Immune System Basics: Natural & B-Cell Defense

This introductory module covers the fundamental differences between adaptive and innate immune systems, characteristics of various pathogens, and overall protection strategies. Students learn through metaphors to improve understanding and retention of basic immunology concepts.

This module provides a comprehensive overview of the immune system's cellular and organ components, covering terminology, hematopoiesis, various cell types including myeloid granulocytes, antigen-presenting cells, lymphocytes, and both primary and secondary immune organs.

This module explores the basic considerations of innate immunity, inflammation processes, how innate immune system targets pathogens, myeloid cell function, and the comparison between innate and adaptive immunity.

This module covers the immunoglobulin superfamily, form and function of antibodies, different immunoglobulin classes, specific Ig types, immunoglobulins in action, Fc biological activity, B cell receptors, and monoclonal antibodies.

This module delves into the unique aspects of the immunoglobulin gene system, covering gene expression, light and heavy chain expression, rearrangement processes, recombination mechanisms, antibody diversity generation, class switching, and protein synthesis and secretion.

This module focuses on B cell maturation and development, covering initial steps in bone marrow, activation processes, primary and secondary responses, anatomical context, affinity maturation, final developmental decisions, and regulation mechanisms.

This concluding module serves as the final assessment component of the course, including a farewell video and comprehensive final examination to test understanding of all previous module content.