Immunology: The Immune System and its Failures

Imperial College London via Coursera Specialization

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Provider

Coursera Specialization
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

4 weeks, 10 hours/week
Level

Intermediate

Found in

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Our online Immunology Specialisation has been developed to provide central concepts in human immunology as well as advanced topics from cutting-edge research relating to clinical disease of the immune system over five designated specialisations. The initial two courses discuss the role of the innate and adaptive immune responses serving to protect the body from harmful pathogens, which if dysregulated can also lead to immune-mediated diseases such as immunodeficiencies, autoimmunity, allergy and chronic infection, evaluated in the remaining three courses.

Syllabus

Course 1: Immunology: Innate Immune System
Course 2: Immunology: Adaptive Immune System
Course 3: Immunology: Autoimmunity, Allergy, and Transplants
Course 4: Immunology: Immune System and Infectious Diseases
Course 5: Immunology: Immune Failures and Cancer Immunology

Courses

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In this course, you will learn about the role of immune responses of the adaptive (acquired) immune system which provides specialised immunity against pathogens. Guided by our researchers in the Department of Immunity and Inflammation, we will take a closer look at the lymphocyte subsets and mechanisms involved in this delayed finely tuned response occurring days to weeks after the initial exposure to microbial antigens. We will also focus on the versatile cellular components which can distinguish between self- and nonself antigens and on how age affects the immune responses.
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Our immune system is a powerful network. It protects us from external threats, such as harmful substances and pathogenic agents, as well as cellular changes which could lead to diseases. Complications emerge when our natural defences do not function properly, which can result in immune disorders. These can take the form of less severe issues such as insect allergy. Others are more harmful, such as auto aggressive immune reactions, that lead to localised or systemic tissue damage. In this course, you will learn about immune system failures which can cause insufficient responses to internal or external threats. We will look at immune deficiencies. These weaken an individual’s immunity and leave them unable to effectively fight infections or manage disease. We will examine the consequences of chronic inflammation on the immune system, in the context of ectopic lymphoid organs. We will also examine immune system malfunctions in tumour development, and the role of viral infections in human cancer.
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In this course, you will explore the mechanisms and immune responses involved in autoimmune diseases and in hyper-responsive phenomena, such as asthma. You will examine in detail the potential causes and factors behind an overactive immune system and the disorders that might ensue if the response is not adequately controlled. you will also analyse the effects of overactive immune response in transplant rejection.
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Our immune system relies on an innate and an adaptive arm that communicate and collaborate to provide us with an optimal response against pathogens. This course focuses on our innate immunity which provides us our first, fast and inherited defence against infections. In this course, you will take a closer look at the mechanisms and cellular components involved in this swift response that occurs within minutes of exposure to a threat. Throughout the course, and guided by our active researchers, you will have opportunities to recognise its key protective mechanisms and to explain their importance for our overall health. You will learn about the mechanisms it uses to inform our adaptive immune system of the presence of a threat, and understand how some environmental factors, such as our own internal microbiome, influences it. Finally, you will have opportunities to reflect on current related issues and controversies in this fascinating field of research.
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The constant struggle between pathogens and the human immune system has been posing a significant threat to our health for thousands of years. Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide. These are typically caused by bacteria (intra- and extracellular), viruses, fungi, parasites (worms/helminths) and prions. Under normal circumstance, the immune response orchestrates a robust protection against these pathogens using both molecular and cellular mechanisms. This usually leads to direct or indirect inactivation of the infectious agent, so the disease symptoms may not appear. However, numerous pathogens have devised immune evasion strategies, which allow them to play ‘hide and seek’ with our immune system. The avoidance of human natural defences may result in host colonisation by a pathogen and thus an infection. This can manifest as disease when the infectious agent replicates and inflicts damage. In this course, you will learn about the different types of pathogens, their confrontation with human immune system, and the dramatic consequences of their evasive strategies.