• Class Number 7306
  • Term Code 2960
  • Class Info
  • Unit Value 6 units
  • Mode of Delivery In Person
  • COURSE CONVENER
    • Prof David Fulcher
    • Dr Julia Ellyard
  • Class Dates
  • Class Start Date 22/07/2019
  • Class End Date 25/10/2019
  • Census Date 31/08/2019
  • Last Date to Enrol 29/07/2019
  • TUTOR
    • Alicia Wilson
    • Brigette Boast
    • Hayley McNamara
SELT Survey Results

This course will teach the biology of the Immune system and apply this knowledge to an understanding of human disease and basic immunological research. In a series of lectures, seminars and tutorials, it will provide a fundamental understanding of the immune response in its entirety, then build on this foundation to study the application of immunological knowledge to human disease (autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, allergy, neoplasia), how the immune system can be manipulated by directed therapeutics, how changes that accompany immunologic disease can be measured in the diagnostic laboratory, and how knowledge of the immune system can be extended by basic research. The course will help achieve an academic understanding of the immune system for future practice in the biological sciences including medicine (where the foundation principles in this course will be invaluable) or as a prelude to applied research into human disease, including animal models.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
  1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of how the immune system normally responds to infection.
  2. Apply knowledge and incorporate principles to show how aberrations in immuno-regulation underlie autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, allergy and cancer.
  3. Explain how such aberrations can be measured in the laboratory and potentially corrected by directed therapeutics.
  4. Acquire, analyse and interpret experimental data on research in immunology.
  5. Critically evaluate the current literature to assimilate views on the latest findings.

Additional Course Costs

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required in all wet labs. Lab coats and safety glasses can be purchased from the Harry Hartog Bookshop.

Examination Material or equipment

Only writing instruments will be allowed into the examination hall.

Required Resources

Kenneth Murphy and Casey Weaver. Janeway’s Immunobiology (9th Edition), Garland Science, 2016. ISBN 978-0-8153-4505-3

1. Abbas, AK, Lichtman, AH and Pillai S. Cellular and Molecular Immunology (8th Edition), Elsevier Saunders, 2015. (eBook at: http://library.anu.edu.au/record=b3609426)

2. Parham P. The Immune System (4th Edition), Garland Science, 2014

Call number: QR181.P335 2015, Hancock Library

3. Smith P, MacDonald T and Blumberg R. Principles of Mucosal Immunology (1st edition) Garland Science, 2012. Call number: QR185.9.M83 P75 2013

4. Kaufmann SHE, Rouse BT and Sacks DL. Immune Response to Infection, ASM Press, 2011 (eBook at http://library.anu.edu.au/record=b3451369); Call number: QR186.I445 2011eb

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

  • Written comments
  • Verbal comments

Feedback to whole class, tutorial groups and individuals where appropriate.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Where an assignment is formed of a number of activities, the date range indicates the due date for the first component and the return date of the final component. Further information is provided in the assessment section of the class summary, and details are provided on the course wattle site.

Class Schedule

Week/Session Summary of Activities Assessment
1 COURSE SCHEDULE is tentative and subject to change Lectures, Seminars, Tutorials: Topics as below. Timetable will be posted and updated continually: please refer to Wattle for updated schedules.
2 Lectures Lectures will constitute the curriculum of the course, and will be the main focus of the written examination. Topics for the core lectures are: Overview of the Immune system Immunogloublins B cells - pre-antigenic B cells - post-antigenic B cells - tolerance mechanisms T cells Innate immunity I Innate immunity II T-cell tolerance Lymphocyte migration MHC: structure, function, genetics Mucosal immunity Vaccinology Autoimmune diseases — introduction Autoimmune diseases — mechanisms Signalling pathways in the immune system Immunodeficiency—I Immunodeficiency—II Allergic disease Interventions for human immunological disease Assessment task 5
3 Seminars Seminars are designed to enhance, reinforce and extend the concepts in the lectures, and will be evaluated by short on-line questionnaires. Topics for the seminars are: Flow cytometry—principles Flow cytometry—analysis Diagnostic laboratory I: Immunassay Diagnostic laboratory II: Autoimmunity Immune response to parasites and fungi Immune response to extracellular and intracellular bacteria Immune response to viruses Tumour immunology and lymphoproliferative disorders Dissecting intracellular signalling pathways in the laboratory Murine immune system - mouse models of disease Research methodology Research directions (3 lectures): given by JCSMR researchers in their particular field of expertise. Assessment task 4
4 Flow cytometry Practical: Student will prepare a (mouse) cell suspension and analysis and are required to identify its tissue of origin using multicolour Flow Cytometry, including analysis of listmode/FCS data offline. Demonstration of Cell Sorting in the Flow Cytometry Unit, JCSMR Assessment task 1
5 Small group tutorials. The cohort of students will be divided into groups, and each will be allocated a demonstrator who will continue throughout the semester. Activities in these groups will include: Focus topics. These will be allocated to students, who will present them in small groups to demonstrators, along with a 1-page summary, over 10+5 minutes. Topics will be specific, and designed to provide some ‘fine print’ to the more general didactic lectures (eg “Toll like receptors”, “MBL”, IL-1 etc). Marked by demonstrators, 10% of the final mark. Journal presentation. Recent research papers will be allocated to pairs of students who will present a summary to their group. 20+10 minutes. Tutorials. Questions will be distributed and worked through with the convenors Assessment tasks 2 and 3

Assessment Summary

Assessment task Value Due Date Return of assessment Learning Outcomes
Flow cytometry prac report 10 % 12/08/2019 30/08/2019 1,2,3,4
Topic presentation 10 % 28/08/2019 25/10/2019 5
Journal Presentation 10 % 25/09/2019 25/10/2019 5
On-line questions (approximately 10 question sets) 10 % 22/07/2019 31/10/2019 1,2,3,4
Final Exam 60 % 31/10/2019 28/11/2019 1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students are expected to actively participate through the course, particularly with respect to attendance/engagement at lectures, pracs and tutorials, including on-line discussion via Wattle. Attendance at the practical, the tutorials, and Research Directions lectures is a course requirement and will be recorded.

To pass this course you must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more, including all assessments. Students are not required to pass the written exam. Students who achieve a final result of 45-49% for the course will be offered supplementary assessment.

Refer to ANU Supplementary exams rules at the following site: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/supplementary-exams.

If the supplementary examination is passed, the final result will be 50PS. If the supplementary examination is failed the final result will be N.”

Examination(s)

The date range in the Assessment Summary indicates the start of the end of semester exam period and the date official end of semester results are released on ISIS. Please check the ANU final Examination Timetable http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable to confirm the date, time and location exam.

Assessment Task 1

Value: 10 %
Due Date: 12/08/2019
Return of Assessment: 30/08/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4

Flow cytometry prac report

Analysis of FCS files (generated in prac) using dedicated software, and complete short answer questions applicable to that analysis.

Word limit (where applicable): 2 pages, per supplied template with font restrictions

Value: 10%

Presentation requirements: 2-page report.

Due: 8 am Monday Week 4


Estimated return date: It is intended that the marked assignment will be returned within two weeks from submission. The exact return date will be posted on the Wattle site

Hurdle Assessment requirements (where applicable): No

Individual Assessment in Group Tasks (where applicable): No


Assessment Task 2

Value: 10 %
Due Date: 28/08/2019
Return of Assessment: 25/10/2019
Learning Outcomes: 5

Topic presentation

Preparation of 1-page summary of a topic to be individually allocated, to be presented to fellow students in a tutorial setting.

Assessment Rubrics: will be posted with details of the assessment.

Word limit (where applicable): Your summary should be in 12 point Times New Roman, 1.5 line spaced, and occupy no more than one A4 page with 2 cm margins (references may spill over to second page)

Value: 10%

Presentation requirements: Presented to fellow students in tutorial, over 10 minutes, and 5 minutes discussion.

Due: Present in tutorials, as rostered

Estimated return date: It is intended that the marked assignment will be returned within two weeks from submission. The exact return date will be posted on the Wattle site

Hurdle Assessment requirements (where applicable): No

Individual Assessment in Group Tasks (where applicable): No



Assessment Task 3

Value: 10 %
Due Date: 25/09/2019
Return of Assessment: 25/10/2019
Learning Outcomes: 5

Journal Presentation

A journal article will be allocated to pairs of students, who will analyse that article, and present it to their tutorial group as if at a plenary of a scientific conference.

Assessment Rubrics: will be posted with details of the assessment.

Word limit (where applicable): n/a

Value: 10%

Presentation requirements: 20 minutes, with 10 minutes discussion.

Due: Present in tutorials, as rostered

Estimated return date: Weeks 8 – 10, depending on group

Hurdle Assessment requirements (where applicable): No

Assessment Task 4

Value: 10 %
Due Date: 22/07/2019
Return of Assessment: 31/10/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4

On-line questions (approximately 10 question sets)

Three multiple choice questions will be posted on Wattle within a day of a seminar. Students are required to answer the questions within 1 week of posting.

Estimated return date: 8 am the Monday following the lecture

Hurdle Assessment requirements (where applicable): No

Individual Assessment in Group Tasks (where applicable): No

Due: 1 week following lecture


There are multiple question sets due during the session. It is intended that the marked questions sets will be returned the Monday following the lecture. Further details can be found on the Course Wattle site.


Students are expected to contribute on an on-going basis throughout the semester. The date range for this task comprises the start of the semester and the date final results are published on ISIS.

Assessment Task 5

Value: 60 %
Due Date: 31/10/2019
Return of Assessment: 28/11/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4

Final Exam

Details: Students will be required to answer 10 of 12 questions (approximately 1 page each) over 3 hrs.

Assessment Rubrics: will be posted.

Value: 60%

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.


The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.


The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

  • Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

The exact return date will be posted on the Wattle site.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of assignments will not be allowed

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

Prof David Fulcher
David.Fulcher@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Prof David Fulcher

Dr Julia Ellyard
6125 9090
Julia.Ellyard@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Dr Julia Ellyard

Alicia Wilson
6125 9090
alicia.wilson@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Alicia Wilson

Brigette Boast
Brigette.Boast@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Brigette Boast

Hayley McNamara
6125 9090
Hayley.McNamara@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Hayley McNamara

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions