Class Immunology

Immunology is a scientific branch that studies the immune system and its functions. In VM, immunology enables the prophylaxis and diagnosis of economically relevant diseases. The CU seeks to provide students with basic and current concepts of immunology that will allow them to understand the importance of the immune system in its various aspects and functions as a fundamental component for the balance and maintenance of good general animal condition.

Virology is also addressed in this CU. The CU seeks to provide students with basic and current concepts of virology, including aspects related to taxonomy, biology, pathogenesis, infection cycles and viral diagnosis of different types of viruses with relevance to animal health, in order to establish appropriate control strategies. Special emphasis is given to the concepts of viral zoonoses and One Health, in order to control viral infections transmissible to humans through a global and multidisciplinary vision of health.

- Virology principles: Historical perspective, classification and characterization

- Morphology, infection cycles and viral pathogenesis

- Virus with DNA, ssRNA(-), ssRNA(+) and dsRNA genomes

- Viral zoonosis and the One Health concept

- Immune system components

- Innate and acquired immunity

- Antigenic recognition - Major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Antigen presentation.

- Cellular immunity - T lymphocytes and NK cells.

- Humoral immunity - B lymphocytes e immunoglobulins.

- Immune response type - primary and memory.

- Distinction between self and non-self.

- Vaccines - attenuated and inactivated. Good practices and boost pertinence/strategies.

- Fish immunology - components and mechanisms.

- Evason mechanisms of pathogenic agents to the immune system

- Virological and immunological diagnostics - Cell culture and in embryonated eggs, viral titer, hemmaglutination and hemmaglutination inhibition, ELISA and lateral flow immunocromatography, crossmatching and blood typification.

Theoretical: Exposition of theoretical contents using audiovisual tools. Involvement of students through analysis and discussion of concepts and group works (Supervised self-learning with jigsaw technique, in a total of 7,5h) Practical: Tutorial classes and application of methodologies and protocols used in immunology. Group work concerning those practical methodologies

Continuous evaluation:

1. Practical evaluation: 2 tests (Immunology - 50%; Virology - 35%) and 2 oral presentations (7.5% Virology and 7.5% One Health). Minimum of 9.5 values in Immunology and 9.5 values in mean with the test and the two oral presentations in Virology.

2.Theoretical evaluation: 2 theoretical tests (Imunology and Virology - 50% each). Minimum of 9.5 values in each test.

Final written exam in case of no approval in continuous evaluation. Minimum of 9.5 values in this evaluation.

Final UC evaluation: Weighted average of 50% theoretical and 50% practical assessments.

- Flint, J., Racaniello, V.R., Rall, G. F., Hatziioannou, T., Skalka, A. M. (2020). Principles of Virology (5th ed.). USA: Wiley.

- Malik, Y., Singh, R., Yadav, M. (2019). Recent Advances in Animal Virology. Singapore: Springer.

- Tizard, I. (2018). Veterinary Immunology (10th ed.). USA: Elsevier.

- MacLachlan, N., Dubovi, E. (2017). Fenner's Veterinary Virology (5th ed.). United Kingdom: Academic Press.