The immune system in sickness and in health

The human immune system is essential for fighting infection and keeping us healthy. We will explore how the immune system protects us from illness and how it can contribute to the development and progression of disease. Beginning with a brief explanation of the way that the innate and adaptive immune system work, we proceed with a series of case studies exploring how the immune system operates in infectious, non-infectious, acute and chronic conditions. By the end of the course, you will appreciate the complex internal processes and interactions with threats and dangers that determine how our bodies handle threats and damage. You should be confident in your understanding of basic biology and biological terminology.