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Immunology: Innate Immune System
  • Level Professional
  • Duration 7 hours
  • Course by Imperial College London
  • Offered by

About

Our immune system relies on an innate and an adaptive arm that communicate and collaborate to provide us with an optimal response against pathogens. This course focuses on our innate immunity which provides us our first, fast and inherited defence against infections. In this course, you will take a closer look at the mechanisms and cellular components involved in this swift response that occurs within minutes of exposure to a threat. Throughout the course, and guided by our active researchers, you will have opportunities to recognise its key protective mechanisms and to explain their importance for our overall health. You will learn about the mechanisms it uses to inform our adaptive immune system of the presence of a threat, and understand how some environmental factors, such as our own internal microbiome, influences it. Finally, you will have opportunities to reflect on current related issues and controversies in this fascinating field of research.

Modules

Course introduction

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
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2 Videos

  • Introduction
  • Introduction to innate Immunity

1 Readings

  • Welcome

Components of the innate immune system

    • 2 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Week 1: Practice quiz
  • Module 1: End of module quiz

2 Videos

  • The evolution of our immune systems
  • Components of the innate immune system

4 Readings

  • Anatomic and chemical barriers of innate immunity
  • Key mechanisms involved in innate immune responses to microorganisms
  • Toll-like receptors
  • Cytokines

The complement system

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Module 2: End of module quiz

1 Videos

  • The complement system

3 Readings

  • Components of the complement system
  • Functional proteins in the complement system
  • Complement pathways in a nutshell

Programming of innate immunity by the microbiota

    • 3 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Week 3: Practice quiz
  • Module 3: End of module quiz

1 Discussions

  • The importance of bacterial commensals on our immune system

3 Videos

  • The protective role of the microbiota
  • Programming host defences to infection by the microbiota - Part 1
  • Programming host defences to infection by the microbiota - Part 2

2 Readings

  • Introduction to programming of innate immunity by the microbiota
  • Hidden communities of friends and foes: The importance of microbiota in human health and disease

Antigen processing - MHC Class I and Class II

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Week 4: Practice quiz
  • Module 4: End of module quiz

3 Videos

  • Antigen presentation
  • MHC class 1 and antigen processing
  • MHC class 2 and antigen processing

1 Readings

  • Antigen presentation pathways

Natural killer cells

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 2 Assignment
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2 Assignment

  • Week 5: Practice quiz
  • Module 5: End of module quiz

1 Discussions

  • Innate immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection

1 Videos

  • Natural killer cells and other innate lymphoid cells

3 Readings

  • Natural Killer cell in a nutshell
  • Development and sub-groups of NK cells
  • NK cell activation and inhibition

Auto Summary

Explore the innate immune system with Coursera's professional-level course, guided by active researchers. Delve into the swift mechanisms and cellular defenses that protect us within minutes of infection. Learn how innate immunity informs the adaptive system and the impact of environmental factors like the microbiome. The course spans 420 minutes and offers Starter and Professional subscription options, ideal for science and engineering enthusiasts.

Sophie Rutschmann
Instructors

Sophie Rutschmann

Malgorzata (Maggie) Trela
Instructors

Malgorzata (Maggie) Trela