Introduction to ImmunologyCassim Akhoon

Learning Objectives of Part 1

Loving immunology as a career and hobby!

Appreciating the immune system and its components

The innate immune system

Antibodies, lymphocytes and generating diversity

Common Misconceptions

It’s just all research and no patient contact! It’s for those with no people skills! It’s not going to help my career It’s boring! It’s far too complicated and difficult! I prefer another speciality which allows me to use what I

learnt at medical school more! I’d rather be a GP so I can have a life outside of

medicine!

A Career in Clinical Immunology

MRCP & MRCPath – OP Clinics + IP input General speciality (~80% of internal medicine) All the perks of research and diagnostics Opportunity to be a pioneer Very complex patients and limited guidelines Fascinating technology (lasers!) Plenty of attention as students Incredible family-friendly working life

Need for an immune system

The world’s a dangerous place, many things are trying to kill us! Sometimes even our own body tries to kill us…

We are covered with various microorganisms – many of which are pathogenic if they invade tissue

Core Functions of the Immune System Surveillance Recognition and specificity Effector Response and Recruiting reinforcements Memory and Memory re-call

Therefore, important roles in diagnostics and therapies

Meet The Family!

Soluble Components Complements – Small proteins in the blood, made in the liver, complements

antibodies and phagocytes and can cause microbial cell lysis.

Cytokines – Secreted by cells to act on cells, e.g. interferons and interleukins

Chemokines – chemotaxis, attracts cells along a chemotactic gradient, e.g. CCR5 and CXCR4 (also used by HIV to gain entry into cells)

Antibodies – Specific antigen binding. Produced by plasma cells. Various functions

Antibodies