Cellular Immunity and Intracellular Parasites

AnSci 697A

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Taught by Cynthia Baldwin.

Fall 1995: will run Sept. 25 - Oct. 20, in tandem with Biology of Parasitism.

This course will explore 4 aspects of interaction between the cellular immune system and infectious microbial pathogens (bacteria and protozoa) that survive in host cells. (These organisms are generally referred to as intracellular parasites or pathogens.) They will include a discussion of the mechanisms which mononuclear phagocytes (monocytes and macrophages) normally use to kill microbes and the mechanisms which intracellular parasites use to thwart this defence mechanism. Secondly, we will discuss the Th1/Th2 T cell paradigm and the roles of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in conveying resistence or susceptability to infectious disease. Finally, the potential roles which CD8 T cells and gamma/delta T cells play in conveying resistance to intracellular pathogens will be considered.


Questions and comments to cbaldwin@vasci.umass.edu.