MICR 270 Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation
MICR 270, Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, is designed for students from various biological sciences and allied health backgrounds at all levels of post-secondary education and is recommended as a foundation course for students pursuing a career in the health sciences. This course focuses on the biology of the immune system in combating infections caused by common pathogens as well as major global infectious disease threats. The unique features of this course lie in its approach of understanding body’s defense mechanisms in combating microbial, autoimmune, immune mediated diseases and cancer.
*Note that BHSc program students are required to take one of MICR 270/3.0 or MICR 271/3.0.
Minimum 2nd year (Level 2) standing + 4U Biology recommended and (PHGY 170/3.0) or (BIOL 102/3.0) or (MICR 121/3.0) or permission of the instructor.
For non-BHSc students
May not be taken with or after MICR 360/3.0; BMED 386.
*May not be taken for credit towards the Plan requirements of the LISC Specialization or Major Plans.
After completing MICR 270, students will be able to define and illustrate:
- The organization of the immune system and how it functions.
- The unique features of human defense mechanisms against microbial agents.
- The beneficial and detrimental interactions of the innate and adaptive branches of the human immune system.
- How the basic knowledge of immunology can be applied and translated to the development of immunological techniques, vaccines, and cancer immunotherapies.
- Communicator
- Scholar
- Professional
- Collaborator
Assessment 1 - Module Quizzes (10%)
Upon completion of each of the five modules, students will have the opportunity to take a short quiz based on the main topics in the module. This quiz will be a set of multiple choice questions and short answer questions and are designed to test the student’s knowledge and understanding of the material presented in the module. Each of the five quizzes is worth 2%, for a total of 10% of the final grade.
Assessment 2 - Journal Article Assignment (30%)
Students will be divided into groups of four. For Modules 2 to 5, one student (termed the Seminar Leader) is required to select one of a bank of provided academic articles related to immunology. The Seminar Leader must provide a short summary of the article for their peers ahead of their narrated PowerPoint presentation which outlines the most important aspects of the article and relates it to module content. Non-presenting students will critically evaluate the summary and presentation of their peer and provide constructive feedback and grading via a provided rubric.
Assessment 3 – Scientific Poster Assignment (20%)
Students will be placed into small groups (usually 2 per group). Each group will be assigned a disease and must create a scientific poster to explain the immunological response of that disease. Students are required to utilize published research relevant to their chosen topic and convey an understanding of the body’s immune response in fighting the disease they have been assigned. Student understanding will be solidified through pre-recorded narration of the elements of the poster.
Assessment 4 - Final Exam (40%)
Students are required to write a final online proctored exam. The exam will consist of well-developed multiple choice questions and short, application-based questions that will assess their integrated knowledge of concepts covered throughout the course.
9–10 hours a week (108–120 hours per term).
Required Texts
- MICR 270 course notes via modules posted online.
- Relevant primary literature and review articles will be provided by the instructor pertaining to specific modules.
Optional Texts
- Owen, J., Punt, J., & S. Stranford. (2012). Kuby Immunology, Seventh Edition. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.