330012 VO Ernährung und Immunologie (2006S)

First part: Basic immunology. Lectures start with the theoretical basis of immunology (nomenclature, general properties, humoral factors, cells, tissues and organs of the immune system.
Detailed reviews on innate immunology, involving antigen recognition, the structure -and function of immunoglobulins, antigen capture/ presentation, furthermore major histocompatibility complex, T-cells, T-cell receptors and their diversity are presented.
MHC-restriction of T-cells and all other important elements of the cellular and humoral immune responses are also discussed in details.
The first week's program is closed with the basic features of tolerance and autoimmunity.
The second part of the lectures focuses mostly on the nutritional aspects of immunology, using the basic immunological terms of the first week's subject.
After some general topics the gastrointestinal tract is examined first, with special attention to its role in the immune-defence system.
Specific hypersensitivity diseases, especially food allergies are talked about in details. After their clinical findings and genetic backgrounds the main diagnostic steps and therapeutical approaches are discussed. Primary and secondary prevention, common food allergens and cross-allergens are discussed as well.
Besides allergic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and some other important inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal system are also discussed.
Finally some specific aspects of nutritional immunology are also examined, with special attention to breast-feeding and formula feeding.
Summary and discussions close the second week's program.