330012 VO Immunological and genetic aspects of nutritional prevention and therapy (2019W)

Nutrition & immunology

Objectives
Students will understand the basics in immunology, the structure of the immune system, the functions of its components as well as the methods of communication within the immunological network. In addition, they will apprehend the interactions between nutrition and the immune system either with regard to single nutrient or to the nutrient matrix. This will include immunopathological phenomena such as infections, chronic inflammatory processes, and allergies. They will be able to differentiate between reasonable and unsound product descriptions.

Contents
Structure and function of the immune system, special focus on GALT (gut-associated lymphoid tissue)
Food substances with modulating effects on the immune system and inflammatory events
Pathogenesis of food allergies, intolerances, and hypersensitivities
Prevention and therapy of food allergies

Methods
Power point presentations will be available via LMS
Journal articles and reviews on current topics of Nutrition and Immunology after prior announcement

Nutrition & gene regulation

Objectives
The students will understand
- the basic principles of gene regulation in humans,
- the role of transcription factors , their activation and regulation,
- the methods of nutrigenomics,
- how specific nutrients affect gene regulation and signal transduction as well as
- the specific transcription factors involved in these processes,
- the potential impact of these events on health and disease

Contents
Principles of gene regulation:
- Transcriptional regulation
- Post-transcriptional regulation
- Modifications of chromatin structure
- DNA sequence elements with regulatory characteristics
Role of transcription factors

Introduction into nutrigenomics:
- Definition
- Aims
- Methods:

Effects of macronutrients on gene expression
Effects of micronutrients on gene expression

Nutrients and gene regulation from the perspective of nutritional scienes and nutritional medicine, e.g.:
- Nutrients, gene regulation and obesity
- Nutrients, gene regulation and atherosclerosis

Methods
Power point presentations will be available via LMS
Journal articles and reviews on current topics of Nutrition and Gene Regulation after prior announcement