More than a century ago, Elie Metchnikoff established the bases of cellular innate immunity when he discovered the mechanism of phagocytosis. However, during most of the XXth century, adaptive immunity (also known as specific immunity) focused most of the interest of the researchers, until Charles Janeway and Polly Matzinger revisited the definition of immunology. What was called “non-specific immunity” was renamed “innate immunity”, and the understanding of the sensing of the exogenous or endogenous dangers signals, and their identification revolutionized our understanding of the early mechanism aimed to defend the integrity of the host against any type of attacks including pathogens.
Nowadays, how bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi are sensed by the infected host, have been mostly deciphered. Similarly, the mechanisms of the host involved to defend its integrity against infectious process have been decoded. This MOOC describes the players and the whole orchestra involved in innate immunity against pathogens.
Prerequisites
This MOOC targets people with a medical or scientific training background who are interested in all aspects of innate immunity: medical students, scientific Master II and PhD students (Immunology, Bacteriology, Parasitology, Virology…), post-doc, physicians, pharmacists, veterinarians, and all scientists working on bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, interested to learn more about the defense mechanism of the host against their favored bug.
Course Syllabus
Week 1: Cellular players - part 1
Macrophages
Neutrophils
NK cells
NKT cells
Innate lymphoid cells
Week 2: Cellular players - part 2
T γ/δ lymphocytes
Th17 lymphocytes
Treg lymphocytes
Dentritic cells
Mast cells
Week 3: Molecular players - part 1
PAMPs
DAMPs (alarmins)
PRRs : TLR
PRRs : NLR
PRRs : RLR
Week 4: Molecular players - part 2
The complement system
Cytokines
Chemokines
Anti-microbial peptides
Week 5: Host-pathogen interactions
Anti-infectious role of cytokines
Innate immunity and bacterial infection
Innate immunity and viral infection
Innate immunity and parasitic infection
Innate immunity against fungal infection
Microbial strategies against the immune system
Mucosal innate immunity
Week 6: Regulation of innate immune response
Sepsis/ an overwhelmed innate immune response
Regulation of the immune system by the central and peripheral nervous system
Links between innate and adaptive immunity
Evolutionary genetics of the human innate immune system
Trained innate immunity
Parameters influencing immune responses
Suggested Readings
Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) and Innate Immunity
Mouse Models of Innate Immunity: Methods and Protocols
