Lecture

Immune System and Autoimmunity

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In course

MSE-212: Biology for engineers

Le cours est une introduction aux sciences de la vie en tant que domaine pluridisciplinaire ayant de multiples connexions avec l'ingénierie des matériaux. Il permettra aux étudiants de trouver dans la biologie une inspiration lors des leur activités dans l ...

Description

This lecture covers the interaction between viruses and bacteria, focusing on how bacteria defend themselves against viral infections through restriction enzymes. It also delves into the immune system's role in distinguishing self from non-self antigens, explaining the importance of the thymus in immune cell education. The concept of autoimmune diseases is explored, highlighting the breakdown of self-tolerance and the implications for health. The lecture concludes with a discussion on immunotherapy for cancer, emphasizing the potential of targeting specific antigens on cancer cells to enhance treatment effectiveness.

Instructors (2)

Romain Zufferey

Teaching & PhD Courses Biology for engineers MSE-212 This course consists of an introduction to biology and more particularly to biology as a multidisciplinary field, emphasizing natural examples of materials engineering. It should therefore allow engineering students to find inspiration from biology in future materials research problems. Cellular biology and biochemistry for engineers BIO-105 Basic course in biochemistry as well as cellular and molecular biology for non-life

Maartje Martina Cornelia Bastings

Expertise Can we use structural material properties on the nanoscale to engineer selective interactions at the bio-interface?The goal of the Programmable Biomaterials Lab is to understand the molecular design rules behind selective multivalent interactions at the bio-interface. We use DNA as engineering tool to explore the importance of structural mechanics and precise control of valency and patterns on directional interactions and self-assembly. Expertise Can we use structural material properties on the na

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Health sciences

Immunology: Immune system

Related concepts (25)

Antigen

In immunology, an antigen (Ag) is a molecule, moiety, foreign particulate matter, or an allergen, such as pollen, that can bind to a specific antibody or T-cell receptor. The presence of antigens in the body may trigger an immune response. Antigens can be proteins, peptides (amino acid chains), polysaccharides (chains of simple sugars), lipids, or nucleic acids. Antigens exist on normal cells, cancer cells, parasites, viruses, fungi, and bacteria. Antigens are recognized by antigen receptors, including antibodies and T-cell receptors.

Immune tolerance

Immune tolerance, or immunological tolerance, or immunotolerance, is a state of unresponsiveness of the immune system to substances or tissue that would otherwise have the capacity to elicit an immune response in a given organism. It is induced by prior exposure to that specific antigen and contrasts with conventional immune-mediated elimination of foreign antigens (see Immune response). Tolerance is classified into central tolerance or peripheral tolerance depending on where the state is originally induced—in the thymus and bone marrow (central) or in other tissues and lymph nodes (peripheral).

Autoimmunity

In immunology, autoimmunity is the system of immune responses of an organism against its own healthy cells, tissues and other normal body constituents. Any disease resulting from this type of immune response is termed an "autoimmune disease". Prominent examples include celiac disease, post-infectious IBS, diabetes mellitus type 1, Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren syndrome, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Addison's disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis, polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), and multiple sclerosis (MS).

Human leukocyte antigen

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system or complex is a complex of genes on chromosome 6 in humans which encode cell-surface proteins responsible for regulation of the immune system. The HLA system is also known as the human version of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) found in many animals. Mutations in HLA genes may be linked to autoimmune diseases such as type I diabetes, and celiac disease. The HLA gene complex resides on a 3 Mbp stretch within chromosome 6, p-arm at 21.3.

Autoimmune disease

An autoimmune disease is a condition that results from an anomalous response of the immune system, wherein it mistakenly targets and attacks healthy, functioning parts of the body as if they were foreign organisms. It is estimated that there are more than 80 recognized autoimmune diseases, with recent scientific evidence suggesting the existence of potentially more than 100 distinct conditions. Nearly any body part can be involved. Symptoms of autoimmune diseases can significantly vary, primarily based on the specific type of the disease and the body part that it affects.

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