Faculty of Arts & Science 2011-2012 Calendar

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Immunology

Faculty

Immunology is an integrative branch of the medical sciences that draws upon the more traditional disciplines of Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Pathology, and Biochemistry. In essence, Immunology is the study of the physiological responses that result when foreign (i.e. non-self) materials are introduced into a vertebrate organism such as humans. Traditionally, the discipline has focussed on the bodys response to infectious micro-organisms, with the purpose of developing effective vaccines. However, the scope of modern Immunology now encompasses all aspects of self vs. non-self recognition phenomena including organ transplantation, tumour immunology and autoimmune diseases. Recent major advances in our understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of the immune response promise to provide us with a new generation of prophylactic, therapeutic and diagnostic reagents of relevance to human and animal health.

The Department of Immunology in collaboration with Trinity College co-ordinates a specialist and major program in Immunology. The emphasis of the specialist program is to provide students with a sound theoretical understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of non-self recognition, together with sufficient laboratory experience to enable the students to consider embarking on a career in the discipline. The major program offers students fundamental training in immunology and gives the student the opportunity to combine immunology with another program in Life Sciences, Basic Sciences, or within the Arts.

Immunologists may have careers in universities and other centres of learning and research, as well as in the biotechnology industries, diagnostic laboratories and various government agencies. Courses in this specialist program are drawn from offerings by the Department, together with courses from other Departments, taught in some cases by members of the Department of Immunology. As enrolment in the specialist and major programs are restricted, please consult specific requirements outlined in the program description section.

Undergraduate Coordinator:
Dr. A. Martin

Enquiries:
Department of Immunology, Room 5267, Medical Sciences Building (416-978-0926)

More information is available on our website:
www.immunology.utoronto.ca

Immunology Programs

This is a limited enrolment subject POSt that can only accommodate a limited number of students.  Eligibility will be competitive and based on a student’s marks in the 3.0 required first-year courses:

BIO120H1, BIO130H1, (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1, and 1.0 FCE from (MAT135H1, MAT136H1)/MAT135Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1/(PHY131H1, PHY132H1)/(PHY151H1, PHY152H1) with an average of at least 70% on these 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) and a final mark of at least 60% in each course.

While it is difficult to predict what will be competitive course marks and average in a given year,  based on previous years, the estimate is: course marks =  mid 80s; average = mid 80s.

Achieving these estimated marks does not guarantee admission to the subject POSt in any given year.

Note:  Students must apply to this program on the Arts & Science Faculty Registrar’s Office website (see the Registration Handbook & Timetable for instructions).

For more information, refer to the Immunology website at www.immunology.utoronto.ca.

(13.5 full courses or their equivalents)

First Year:
BIO120H1; BIO130H1; (CHM138H1; CHM139H1) / CHM151Y1; (MAT135H1; MAT136H1) / MAT135Y1 / MAT 137Y1

First Year or upper years:
(PHY131H1; PHY132H1)¹ / (PHY151H1; PHY152H1)¹

Second Year:
1. BCH242Y1 ; BIO230H1 ; BIO260H1 / HMB265H1; CHM220H1; CHM247H1
2. One course from the following list: BIO220H1 / STA220H1 / PCL285H1

Third Year:
BCH371H1; IMM335Y1 ; MGY311Y1; MGY377H1; MGY 378H1

Fourth Year:
1. IMM435H1²
2. Two courses from the following list: IMM428H1 / IMM429H1 / IMM430H1 / MIJ485H1  
3. IMM450Y1 or one full course equivalent at the 400-series in ANA, BCH, IMM, LMP, MGY, CSB.

¹ These courses may be taken in the first year or subsequent years and are not required for entrance into the specialist program.
² This course is capped at 40 students. Priority will be given to Immunology Specialist students, followed by Immunology Major students.

This is a limited enrolment subject POSt that can only accommodate a limited number of students.  Eligibility will be competitive and based on a student’s marks in the 3.0 required first-year courses:

BIO120H1, BIO130H1, (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1, and 1.0 FCE from (MAT135H1, MAT136H1)/MAT135Y1/MAT137Y1/MAT157Y1/(PHY131H1, PHY132H1)/(PHY151H1, PHY152H1) with an average of at least 70% on these 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) and a final mark of at least 60% in each course.

While it is difficult to predict what will be competitive course marks and average in a given year,  based on previous years, the estimate is: course marks =  high 70s; average = high 70s.

Achieving these estimated marks does not guarantee admission to the subject POSt in any given year.

Note:  Students must apply to this program on the Arts & Science Faculty Registrar’s Office website (see the Registration Handbook & Timetable for instructions).

For more information, refer to the Immunology website at www.immunology.utoronto.ca.

(8 full courses or their equivalents, including two 400-series courses)

First Year:
BIO120H1; BIO130H1; CHM138H1; CHM139H1

Second Year:
1. BCH210H1; BIO230H1; IMM250H1; BIO260H1/HMB265H1
2. One course from the following list: BIO220H1/STA220H1/PCL285H1

Third Year:
IMM334Y1; CSB349H1/BCH311H1; One full-course equivalent from the following list: BCH370H1/MGY377H1/MGY378H1/PHL281H1
Fourth Year¹:
One full-course equivalent from the following list: IMM428H1/IMM429H1/IMM430H1/ IMM435H1³/MIJ485H1²

¹ Students considering graduate school are encouraged to add the additional non-compulsory IMM450Y research course, if space permits.
² MIJ485H1 requires MGY377H1 & MGY378H1 as pre-requisites.
³ This course is capped at 40 students. Priority will be given to Immunology Specialist students, followed by Immunology Major students.

Immunology Courses

The 199Y1 and 199H1 seminars are designed to provide the opportunity to work closely with an instructor in a class of no more than twenty-four students. These interactive seminars are intended to stimulate the students’ curiosity and provide an opportunity to get to know a member of the professorial staff in a seminar environment during the first year of study. Details here.

Students will be introduced to the basic concepts of immunity to infectious disease and how breakdown of the immune response can lead to auto-immunity. We will trace the history of current ideas in immunology and the immune response by examining how bacteria and viruses cause disease and the initial discoveries that led to such developments as vaccination. Current topical and newsworthy infectious diseases (HIV, tuberculosis, SARS, avian flu) will be used as examples of how the immune system copes with microbial infections.

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. Details here.

The basic principles of immunology; tissues and cells of the immune system; cell biology of the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses; immunogenetics; immunoglobulin structure, function and biosynthesis; immunological techniques; immunopathology; infection and immunity; transplantation, autoimmunity and tumour immunology.

The fundamental principles of immunology; tissues and cells of the immune system; humoral and cell-mediated immune responses; immunogenetics; immunoglobulin structure, function and biosynthesis; immunopathology; infection and immunity; transplantation, autoimmunity and tumour immunology. Intended for students specializing in immunology and related programs, and requiring a more intensive background in biochemistry and molecular biology than IMM334Y1.

This course will focus on the molecular and cellular biology of immune recognition. The course will emphasize historical and recent experimental evidence leading to our current understanding of immune recognition. Subtopics are subject to change and  have recently included mechanisms of diversification of immunoglobulin receptors, T cell –MHC interactions, T cell activation and signaling mechanisms; receptors of the innate immune system, immune recognition by natural killer cells.

Hematopoiesis, myelopoiesis, lymphopoiesis, a study of the development of cells involved in the immune system including their ontogeny, physical, molecular, and biochemical characteristics, regulation of differentiation and maturation, positive and negative selection of lymphocytes.

This course will address the underlying pathogenesis as well as highlight the challenges of treating immune-related conditions
such as autoimmunity, cancer, HIV, and transplantation and graft rejection. Half of the lectures will address the genetics and cellular pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes and lupus. Other lectures will overview a number of immunological challenges faced in the clinic, such as preventing graft rejection after transplantation or boosting the immune system to fight cancer and HIV.

Application of basic principles acquired from IMM334Y1/IMM335Y1; immunological procedures performed in research and diagnostic laboratories using molecular and cellular approaches; instruction through lectures, video tapes, and practical exercises in the laboratory.

An opportunity for specialized research in Immunology under the supervision of a member of the Faculty. There are no pre- or co-requisites, although preference is given to Immunology Specialist and Major students.

Analysis of the strategies used by pathogenic microbes to evade specific and innate immune responses, and the strategies used to combat infectious disease using vaccines, with an emphasis on molecular and immunological aspects. Special topics include: molecular basis of pathogenicity and immune-evasion strategies; vaccination strategies; challenges to vaccine implementation (given jointly by the Departments of Molecular Genetics and Immunology).