The mammalian immune system is sometimes called a “liquid organ,” capable of rapidly initiating and then resolving potent responses to pathogens at almost any location in the organism. What protein machinery drives immune cells’ rapid migration? How do cells make pathfinding decisions around barriers? How do they find rare pathogens or target cells in complex environments?
This course will begin by examining the general immunological functions of two major immune cell types—T cells and dendritic cells. Through our readings and discussions, we will examine the connections between immunotherapy as an emerging treatment modality for a variety of cancers and the migration of immune cells.
This course is one of many Advanced Undergraduate Seminars offered by the Biology Department at MIT. These seminars are tailored for students with an interest in using primary research literature to discuss and learn about current biological research in a highly interactive setting. Many instructors of the Advanced Undergraduate Seminars are postdoctoral scientists with a strong interest in teaching.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Pain is useful. It’s a natural mechanism for protecting the body in humans and other animals. However, pain that is chronic and persists longer than it should is considered a disease. Research has revealed that pain is often the result of an important interplay between the immune system and the nervous system. When the body produces an inflammatory response to injury, or disease, inflammation can activate [pain circuits], sensitize them, and lead to increased and ongoing pain. Now, using nanosized particles of medicine that momentarily switch inflammation off, researchers have discovered new clues as to how chronic pain unfolds and how it might be relieved. The team began by inducing immune-based chronic pain in rats. They did so surgically by constricting the right sciatic nerve with loosely tied sutures, causing swelling and inflammation through the infiltration of white blood cells, immune cells including monocytes that become macrophages..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"The spleen is known for its ability to recycle red blood cells, but it also has a critical role in the immune system: screening blood for potential pathogens, and mounting a targeted immune response if an invader is detected. The key players behind this filtering are antigen presenting cells, or APCs, which “present” pieces of these pathogens to T cells, which can’t on their own “see” any foreign material. Recently, scientists discovered a new type of APC in the spleen, but its specific abilities remained elusive. Now, a group of Australian immunologists has systematically tested a variety of splenic APCs in mice to discover their particular functions. Antigen presentation comes in several forms, depending on the origin of the antigen -- inside or outside the cell -- and the type of T cell “seeing” that antigen. Generally, outside antigen can only be gobbled up and presented to helper T cells, which coordinate attacks with other immune cells..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This sequence explores the elements of innate and acquired immune defense mecahnisms, the cells involved, their development and maturation, and biomolecular cellular communication mechanisms required to successfully fight off infection.

This is a module framework. It can be viewed online or downloaded as a zip file.

As taught Autumn semester 2009.

Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The body fights infection through the functions of the immune system, whose power has been harnessed by the development of vaccination (immunisation).

Suitable for study at: Undergraduate levels 1 and 2.

Dr Ian Todd, School of Molecular Medical Sciences.

Dr Ian Todd is Associate Professor & Reader in Cellular Immunopathology at The University of Nottingham. After reading Biochemistry at The University of Oxford, he carried out research for his PhD in Immunology at University College London. He then undertook post-doctoral research at The Oregon Health Sciences University and The Middlesex Hospital Medical School. His main research interest is in the molecular and cellular bases of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a recipient of the Lord Dearing Award for Teaching & Learning.

Important Copyright Information:

All images, tables and figures in this resource were reproduced from 'Lecture Notes Immunology' April 2010, 6th Edition, published by Wiley-Blackwell and with full permission of the co-author and faculty member, Dr Ian Todd.

No image, table or figure in this resource can be reproduced without prior permission from publishers Wiley-Blackwell.

The MIT Biology Department core courses, 7.012, 7.013, and 7.014, all cover the same core material, which includes the fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. Biological function at the molecular level is particularly emphasized and covers the structure and regulation of genes, as well as, the structure and synthesis of proteins, how these molecules are integrated into cells, and how these cells are integrated into multicellular systems and organisms. In addition, each version of the subject has its own distinctive material.
7.012 focuses on the exploration of current research in cell biology, immunology, neurobiology, genomics, and molecular medicine.
Acknowledgments
The study materials, problem sets, and quiz materials used during Fall 2004 for 7.012 include contributions from past instructors, teaching assistants, and other members of the MIT Biology Department affiliated with course #7.012. Since the following works have evolved over a period of many years, no single source can be attributed.

The MIT Biology Department core Introductory Biology courses, 7.012, 7.013, 7.014, 7.015, and 7.016 all cover the same core material, which includes the fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. The focus of 7.013 is on genomic approaches to human biology, including neuroscience, development, immunology, tissue repair and stem cells, tissue engineering, and infectious and inherited diseases, including cancer.

The MIT Biology Department core courses, 7.012, 7.013, and 7.014, all cover the same core material, which includes the fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. Biological function at the molecular level is particularly emphasized and covers the structure and regulation of genes, as well as, the structure and synthesis of proteins, how these molecules are integrated into cells, and how these cells are integrated into multicellular systems and organisms. In addition, each version of the subject has its own distinctive material.
7.014 focuses on the application of these fundamental principles, toward an understanding of microorganisms as geochemical agents responsible for the evolution and renewal of the biosphere and of their role in human health and disease.
Acknowledgements
The study materials, problem sets, and quiz materials used during Spring 2005 for 7.014 include contributions from past instructors, teaching assistants, and other members of the MIT Biology Department affiliated with course 7.014. Since the following works have evolved over a period of many years, no single source can be attributed.

The MIT Biology Department core courses, 7.012, 7.013, and 7.014, all cover the same core material, which includes the fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. 7.013 focuses on the application of the fundamental principles toward an understanding of human biology. Topics include genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, disease (infectious agents, inherited diseases and cancer), developmental biology, neurobiology and evolution.
Biological function at the molecular level is particularly emphasized in all courses and covers the structure and regulation of genes, as well as, the structure and synthesis of proteins, how these molecules are integrated into cells, and how these cells are integrated into multicellular systems and organisms. In addition, each version of the subject has its own distinctive material.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"A new vaccine against influenza virus may offer previously unattainable levels of protection to newborn pigs. Just as humans muddle through the flu season each year, pigs across the globe are affected by their own regular outbreaks, causing notable economic losses in the pork industry. But an international research team has now shown that the newly developed vaccine can keep the virus from replicating in newborn pigs, potentially reducing the spread of disease. Historically, breeding females have been the main target for influenza control in pig populations. Females given a vaccine containing an inactive form of influenza type A virus – a key agent of respiratory disease in pigs – can confer passive immunity to their offspring. But this doesn’t stop piglets from becoming infected with or passing on the virus – it just keeps them from showing clinical signs for a short period, since any maternally derived protection will wear off over time..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This is an interactive learning adventure for middle school students and has accompanying classroom activities and magazines. In this challenge, students will perform experiments to identify the germ responsible for a fungal disease. Students will follow rules or postulates worked out by Dr. Koch in the late 1800s for establishing whether a specific germ causes a particular infectious disease: 1. The suspected pathogen must be present in every case of the disease; 2. The suspected pathogen must be isolated from the host and grown in pure culture; 3. The disease must be reproduced when a pure culture of the suspected pathogen is inoculated into a healthy susceptible host; 4. The same pathogen must be recovered from the newly infected host. The Germ Theory of Disease holds that germs or microorganisms cause infectious diseases. Funded through the National Center for Research Resources and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

This is an interactive learning adventure for middle school students and has accompanying classroom activities and magazines. In Mission Three: Nemesis in Neuropolis, students learn about viruses and vaccines while investigating a smallpox case.

This is an interactive learning adventure for middle school students and has accompanying classroom activities and magazines. In Mission Four: Malady in Mabuufo, students learn about malaria, the history of malaria research, and disease vectors.

This is a problem-based learning adventure game that engages the player in the role of scientist, historian, and detective. At the beginning, the student is presented with a problem that must be solved. During the mission, students conduct field and laboratory investigations with the aid of the MedMyst characters. This mission can be played within one class period (approximately 30 to 45 minutes) and the knowledge gained from this mission will help students understand how infectious diseases are spread. This mission covers vectors, malaria, history of malaria, and immune system. Each mission is a self-contained problem and may be played without reliance on the other missions. Also available in Spanish.

How can a tick bite cause a meat allergy? And does cranberry juice do anything to help cure a urinary tract infection? To answer these and other questions, we are going to take a dive into the molecular world of microbes. In this class, we will use the primary research literature to explore the molecular interactions between pathogens and their hosts that allow microbes to cause infectious diseases. We will examine the factors that pathogens use to colonize a host and how the host response can impact the outcome of the infection. By the end of the class, students will have both developed critical scientific skills in evaluating scientific literature and an appreciation of the microbes influencing our lives and health every day.
This course is one of many Advanced Undergraduate Seminars offered by the Biology Department at MIT. These seminars are tailored for students with an interest in using primary research literature to discuss and learn about current biological research in a highly interactive setting. Many instructors of the Advanced Undergraduate Seminars are postdoctoral scientists with a strong interest in teaching.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"herapeutic monoclonal antibodies bind proteins on tumors, which can enable the killing of cancer cells. However, there can be collateral damage to healthy tissues that also express those proteins. At CytomX , researchers are exploring the use of a new class of antibodies called Probody™ therapeutics. Masks attached to the ends of a Probody therapeutic can “blindfold” the antibody and reduce its binding to healthy tissues. However, when the antibody encounters a tumor, proteases —enzymes in the tumor microenvironment—can remove these masks to activate the antibody. In this way, Probody therapeutics are designed to maximize anti-cancer activity while minimizing harm to healthy tissue. In a new study, researchers used computer modeling to predict how Probody therapeutics can be tuned to achieve this effect. This model, comprising thousands of equations, estimates the amount of both masked and unmasked (or activated) forms of the antibody in the tumor and in the rest of the body after dosing..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This course covers introductory microbiology from a systems perspective, considering microbial diversity, population dynamics, and genomics. Emphasis is placed on the delicate balance between microbes and humans, and the changes that result in the emergence of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. The case study approach covers such topics as vaccines, toxins, biodefense, and infections including Legionnaire’s disease, tuberculosis, Helicobacter pylori, and plague.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease, or iMCD, is a deadly disorder involving a hyperactivated immune system No one knows what causes iMCD, the key cell types involved, or even what type of disease to call it -- autoimmune? cancer? The many unknowns make diagnosis and treatment extremely challenging In a new publication, researchers have uncovered several key proteins involved in iMCD By systematically comparing the levels of over 1000 molecules in blood samples from iMCD patients in flare and remission They found that levels of immune molecules known as chemokines spike during disease flares and identified the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway as a potential treatment target for patients who don't respond to first-line therapy Although these findings must still be validated on more patients the study provides new insights into iMCD and possible treatment options For more information about IMCD, visit CDCN.org Pierson, et al..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Our microbiome plays a key role in our health and contains bacteria, fungi, viruses, and archaea. However, due to several factors, the bacterial residents get the most attention. Consequently, our understanding of fungi and their interactions with other microbiome residents remains limited. A recent study addressed this by collecting data on the nasal cavity and oropharynx microbiome of healthy newborn infants. The fungal and bacterial species composition was most strongly influenced by location in the airway. However, breastfeeding status also significantly shaped both the bacterial and fungal communities in the oropharynx. Multi-kingdom microbial networks inference analysis suggested potential interactions between the fungi and bacteria. To examine potential impacts on the infants, the gene expression in their nasal cavity was also evaluated..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.