Immunology

1. Immune Response Mechanisms
   1. Inflammation
      1. Acute Inflammation
         1. Characteristics
         2. Process and Temporal Phases
         3. Initiating Factors
      2. Chronic Inflammation
         1. Causes and Pathogenesis
         2. Consequences on Tissue and Health
         3. Role in Disease Pathogenesis
      3. Mediators of Inflammation
         1. Pro-inflammatory Cytokines
         2. Chemokines
         3. Arachidonic Acid Metabolites
         4. Reactive Oxygen Species
   2. Recognition of Self vs. Non-Self
      1. Self-Tolerance
         1. Central Tolerance
            1. Mechanisms in the Thymus
            2. Mechanisms in Bone Marrow
         2. Peripheral Tolerance
            1. Anergy
            2. Suppression by Regulatory T Cells
            3. Deletion
      2. Clonal Selection Theory
         1. Role in Lymphocyte Activation
         2. Clonal Deletion
         3. Clonal Expansion and Effector Cell Formation
   3. Signal Transduction in Immunity
      1. Receptor-Ligand Interactions
         1. T-cell Receptor (TCR) Signaling
         2. B-cell Receptor (BCR) Signaling
      2. Intracellular Signaling Pathways
         1. MAPK/ERK Pathway
         2. PI3K/AKT Pathway
         3. NF-kB Pathway
      3. Outcomes of Signal Transduction
         1. Lymphocyte Activation
         2. Cytokine Production
         3. Cellular Differentiation
   4. Cytotoxic Response
      1. Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTLs)
         1. Activation and Target Recognition
         2. Mechanisms of Target Cell Killing
            1. Perforin and Granzyme Release
            2. Fas Ligand-Induced Apoptosis
      2. Natural Killer Cells
         1. Role in Innate Immunity
         2. Mechanisms of Killing
         3. Regulation by Cytokines
   5. Hypersensitivity Reactions
      1. Type I (Immediate)
         1. IgE Mediated Response
         2. Mechanism of Action
         3. Common Allergens
         4. Clinical Manifestations
      2. Type II (Antibody-Mediated)
         1. Mechanism of Action
         2. Examples of Diseases
         3. Role of Complement System
      3. Type III (Immune Complex-Mediated)
         1. Formation and Deposition of Immune Complexes
         2. Complement Activation and Inflammation
         3. Associated Diseases
      4. Type IV (Cell-Mediated)
         1. T Cell-Mediated Response
         2. Examples: Contact Dermatitis and Tuberculosis
         3. Mechanism and Consequences
   6. Modulation of Immune Response
      1. Role of Regulatory T Cells
      2. Immunological Synapse
      3. Negative Feedback Mechanisms
   7. Factors Influencing Immune Response
      1. Genetic Factors
         1. Gene Polymorphisms
         2. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Variability
      2. Environmental Influence
         1. Infections
         2. Nutrition
         3. Stress
   8. Memory and the Immune System
      1. Process of Memory Formation
      2. Role in Long-Term Immunity
      3. Distinction Between Effector and Memory Cells