IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY
cod. 12731

Academic year 2020/21
2° year of course - First semester
Professor responsible for the course unit
ALFIERI Roberta
integrated course unit
6 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN

Course unit structured in the following modules:

Learning objectives

The objectives of the integrate course are to enable the acquisition of knowledge and understanding about mechanisms and alterations of the innate and adaptive immune response, understanding about the ABO blood, the rhesus (Rh) blood groups, the others blood group antigens, and problems related to blood transfusion. the immmunoemathologic tests. Provide information on criteria for assessing donor suitability and type of blood components donation.. Provide the basics on complications following blood transfusion and their handling .Great emphasis will be given to the application of immunology in the context of laboratory practice in order to allow the student to apply the knowledge gained to understanding the mechanisms of action of antibodies and to identify potential antigens for the acquisition of useful skills for the future profession in the context of biomedical laboratory.

Prerequisites

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Course unit content

The integrate course includes the treatment of aspects related Immunology, Immunopathology Immunoemathology and transfusional medicine.

Full programme

Blood. Innate immunity. Acquired immunity. Antigens. The structural and functional aspects of Antibodies. T and B lymphocytes and their receptors. The Major Histocompatibility System (MHC). Activation of B and T lymphocytes. Anatomy of the immune system. Effectors of the immune response: antibodies, T helper lymphocytes and cytokines, T cytotoxic lymphocytes. Immunity to bacteria, virus and protozoa. Vaccinations. Primary and secondary immunodeficiencies. Hypersensitivity. Immunological tolerance and autoimmune diseases. Tumor immunology. Transplantation.
ABO blood groups and serum antibodies. The rhesus (Rh) blood groups. Other blood groups. Haemolytic disease of the newborn.
Basic knowledge on the taking of a blood sample and fitness of donors.
Blood components and plasma by-products: properties, directions for use, preparation procedures,preservation,quality and safety requirements
Complications following blood transfusion and their handling.
Immunoenzymatic specific techniques, NAT techniques, serological investigations for the research of viral Ag and specific Ab, techniques of preparation of blood components of I ° and II ° level and technique for the determination of the blood group and of the Rh factor.

Bibliography

Abbas A.K. Le basi dell'immunologia Edra V edizione
Del Gobbo V. Immunologia per le professioni sanitarie PICCIN IV edizione
G.Di Minno,F. Cirillo, G. Reali "Emocoagulazione ed emostasi. Immunoematologia e trasfusione " II Edizione. PICCIN
Immunoematologia e trasfusione " II Edizione PICCIN"
Technical Manual of the American Assoc. of Blood Banks (15° edizione)

Teaching methods

The topics in the program will be presented and discussed through lectures, with the aid of iconographic material, trying to involve the student so that it can be an active part of the lesson.
According to the regulation of the Italian Government and the University of Parma about the COVID-19 pandemics, the present course is realized with frontal lessons via mixed in-presence and at-distance modality. In particular, the teacher takes lessons in the classroom with the help of PC (Powerpoint slides) ; simultaneous connection of the PC to the Teams platform in streaming modality ensures connection with students not present in the classroom. Each lesson is registered and loaded in the Elly portal of the course, together with the slides.
The teachers are available for further explanations in office or by distance via Teams after e-mail appointment, or via chat on Elly platform.

Assessment methods and criteria

Learning outcomes will be verified through an oral examination. Questions on the topics relating to the course will be used to test knowledge and understanding of the student in the discipline, and her/his ability to apply such knowledge and understanding in occupational contexts. Using the knowledge acquired in the integrate course the student must demonstrate knowledge and understanding about the mechanisms of immune system activity in fisiologic and patologic conditions and in the immunohematologic context. The course also aims to provide the ability to apply immumohematolgic techniques in the occupational contexts.Failure to answer to one question, or proven inability to demonstrate at least a basic knowledge on the subject, will prevent the successful completion of the exam. Upon successful completion of the examination, the final grade will be decided jointly by the examiners, according to the degree of achievement of the objectives (excellent, good, fair, fully sufficient, barely sufficient). Honours will be reserved to students demonstrating particular communication skills and independent learning ability, together with an overall excellent evaluation.

In case the COVID-related sanitary emergence continues, the examination will proceed on the Teams platform (see the guidelines at the address: http://selma.unipr.it/).

Other information

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