Module: Fundamental & Applied Immunology

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Fundamental & Applied Immunology
Module Code	BIO1023 (ITS: BE519)
Faculty	Biotechnology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5

Description

Module aims: The purpose of this module is to provide a detailed understanding of the innate and adaptive immune systems in protecting the host against pathogens and microorganisms. Students will subsequently learn how the immune system can be manipulated for disease recognition, particularly in relation to vaccine production and cancer. The module will also provide a comprehensive overview of the production, manipulation and purification of antibodies for diagnostic, biomedical and therapeutic applications.

Learning Outcomes

1. Compare and contrast the cells and components of the innate and adaptive immune systems.
2. Describe how the immune system and immune responses have been exploited for the development of vaccines and cancer.
3. Describe in detail the methods used to produce antibodies and antibody fragments in the laboratory.
4. Identify applications of antibodies and antibody fragments for research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
5. Describe several different types of immunoassays and select the most appropriate immunoassay to detect/quantify a particular antigen.
6. Discuss how antibody-based therapy can be used to treat human disease.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	12 lectures
Tutorial	5	5 tutorials
Assignment Completion	41	Assignment on T-cell therapies for cancer
Independent Study	55	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10164	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Keith Rochfort	Module Teacher	Denise Harold, Michael Freeley, Paul Cahill

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
In Class Test	In Class Test	50%	Other
Assignment	An assignment based on an immunology topic.	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Fundamental and Translational Immunology
The Innate Immune System; The Adaptive Immune System - T-cells; T-cell therapies; CAR T-cells; The Adaptive Immune System - B-cells; Vaccines; Antibody Production; Antibodies and Immunoassays; Therapeutic Antibodies Part 1; Therapeutic Antibodies Part 2.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Janeway: 2012, Janeway's Immunobiology, 8th,
Wild: 2013, The Immunoassay Handbook, Fourth Edition: Theory and applications of ligand binding, ELISA and related techniques., 4, 978-008097037

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None