.
Late Submission and Requests for Extensions
Assessment tasks may be submitted prior to the due date but late submissions will not be accepted, unless an alternative date has been approved by your unit coordinator. If you need to lodge an application for an extension it must be done before the assessment task is due, and using the application form found at
Assessment name:
Laboratory/Practical
Description:
One hour test completed in class based on the application of the theoretical and practical material covered in weeks 1 to 6 of this unit. (Formative and summative)
Relates to objectives:
1, 2 and 3.
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 7
Assessment name:
Literature Review
Description:
1,500 to 2,000 words and only references sourced from refereed journals may be cited. Use of illustrations is encouraged. Topics provided in your week one lecture. (Formative and summative)
Relates to objectives:
2 and 3
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 11
Assessment name:
Examination (written)
Description:
A three hour written examination that will cover all aspects of the theory and practical material/techniques studied throughout the Semester. The style is 'problem-solving' rather than just memorising facts and content. (Summative)
Relates to objectives:
1, 2 and 3
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Examination Period
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
You will be referred to appropriate peer reviewed journals, scientific articles/reports, websites and online resources as required throughout the Semester. The recommended texts for this unit are listed below. You should purchase the one that you prefer best.
· Murphy, K., Travers, P. & Walport, M. (2008) Immunobiology (7th ed.). New York, USA: Garland Science.
Or (not both),
· Male, D., Brostoff, J., Roth, D. & Roitt, I. (2006) Immunology (7th ed.). London, UK: Mosby.
Risk assessment statement
This unit includes a laboratory component where you will be required to handle or prepare samples and reagents that may be potentially infectious. In order that you become proficient in the necessary practical skills required in the workplace and at QUT you will be trained in the handling and disposal of equipment, materials and specimens in a manner associated with good laboratory practice and OHS.
You are also required to complete the online Student Health and Safety Quiz available on QUT Virtual before classes commence at the beginning of Semester. You will then submit a copy of your completion certificate for the quiz to your unit coordinator in the first week your practical classes commence. You are referred to the university's health and safety web site
If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the unit coordinator, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 05-Oct-2012
