B cell development in health and disease

Instructor: Laurence Morel, Ph.D.

Justification

B cells are an essential part of the immune system and a major effector component of many autoimmune diseases, which are the target of an increasing number of experimental therapies. These topics are not currently covered in any detail by any course offered at UF. An increasing number of graduate students at UF are conducting research projects directly or indirectly involving B cells. The proposed course is designed to fill this gap and provide students who have a strong background in immunology with an advanced and detailed discussion on B cell function and regulation.

Prerequisites

GMS6031, GMS6032, and GMS6033 or equivalent.

Catalog Description

GMS XXXX.B cell development in health and disease. Advanced course for student with a strong background in immunology who seek a better understanding of the role and regulation of B cells. Emphasis will be given to dysregulation of B cell functions in autoimmune diseases. Course offered in spring semester.

Course Format and Grading

B cell development in health and disease will be offered for one credit in the spring semesters. The course will consist of didactic lectures and discussions of key primary research papers, which the students will be required to read and be prepared to discuss. At the end of the course, students will be required to prepare a short presentation of recent findings on B cell development. Evaluation will be based on class and discussion participation (50%) and oral presentation (50%).

Course outline

1 / B cell Bone-marrow development / lecture
2 / B cell peripheral development / lecture
3 / B cell effector functions / lecture
4 / Mechanisms of B cell tolerance: central tolerance / paper discussion
5 / Mechanisms of B cell tolerance: receptor editing / paper discussion
6 / Mechanisms of B cell tolerance: peripheral checkpoints (1) / paper discussion
7 / Mechanisms of B cell tolerance: peripheral checkpoints (2) / paper discussion
8 / Defective checkpoints lead to autoimmune diseases (1) / paper discussion
9 / Defective checkpoints lead to autoimmune diseases (2) / paper discussion
10 / Regulation of germinal center reactions and plasma cell differentiation / paper discussion
11 / BAFF in normal and autoreactive B cell development / paper discussion
12 / TRL signaling in normal and autoreactive B cell development / paper discussion
13 / Interactions between B cells and other immune cells / paper discussion
14 / B cell targeting therapies / paper discussion
15 / Students' presentation

Text

No text is needed. Specific reading assignment, including reviews and book chapters for the didactic lectures, and primary research papers for the discussion, will be given to the students during the first day of the course. Students are expected to read the assigned material.