BIO 311 : Immunology

Every second of the day, the human body encounters a myriad of non-self agents that could hamper human health, however, the body is able to fight and maintain its integrity through a collection of cells, tissues and organs called the immune system.  The course will explore the immunologic sites on the human body and elucidate the mechanisms underlying the immune system’s recognition and eradication of invading pathogens. It will also shed light on the ways in which pathogens have evolved strategies to evade destruction, which has sometimes resulted in misperceptions that the immune system is not functioning effectively. The course will provide insight into how allergies and autoimmune disorders can arise from the immune system as a result of mistakenly attacking self-cells. Furthermore, students will gain an understanding of the critical role of vaccines in boosting the immune system’s ability to combat invading pathogens.