Participation in practical exercises (3 exercises can be missed, 1 is without replacement, the other 2 must be replaced within the first 3 weeks after the end of the semester). During the semester, there are two written credit tests from practical exercises, each with 20 questions. Credits will be given to a student who obtained at least 11 points (51%) from each written test.

By successfully completing the subject, the student will gain information about the individual components and mechanisms of the immune system, which are the basis of the physiological as well as the pathological immune response. The acquired knowledge will enable students to understand the immunological background of diseases. The practical part of the lesson will provide the student with an overview of the principles of laboratory techniques used to assess the state of the immune system or to demonstrate the presence of a specific immune response.

The content of veterinary immunology teaching is

(a) characterize the physiological role of the animal immune system;

(b) become familiar with the individual components of the immune system and their functions;

(c) characterize the mechanisms by which the organism defends itself against various infections and cancers;

(d) characterise the mechanisms that lead to pathological immune responses (hypersensitivity reactions and autoimmune reactions);

(e) become familiar with the possibilities of immunomodulation and immunoprophylaxis.

Practical exercises in Immunology are aimed at mastering basic immunological tests that can be used to determine the functionality of the immune system or are used to diagnose infectious diseases or immunopathological reactions.

Syllabus of the lectures:

1. Immune system – characteristic and structure. Characteristics and properties of antigen. Characteristics of antibodies.

2. Organs, cells, and tissues of the immune system.

3. Innate immunity: Complement system.

4. Innate Immunity: Phagocytosis.

5. Cytokines and the immune system. Antigen presentation. MHC molecules.

6. Acquired immunity: T cells and their response to antigen.

7. Acquired immunity: B cells and their response to antigen.

8. Humoral immunity: Biological function of antibodies.

9. Inflammation.

10. Immune system and infection. Defense against bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

11. Hypersensitivity reactions. Autoimmunity: General principles

12. Immunomodulation: immunostimulation and immunosupression.

13. Immunoprophylaxis - vaccination.

Syllabus of the practical lessons:

1. Introduction

- Laboratory safety

- Components used for serological tests

- Determination of immunoglobulin concentration in whole blood or blood serum

2. Agglutination

- Tube agglutination test

- Haemagglutination and haemagglutination inhibition tests

3. Precipitation

- Single radial immunodiffusion (RID)

- Double immunodiffusion

4. Immunoelectrophoresis

- Classical immunoelectrophoresis

- Immunofixation

5. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA)

- ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)

6. Immunoblotting (Western blot, WB)

7. Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

- Direct and indirect immunofluorescence test

- Flow cytometry

- CREDIT TEST NO. 1

8. Complement

- Functional screening plate test -single radial hemolysis

- Complement fixation test (CFT)

9. Cellular immunity screening

- Collection of blood for cellular immunity screening

- Evaluation of blood cell number

- Control of the cell viability

- Pappenheim staining

10. Isolation of leukocytes from blood

- by lysis of erythrocytes with distilled water

- by cell-separating solution

11. Testing of phagocyte functions

- Evaluation of ingestion

12. Testing of phagocyte functions

- Evaluation of metabolic activation (INT test)

13. Diagnostic of hypersensitivity reactions

- in vivo and in vitro tests

- CREDIT TEST No. 2

Tkáčiková L.: Veterinary immunology. UVLF, 2018.

Tkáčiková L.: Immunology - Laboratory techniques. UVLF, 2018.

Tizard I.R.: Veterinary immunology. 10th Edition, 2018

Day M.J., Schultz R.D.: Veterinary immunology. Principles and practice, 2012

Content prerequisite:

Prerequisites: chemistry, biochemistry, biology, anatomy, histology and embryology, genetics and physiology

Continuous assessment:

2 credit tests from practical exercises.

Conditions for completion of course:

Participation in practical exercises (3 exercises can be missed, 1 is without replacement, the other 2 must be replaced within the first 3 weeks after the end of the semester). During the semester, there are two written credit tests from practical exercises, each with 20 questions. Credits will be given to a student who obtained at least 11 points (51%) from each written test.

Final assessment:

Credit tests from practical exercises make up 40% of the final assessment.

The final examination in the form of a written test of theoretical knowledge constitutes 60% of the final evaluation.

Pregnant students cannot take the course.