Faculty of Arts & Science 2014-2015 Calendar

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Immunology

• Immunology Specialist | Immunology Major | Immunology Minor
• Immunology Courses

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 specialist, major, and minor programs 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 and minor programs offer 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 7205, Medical Sciences Building (416-978-0926)

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

Immunology Programs

Immunology Programs

Immunology Specialist (Science program)

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, (MAT135H1, MAT136H1)/MAT137Y1 with an average of at least 70% on these 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) and a final mark of at least 65% 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 A&S Current Students Subject POSt Enrolment website.

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)/MAT137Y1

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:
BCH377H1; IMM341H1; IMM351H1 ; MGY311Y1; MGY377H1; MGY378H1

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 2.0 required first-year courses:

BIO120H1, BIO130H1, (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1 with an average of at least 70% on these 2.0 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 A&S Current Students Subject POSt Enrolment website.

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. 0.5 full-course equivalent (0.5 FCE) from the following list: BIO220H1/STA220H1/PCL285H1

Third Year:
IMM340H1; IMM350H1; 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.

This program has unlimited enrolment and no specific admission requirements. All students who have completed at least 4.0 courses are eligible to enrol.

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

(4 full courses or their equivalents)

First Year:
BIO120H1; BIO130H1; (CHM138H1, CHM139H1)/CHM151Y1

Second Year:
BIO230H1; IMM250H1

Third Year:
IMM340H1; IMM350H1

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 can be found at www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/course/fyh-1/.

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 at http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/course/rop. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

This course introduces the basic principles and key players of the immune system: differences and interplay between innate and adaptive immunity, how immune cells develop and function, how immune cells recognize threats and danger and mount an appropriate and measured response.

This course introduces the fundamental principles and key players of the immune system: differences and interplay between innate and adaptive immunity, how immune cells develop and function, how immune cells recognize threats and danger and mount an appropriate and measured response. Intended for students specializing in Immunology and related programs.

This course illustrates how different elements of the immune system come together to mount efficient and measured responses. Topics include response to infectious microorganisms, allergy and autoimmunity, immune responses against cancer, and transplantation immunology.

This course illustrates how different elements of the immune system come together to mount efficient and measured responses. Topics include response to infectious microorganisms, allergy and autoimmunity, immune responses against cancer, and transplantation immunology. Intended for students specializing in Immunology and related programs.

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. Not eligible for CR/NCR option.

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).