Molecular Pharmacology and Immunology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The aim of course is to provide an exhaustive background knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of actions of drugs, and to provide information on the pharmacological modulation of cellular responses, the molecular aspects of receptors, modulation of intracellular signaling and gene expression. Drugs are considered not only for their therapeutic functions but also as tools to investigate biological phenomena. Immunology is a rapid growing field of research in medicine and attracts a lot of attention for its contribution in various diseases such as infection diseases, cancer and auto-immunity. This is an advanced course in the field of immunology, and will go in-depth, at a molecular level.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will have built a strong background in the most recent advances in the fields of pharmacology and immunology. In particular, after the corse the student:
- will know the molecular mechanisms of several class of drugs and the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of the immune system in the contexts discussed within the course;
- will be able to apply the acquired principles in order to choose drugs as appropriate tools to explore and study intracellular signaling;
- will know and be able to apply the experimental methodologies to study pharmacological activities and molecular immunology in a research laboratory;
- will be able to apply the acquired principles in order to understand the experimental procedures described in scientific articles and to interpret them critically;
- will know the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of the immune system in the contexts discussed within the course;
- will be able to apply the acquired principles in order to understand the experimental procedures described in scientific articles and to interpret them critically;
- will know and be able to apply the experimental methodologies to study molecular immunology in a research laboratory.
- will know the molecular mechanisms of several class of drugs and the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of the immune system in the contexts discussed within the course;
- will be able to apply the acquired principles in order to choose drugs as appropriate tools to explore and study intracellular signaling;
- will know and be able to apply the experimental methodologies to study pharmacological activities and molecular immunology in a research laboratory;
- will be able to apply the acquired principles in order to understand the experimental procedures described in scientific articles and to interpret them critically;
- will know the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of the immune system in the contexts discussed within the course;
- will be able to apply the acquired principles in order to understand the experimental procedures described in scientific articles and to interpret them critically;
- will know and be able to apply the experimental methodologies to study molecular immunology in a research laboratory.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Students will encounter the following topics in the pharmacology and immunology fields:
Molecular Pharmacology :
Pharmacogenetics
The pharmacology of signal transduction.
Kinase inhibitors as antitumor drugs.
Monoclonal antibodies and soluble receptors as drugs
Transporters as drug targets
The pharmacology of post translational modifications
Immunosuppressants and immunostimulants
The endocannabinoid system
Excitatory amino acids and excitotoxicity
The physiopathology of pain and analgesics
G protein receptor regulation
Chemotherapy of microbial diseases and drug resistance
Chemotherapy of neoplastic diseases
Molecular Immunology:
Vaccinations
Allergic diseases
Autoimmune diseases
Microbiota and the immune system
Cancer Immunotherapy
Immunodeficiencies (AIDS and Kaposi sarcoma).
Molecular Pharmacology :
Pharmacogenetics
The pharmacology of signal transduction.
Kinase inhibitors as antitumor drugs.
Monoclonal antibodies and soluble receptors as drugs
Transporters as drug targets
The pharmacology of post translational modifications
Immunosuppressants and immunostimulants
The endocannabinoid system
Excitatory amino acids and excitotoxicity
The physiopathology of pain and analgesics
G protein receptor regulation
Chemotherapy of microbial diseases and drug resistance
Chemotherapy of neoplastic diseases
Molecular Immunology:
Vaccinations
Allergic diseases
Autoimmune diseases
Microbiota and the immune system
Cancer Immunotherapy
Immunodeficiencies (AIDS and Kaposi sarcoma).
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of anatomy and human physiology.
Teaching methods
PHARMACOLOGY: Power point lessons
IMMUNOLOGY:Power point presentations with audio or lessons, article prepared and presented with the students.
IMMUNOLOGY:Power point presentations with audio or lessons, article prepared and presented with the students.
Teaching Resources
Cellular and Molecular Immunology (AK Abbas e AH Lichtman, Elsevier, 2017
Basic and clinical pharmacology (Katzung, Piccin).
Scientific papers and articles cited during the courses will be made available through the course Ariel website.
Basic and clinical pharmacology (Katzung, Piccin).
Scientific papers and articles cited during the courses will be made available through the course Ariel website.
Assessment methods and Criteria
PHARMACOLOGY: The exam will be written on the program explained during the course . It will consist of 2 open questions, and the students have 2 hour time to complete it.
The exam will check the knowledge of the different topics, the ability of the student to make connections and to use an adequate written scientific language.
IMMUNOLOGY:
The exam will be written. The student will have 1 hour to complete it.The exam will check the knowledge of the different topics, the ability of the student to make connections and to use an adequate scientific language. Preparation and discussion of articles by the students during the course will also be considered as part of the evaluation.
Both the exams must be passed with at least 18/30, and the final mark will be the average of pharmacology and Immunology marks, and will be in x/30
The exam will check the knowledge of the different topics, the ability of the student to make connections and to use an adequate written scientific language.
IMMUNOLOGY:
The exam will be written. The student will have 1 hour to complete it.The exam will check the knowledge of the different topics, the ability of the student to make connections and to use an adequate scientific language. Preparation and discussion of articles by the students during the course will also be considered as part of the evaluation.
Both the exams must be passed with at least 18/30, and the final mark will be the average of pharmacology and Immunology marks, and will be in x/30
BIO/14 - PHARMACOLOGY - University credits: 3
MED/04 - EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY - University credits: 3
MED/04 - EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Fabrizio Federico Pio, Minucci Saverio, Sacerdote Paola Giuseppina
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday, 14.30-16.30; Thursday, 14.30-15.30
via Vanvitelli 32