Outline

Overview

Immunobiology is the study of defence mechanisms that protect living organisms against life-threatening infections. In this unit of study you will explore the essential features of the host immune responses mounted by animals, both vertebrates and invertebrates, plants and microbes themselves. Studies in animal and microbial immunobiology are leading to breakthroughs in veterinary and clinical medicine, including combating infectious diseases, maximising transplant success, treating allergies, autoimmune diseases and cancer, as well as the development of new vaccines to prevent disease. Understanding the immunobiology of plants also enables us to protect crops from disease which enhances our food security. In this unit of study you will be provided with an overview of immunobiology as a basic research science. We will explore the nature of the immune cells and molecules that recognise danger and how the immune system of animals and plants respond at the cellular and molecular level. Practical and workshop sessions are designed to illustrate particular concepts introduced in other face-to-face activities. Further self-directed learning activities, including online learning activities, will facilitate integration of fundamental information and help you apply this knowledge to the ways in which the host organism defends against disease. Upon completion, you will have developed the foundations to undertake further studies in Biology, Animal Health, Immunology and Pathology. Ultimately, this could lead you to a career in medical research, biosecurity and/or Veterinary Science.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Department of Medical Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	BIOL1XX7 or (BIOL1XX8 or BIOL1XX3 or MEDS1X01) or BIOL1XX2 or MBLG1XX1
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	IMMU2911
Assumed knowledge ?	CHEM1XX1 or CHEM1903
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Scott Stimpson, scott.stimpson@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final exam Final exam consisting of MCQs and SAQs	40%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Pre-practical quiz MCQs about the content of the practical classes.	10%	Multiple weeks	10 mins
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Comprehension table A short MCQ quiz about the Title & Abstract journal article.	5%	Week 07 Due date: 04 Apr 2023 at 10:00	5 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Title and abstract written task Written abstract of no more than 250 words.	15%	Week 07 Due date: 04 Apr 2023 at 10:00	250 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Oral presentation 5 minute pre-recorded presentation about immune cells from blood smears.	15%	Week 08 Due date: 20 Apr 2023 at 10:00	5 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Practical exam 2 (Theory of Practical Exam) MCQs and SAQs relating to the content of the practical classes.	15%	Week 13 Due date: 23 May 2023 at 10:00	60 Minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

All assessment tasks.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars established by the faculty.
Distinction	75 - 84	To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars established by the faculty.
Credit	65 - 74	To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars established by the faculty.
Pass	50 - 64	To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars established by the faculty.
Fail	0 - 49	To be awarded to students who, in their performance in assessment tasks, fail to demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard established by the faculty. This grade, with corresponding mark, should also be used in cases where a student fails to achieve a mandated standard in a compulsory assessment, thereby failing to demonstrate the learning outcomes to a satisfactory standard. In such cases the student will receive the mark awarded by the faculty up to a maximum of 49.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Any work submitted electronically after 11.59 pm on the due date will be considered to have been submitted late. For every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work. Any work submitted more than ten calendar days after the due date a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	What is an immune system and why is it important?	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	The components of the immune system	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	The Innate immune system	Lecture (1 hr)
	Innate immune sensing	Lecture (1 hr)
	Introduction to microscopy & immunohistology	Practical (3 hr)
Week 03	The Complement System	Lecture (1 hr)
	MHC and antigen presentation	Lecture (1 hr)
	Types of immunity	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 04	B cells and antibodies	Lecture (1 hr)
	T cells	Lecture (1 hr)
	Fundamental immunology laboratory techniques	Practical (3 hr)
Week 05	Initiation of lymphocyte responses	Lecture (1 hr)
	Helper T cells	Lecture (1 hr)
	Components of the immune system	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 06	Killer T Cells	Lecture (1 hr)
	Immune system memory	Lecture (1 hr)
	Agglutination, an example of antigen-antibody Interaction	Practical (3 hr)
Week 07	Cytokines: Types and key functions	Lecture (1 hr)
	Immune Cell Movement: How do they get around?	Lecture (1 hr)
	Defence mechanisms in plants and animals	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 08	Evolution of the Immune System	Lecture (1 hr)
	Plant Immunology I	Lecture (1 hr)
	Monoclonal antibodies in research and the clinic	Practical (3 hr)
Week 09	Plant Immunology II	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Veterinary Immunology I	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Veterinary Immunology II	Lecture (1 hr)
	Immunology & Disease: Host defense and vaccination	Lecture (1 hr)
	Identifying immune cells	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 11	Immunology & Disease: Transplantation	Lecture (1 hr)
	Immunology & Disease: Autoimmunity and Allergy	Lecture (1 hr)
	Principles & practical applications of immunoassays	Practical (3 hr)
Week 12	Immunology & Disease: Resistance to COVID-19	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Immune cells in health and diseases	Workshop (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance will be recorded from students' arrival date on campus or from Feburary 20th, whichever is the earliest. From Feburary 20th (week 1), students enrolled in this unit should engage with and study all online content, as directed in the Canvas site, including the submission of any required formative tasks and completion of any asynchronous activities.

It is expected that students attend at least 80% of the practicals and tutorials in this unit of study.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Abbas, Lichtman and Pillai (2016) Basic Immunology: Functions & Disorders of The Immune System, 5th Edition

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Differentiate the types of immunity
LO2. Compare and contrast the cells and molecules of immunity in more than one organism
LO3. Describe, using examples, how plants and animals recognise and respond to pathogens
LO4. Demonstrate how principles of immunology can be used to tackle health problems
LO5. Perform experiments using cutting edge immunology techniques, then interpret and communicate the data generated

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The pre-practical quizzes time limit has been increased from 5 to 10 minutes per student feedback from previous years and will be opened and completed prior to practical classes.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

IMMU2011: Immunobiology

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect