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Immunology: Immune System and Infectious Diseases
  • Level Professional
  • Duration 11 hours
  • Course by Imperial College London
  • Offered by

About

The constant struggle between pathogens and the human immune system has been posing a significant threat to our health for thousands of years. Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide. These are typically caused by bacteria (intra- and extracellular), viruses, fungi, parasites (worms/helminths) and prions. Under normal circumstance, the immune response orchestrates a robust protection against these pathogens using both molecular and cellular mechanisms. This usually leads to direct or indirect inactivation of the infectious agent, so the disease symptoms may not appear. However, numerous pathogens have devised immune evasion strategies, which allow them to play ‘hide and seek’ with our immune system. The avoidance of human natural defences may result in host colonisation by a pathogen and thus an infection. This can manifest as disease when the infectious agent replicates and inflicts damage. In this course, you will learn about the different types of pathogens, their confrontation with human immune system, and the dramatic consequences of their evasive strategies.

Modules

Course Introduction

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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2 Videos

  • Introduction
  • Pathogens and the resources they seek

1 Readings

  • Course introduction

Immune response to bacteria

    • 5 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Week 1 Practice Quiz
  • Immune response to bacteria

5 Videos

  • Immune responses to specific pathogens
  • Immune diversity in different populations and ages
  • The immune response to bacteria: Mechanical, chemical and innate immune responses
  • The immune response to bacteria: Cellular responses to extracellular bacteria
  • The immune response to bacteria: Cellular responses to intracellular bacteria

4 Readings

  • Introduction
  • Mechanisms of immune defence against extracellular Bacteria
  • Mechanisms in immune defence against intracellular bacteria
  • Commensal bacteria in the gut

Viral immunity and evasion

    • 3 Videos
    • 6 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 3 Assignment
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3 Assignment

  • Week 2 Practice Quiz 1
  • Week 2 Practice Quiz 2
  • Viral immunity and evasion

1 Discussions

  • COVID-19 and rare reactions

3 Videos

  • Viral immunity and evasion - Part 1: Virology and immunology
  • Viral immunity and evasion - Part 2: Viral evasion
  • Type 1 interferon responses during respiratory viral infections

6 Readings

  • Introduction
  • Immune responses to viral infections
  • Respiratory viral infections
  • Human immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection
  • COVID-19 pathogenesis and SARS-CoV-2 life cycle
  • Commensal bacteria versus viruses

Immunity against fungal infections

    • 2 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Immunity against fungal infections

2 Videos

  • Immunodeficiency and fungal infection - Part 1
  • Immunodeficiency and fungal infection - Part 2

4 Readings

  • Introduction
  • Immune responses to fungal infections
  • Common invasive fungal infections in the human host
  • Fungal dysbiosis

Immune responses to Leishmania parasites

    • 3 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Week 4 Practice Quiz
  • Immune responses to Leishmania parasites

3 Videos

  • Immunity to Leishmania parasites - Part 1
  • Immunity to Leishmania parasites - Part 2
  • Immunity to Leishmania parasites - Part 3

3 Readings

  • Introduction
  • Immune responses to Leishmania infection
  • Spectrum of disease in human cutaneous and mucosal Leishmaniasis

Malaria infection and immunity

    • 2 Videos
    • 5 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Week 5 Practice Quiz
  • Malaria infection and immunity

2 Videos

  • Malaria immune response and immunity
  • Malaria immunopathogenesis

5 Readings

  • Introduction
  • Immune responses to malaria
  • Immune responses to malaria - summary
  • Malaria in pregnancy
  • Malaria immune evasion in humans

Tuberculosis and human immunity

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Week 6 Practice Quiz
  • Tuberculosis and human immunity

1 Videos

  • Tuberculosis - disease and immune response

3 Readings

  • Introduction
  • Immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis - master of trickery

Auto Summary

Explore the dynamic battle between pathogens and the human immune system in this professional-level course from Coursera. Delve into the science of bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and prions, and understand how they evade immune defenses to cause disease. Perfect for science and engineering enthusiasts, this 660-minute course offers both Starter and Professional subscription options. Join now to master the complexities of infectious diseases and immune responses.

Malgorzata (Maggie) Trela
Instructors

Malgorzata (Maggie) Trela

Sophie Rutschmann
Instructors

Sophie Rutschmann