BIO292 The Immune System, Food and Health

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Siv Kjølsrud Bøhn

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:100

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:Lectures: 30 hrs per semester, group activities: 60 hrs per semester, self studies: 210 hrs per semester, total: 300 hrs.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in the autumn parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in the autumn parallel, .

About this course

The course provides a thorough introduction to the immune system's structure, function and regulation. Both the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system will be reviewed, including the immune response to viruses (e.g SARS-CoV2) , bacteria, parasites and cancer cells. Furthermore, the development of B cells, T cells, NK cells and antigen presenting cells will be reviewed in detail. Special emphasis will be put on understanding the mechanisms behind immunological tolerance and the importance of the intestinal bacteria for the immune system. This will provide basic knowledge for a further specialization in special conditions related to the mucous membrane's immunology and biology, as well as mechanisms for the development of food allergies and diseases associated with immunological intolerance. The importance of food, beyond the nutritional aspects, for an effective infection defense, and the importance of the immune system for the development of lifestyle diseases will be addressed. Relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals for the topic will be Goal 3 : 'Good health and Well being'

Learning outcome

Knowledge: After completing the course, the students will have gained advanced knowledge on the structure and function of the immune system.

Skills: The students will be able to explain how the immune system responds to infections and cancer. They will also understand the mechanisms involved in problems with immunological tolerance, such as celiac disease and other hypersensitivity reactions associated with food such as allergies. Furthermore, the students will also be able to explain why diet is important for the composition of the intestinal microbiota and how the interaction between the diet and the intestinal bacteria affects health.

General competence: Through lectures and supervised discussion groups, the students will have the opportunity to work through central theoretical issues that are relevant for their future careers and practice.

Learning activities
Lectures (in English), supervised discussion groups and exercises (in Norwegian/English).
Teaching support
The course responsible may be contacted via e-mail: sivb@nmbu.no.
Canvas.
Prerequisites
Background in cell biology equivalent to BIO100, background in biochemistry equivalent to KJB200, background in microbiology equivalent to BIO130.
Recommended prerequisites
Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology equivalent to HFX201.
Assessment method
Final digital written English campus exam (3 hrs) with exercises from central parts of the curriculum. Counts 85 %.
Two partial exams during the parallell, counts 15 %.
Examiner scheme
An external examiner will assess a minimum of 25 selected exam papers.
Mandatory activity
The two first lectures are compulsory. Two, mandatory multiple choise (MP) tests must be passed (grade E or better) to be able to take the final exam. The first MP test will be given in the first third of the course; the second in the last third of the course. In total the two mandatory MP will count 15% of the total grade for the course.
Teaching hours
Lectures: 2-4 hrs/week. Group activities: 1-2 hrs/week.
Preferential right
B-MAT, M-MAT, B-BIOTEK, M-BIOTEK
Reduction of credits
This course is 100 % identical to the former course MVI292
Admission requirements
Special requirements in Science