DESCRIPTION

The field of immunology has exponentially expanded in the last few decades. This has resulted in the rise of several powerful immunodiagnostic techniques that have revolutionized clinical analysis laboratory medicine including the study of microbial detection. While the mechanism of antibody production in response to antigenic challenge is poorly understood, the opposite is true of reactions between antigen and antibody. This is not surprising, since these reactions can be studied both in vivo and in vitro in a range of model systems. The understanding of these processes has proved of enormous benefit to the biochemist during recent years, and a wide range of immunological techniques for both the qualitative and quantitative estimation of antigens and antibodies have been developed. The usefulness of antibodies for the detection of biologically important molecules derives from two fundamental properties. First, their remarkable specificity for antigen can make possible the identification and quantitation of molecules in complex biological media such as plasma even in the presence of structurally related molecules. Second, the energy of reaction between antigen and antibody is frequently extremely high, thus allowing the reaction to be monitored at very low concentrations provided a suitable method of detection is used.

OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES

After completing the course students will:

Have an understanding of the basic principles of immunology and an introduction to methods used in immunological research.

Have have a good theoretical knowledge of methods like PCR, Gel electrophoresis, ELISA, RIA, Western blotting, Liquid beta scintillation counting technique and many more.

Gain in depth knowlegde of a relevant reaserch article and present this for the group.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Midterm exam: 30

Final exam: 50

Sessional: 20

1. Assignment/Presentation: 10
2. Class Tasks:  10