BIOL452: IMMUNOLOGY                                                SPRING 2010
Dr. Marcia C. Coss                                                                               King Hall Room 3014
Phone:    (Office) 993-4031                                                                 E-mail: mcoss@gmu.edu
Office hours: Wednesdays 4:30 - 6:30 PM or by appointment
Text: Murphy, Travers and Walport 2008, Immunobiology, 7th edition, Garland Publishing, Inc.

DATE  TOPIC  CHAPTER

Jan.    20
Jan.    25
Jan.    27 
 Feb.     1
Feb.     3
Feb.   15
Feb.   17
Feb.   22
Feb.   24
Mar.     1  
Mar.     3
Mar.     8
Mar.   10
Mar.   15
Mar.   17
Mar.   22
Mar.   24
Mar.   29
Mar.   31
Apr.     5
Mar.     7
Apr.   12 
Apr.   14
Apr.   19
Apr.   21
Apr.   26
Apr.  28
May     3
May     5     
May     7**

May   12 

Introduction & Overview of Class
Components of the Immune System 
Principals of Innate & Acquired Immune Systems
Innate Immunity 
Complement 
Induced Innate Responses to Infection
BCR & TCR Structure  & Antigen Recognition
BCR & TCR Gene Rearrangement
*EXAM #1
Antigen Presentation to T-Lymphocytes 
General Principles of Transmembrane Signaling
NO CLASS – Spring Break
NO CLASS – Spring Break
Signaling through Lymphocyte Receptors
B-cell Development in the Bone Marrow
T-cell Development in the Thymus
Positive and Negative Selection of T-cells
B- & T- cell Survival in Secondary Lymphoid Tissues 
*EXAM #2
T-cell Mediated Immune Responses
T-cell Mediated Immune Responses, cont’d
The Humoral Immune Response 
The Humoral Immune Response, continued 
Dynamics of Adaptive Immunity 
Immune Deficiencies 
HIV & AIDS
*EXAM #3
Allergy and Hypersensitivity
Autoimmunity and Transplantation
Immunologists Toolbox       **NOTE - FRIDAY
                                       
***FINAL EXAM at 9:45  - 11:45 AM 

1
1
1
2
2
2
3
4
Lectures 1/20 – 2/17
5
6
Spring Break
Spring Break
6
7
7
7
7
Lectures 2/22 – 3/24
8
8
9
9
10
12
12
Lectures 3/29 - 4/21
13
14
Appendix I

Lectures 4/26 – 5/7**
 
NOTE - Revised schedule as of 2/12/2010
  

 

*If a class in which an exam is to be given is not met by the faculty member because of bad weather, illness, transportation delays, etc. the exam is automatically rescheduled for the next class meeting.

*All exams must be taken at the scheduled times; there are no makeup exams. A grade of “0" will be recorded for each missed exam.

*All students are required to take the final exam.

GRADING POLICY:
 
Exam 1  100 points
Exam 2  100 points
Exam 3  100 points
Final exam (40% cumulative#) 100 points
FINAL GRADE %  TOTAL points/400 points

Grading scale:  90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, < 60% = F
NOTE: In addition, grades of +/- may be used at the discretion of the instructor.

GRADING POLICY DESCRIPTION:

There will be three (3) in class exams given during the semester and a final exam each worth 100 points. The 3 semester exams will consist of matching, definition, short answer, true/false, fill in the blank and long essays questions.

The **final exam will have the following format: the first 60 points will be on material covered after the third semester exam and will have a format similar to the three semester exams (matching, definitions, short answer, T/F, fill in the blank  and a 10 point essay ); the remaining 40 points will be the cumulative portion in the form of two - 20 point essay questions.  All students are required to take the final exam.

The final grade for the course will be computed by adding up the points earned on the three semester exams and the points earned on the final exam and divided by 400.

All exams must be taken at the scheduled times; there are no make up exams. A grade of “0" will be recorded for each missed exam.

#NOTE:  Those students with an average of 90 or above after the three semester exams will be excused from the cumulative portion of the final exam. For these students, the average of the three semester exams will be substituted for the 40 points of the final exam.

The GMU Honor Code is in effect at all times. Cheating will not be tolerated and it is your duty as a GMU student to report any violations of the Honor Code to your instructor.

OPTIONAL COURSE MATERIALS:

1. Study guides and sample exams
    Available throughout the semester at: http://mason.gmu.edu/~mcoss/452/index.html
2. Course lecture notes
    Available through the class email account (listserv) - Information on subscribing to the class list serv available at: http://mason.gmu.edu/~mcoss/452/index.html
3. Classwire - web based course information: http://www.classwire.com/garland

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Page last updated: February 12, 2010