Outline

Overview

Immunology is the study of defence mechanisms that protect individuals against infections and cancers. Studies in immunology are leading advances in clinical medicine, including understanding allergies, transplant rejection, cancer and autoimmune diseases, as well as the development of new vaccines. In this unit you will explore the essential features of the immune system at the molecular and cellular level, the mechanisms of pathological immune processes and immune system dysfunction, mechanisms of immune responses to microorganisms and immunological techniques used in clinical diagnostic and research laboratories. Practical and tutorial 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 fights disease. Consequently, you will develop skills in problem-solving, evaluation of scientific literature, as well as oral and written communication skills. Upon completion, you will have developed the skills required to follow a career in medical research, clinical and diagnostic services and/or the corporate system that supports the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Department of Medical Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Undergraduate immunology and undergraduate bacteriology and virology
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Mainthan Palendira, umaimainthan.palendira@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final Exam MCQ/SAQ/Extended Responses. In person invigilation. Pen and Paper exam.	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Practical report Report based on work in practical classes	15%	Formal exam period Due date: 24 May 2024 at 10:00	5 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Pre-prac quizzes MCQ, non-written elements	5%	Multiple weeks	5 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Online In-semester quiz In-semester MCQ and SAQ quiz that covers content from Blocks 1-3.	20%	Week 10 Due date: 14 May 2024 at 10:00	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Nobel Laureate Introduction Oral presentation	10%	Week 13 Due date: 21 May 2024 at 10:00	8 Minutes
Outcomes assessed:

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to unit and Fundamentals of innate and adaptive immunity.	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 02	Introduction to microscopy and Immunology lab techniques.	Practical (4 hr)
Week 03	Antibody-antigen interactions, Resuscitate unknown cell line + ELISA set-up.	Practical (4 hr)
Week 04	Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) + cell culture.	Practical (4 hr)
Week 05	How do T and B cells see antigen?	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 06	Antibody purification + SDS-PAGE.	Practical (4 hr)
Week 07	Immunofluorescent staining of lymphoid tissue.	Practical (4 hr)
Week 08	Immunofluorescent staining analysis.	Practical (4 hr)
Week 10	Activation of T and B cells.	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 11	Mouse dissection, spleen cell isolation and Flow cytometry.	Practical (4 hr)
Week 12	In-semester quiz	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 13	Oral Presentations and Exam prep workshop.	Workshop (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Satisfactory attendance at all tutorials and practical
classes is a requirement to pass this course. For Prinicples in Immunology, satisfactory attendance is defined as ≥ 85% which means that if you miss more than 3 workshop/practical classes without approved special consideration for illness or misadventure, you will not be allowed to pass this unit of study. A roll will be taken of attendance to all classes (workshops and practicals).

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

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Abul K Abbas, Andrew H Lichtman & Shiv Pillai. Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System. 5th Ed. 2016.

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. The oral presentation task will: • Give you valuable experience presenting to a lay audience • To expose you to the scientific achievements of your speaker • To give you an appreciation of the importance of immunology research to both the scientific and general community as it pertains to human disease
LO2. The in semester online MCQ/SAQ is designed to: • ensure that you are on top of the theory material • To provide you with the opportunity to discover the areas of immunology that your knowledge might be deficient in • Provide you with valuable experience in MCQs and SAQ in preparation for your final exam
LO3. The pre-prac quizzes will: • Allow you to gather, evaluate and deploy information relevant to a scientific problem • Demonstrate flexibility in adapting to new situations and dealing with uncertainty
LO4. Practical assignment will: • Acquire a body of evidence that you will analyse, collate and write up as a journal article. • Provide you with the knowledge and skills to discern scientific literature • Develop and create a cohesive scientific argument and explanation • Learn how to design results, figures, images and text into appropriate scientific formats.
LO5. The Final exam will assess your knowledge will require you to be familiar with the material covered in the 4 Immunology themes: –Theme 1: Basic Concepts in Immunology –Theme 2: Getting the Immune System Started –Theme 3: Keeping the Immune System Going to keep us Healthy –Theme 4: The Immune System as a Weapon
LO6. Participation in the unit give you valuable experience in how to: Write and speak effectively in a range of contexts and for a variety of different audiences and purposes. Use symbolic and non-verbal communication, such as pictures, icons and symbols as well as body language and facial expressions, effectively. Your lecturers and tutors will be an excellent source of inspiration in this regard. Present and interpret immunological data or other scientific information using graphs, tables, figures and symbols. Work as a member of a team, and take individual responsibility within the group for developing and achieving group goals.Take a leadership role in successfully influencing the activities of a group towards a common goal. Actively seek, identify, and collaborate with others in a professional and social context.

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

Support for students

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

INIM5111: Principles in Immunology

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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

Support for students

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