Information for the student – Advanced Immunology

1. Antibodies (3 ECTS): Criteria for the selection of commercial antibodies. Validation of antibodies for research. Obtaining immunogens to generate a specific antibody response. Obtaining polyclonal antibodies. Generation of monoclonal antibody-secreting hybridomas. Characterization of antibodies and generation of antibody batches. Purification of antibodies. Application of antibodies in basic research. Validation of immunoassays. Monoclonal antibodies in immunotherapy. Antibodies as immunosensors.
2. Flow Cytometry (3 ECTS): Fundamentals of flow cytometry. Practical aspects. Multicolor flow cytometry. Quality control in flow cytometry analysis. Cell separation and applications. Analysis of complex biological fluids. New trends in cytometry. Multidimensional analysis by flow cytometry, practical exercises.

3. Advanced Techniques in Immunology (3 ECTS): Description of culture techniques for the study of T lymphocytes. Explanation of proliferation and suppression assays with regulatory T cells. Analysis of cytokine production. Immunomagnetic separation of cell subpopulations and purity analysis by flow cytometry. Different PCR techniques. Description of available bioinformatics tools and their practical application.

1. Vaccines and Convergent Technologies (3 ECTS): To determine the molecular mechanisms involved in the generation and use of vaccines, and the biological basis of its modulation. Identification of the main problems in obtain  ing highly efficient vaccines with broad spectrum. Understanding physical-chemical technologies applied to the study of immunological parameters, microsystems, nanotechnology, surface functionalization, biocompatible materials, bionanosensores. 
2. Experimental Immunomanipulation and Animal models (3 ECTS): training students to design experiments that lead to specific or general handling of the cellular and molecular components of the immune system and for choosing the most appropriate models and methods for obtaining their goals by manipulating the immune system. To provide students with the knowledge of the key animal models for the study of immunology and immunopathology.
3. Immunopharmacology (3 ECTS): knowledge of current uses of components of the immune system to specific therapies, such as cytokines, monoclonal antibodies and the search for therapeutic targets for these reagents. Ethical connotations.

1. Traslational Immunology (6 ECTS): autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Organ-specific and systemic autoimmunedideseases. Mechanisms of autoimmunity. Practical laboratory diagnostic methods applied to these pathologies. Update of knowledge in solid organ and stem cells transplantation from various sources. Bone marrow, umbilical cord blood. Immunology of pregnancy. Practical laboratory diagnostic methods applied to these pathologies. Primary Immunodeficiencies. Acquired immunodeficiency. Biology of retroviruses. Immune response to HIV. AIDS. Potential vaccines. Practical laboratory diagnostic methods applied to these pathologies. Primary Immunodeficiencies. Acquired immunodeficiency. Biology of retroviruses. Immune response to HIV. AIDS. Potential vaccines. Practical laboratory diagnostic methods applied to these pathologies. Humoral and cellular basis of the allergic response. Allergens. Treatment of allergic diseases. Public health significance. Practical laboratory diagnostic methods applied to these pathologies.
2. Neuroimmunology (3 ECTS): interaction between the immune system and nervous system. Nervous system diseases caused by malfunction of the immune system. Multiple sclerosis as a paradigm.

Master Thesis
In any of the three specialties, students must develop a concrete lab. work throughout the academic year consisting of 24 ECTS. The work should be monitored closely by a doctor (tutor) who will be monitoring the development of work. Before starting the research activity will be defined the general purpose and approach of the experiments to be performed by the student. The experimental of work has to be combined with a time for review the literature at the criteria of the tutor. The last two months will be devoted to writing the memory of the work structured with the usual format of 1) introduction, 2) objective, 3) materials and methods, 4) results, 5) discussion, 6) conclusions, 7) references, following the rules of the Master's Commission. The work ends with the oral presentation of the work in front off a committee of experts appointed by the Commission of the Master.