BIOS9914 – Cellular and Molecular Immunology
Course description
Course content
The course covers central topics in immunology for students who already have a basic knowledge of immunology. The focus is on the adaptive immune system in 1) defense against pathogens,?2) immune-mediated disease, 3)?manipulation of the immune system to improve health (e.g. vaccines and immunotherapy), 4) evolution of adaptive immunity. Central topics are allergy, autoimmunity and cancer immunology.?
Learning outcome
After completing the course, you will:
have a detailed understanding of the cellular and molecular basis for how the immune systems of vertebrates, with a particular emphasis on humans, operate
understand how the immune system protects against disease, but?may also cause disease and how it can be manipulated to fight disease
gain knowledge about the many strong immunology research groups in Oslo
know how to?critically read?and present scientific articles to?peers
discuss immunology concepts with peers and scholars with different background
Admission to the course
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through?Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must?apply for a position as a visiting student?within a given deadline.
Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:
- Master students and PhD candidates at the MN faculty who have the course as part of the approved curriculum.
- Students with admission to single courses on master’s level and exchange students
Applicants are ranked by credits in each group; all applicants within 1st rank before applicants in 2nd etc. If admission is limited to a fixed number of participants, admission will be decided by drawing lots for students who are ranked equally
Recommended previous knowledge
A general cell biology course?with immunology, such as BIOS3700 – Cell Biology 2, is strongly recommended. BIOS3700 uses The Cell (Alberts et al., 6th Edition) as textbook. The content of Chapters 23: Pathogens and Infection and Chapter 24: The Innate and Adaptive Immune System, is assumed as?prior knowledge for students taking this course.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with BIOS5914 – Cellular and molecular Immunology.
- 7 credits overlap with MBV4250 – Basic immunology and immunological techniques (discontinued).
- 7 credits overlap with MBV9250 – Basic immunology and immunological techniques (discontinued).
- 7 credits overlap with MBV4260 – Advanced immunology (discontinued).
- 7 credits overlap with MBV9260 – Advanced immunology (discontinued).
Teaching
This course consists of:
lectures
seminars
colloquia
student presentations
peer grading
As part of the teaching, all PhD candidates will hold an individual presentation on an immunologic topic for the other participants on the course. The topic is agreed upon by the candidate and the instructor.?
Attendance is mandatory for the first lecture, also for those on the waiting list. You will lose your seat on the course if documentation for valid absence is not provided to the student administration?studieinfo@ibv.uio.no?prior to the first lecture.Attendance is also mandatory for the seminars and for the student presentations, including paper presentations given by Master's students.
Examination
Final written exam, 3?hours. Counts 60?% towards the finale grade.?
Student presentation of an immunologic topic (20-30 minutes presentation). Counts 20 % towards the final grade. Grade given by instructor and peer grading.
An obligatory assignment (essay style of about 1200 words). Counts 20 % towards the final grade.?Grade given by instructor and peer grading.
All three elements must be passed to pass the course.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: MBV4260 – Advanced immunology (discontinued), MBV9260 – Advanced immunology (discontinued), MBV4250 – Basic immunology and immunological techniques (discontinued), MBV9250 – Basic immunology and immunological techniques (discontinued) and BIOS5914 – Cellular and molecular Immunology.
Examination support material
In the event that the exam can be given in a University exam room, no support material will be allowed. If the containment strategy for the coronavirus necessitates a home exam, all support material will be allowed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English.You may submit your response in Norwegian or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.