Major Immunobiology

Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schamel

The function of the immune system and interactions between pathogens and hosts, are the main topics of the major “Immunology”. In the practical part of the first semester we focus on the basic methods in immunobiology and basic knowledge in immunology and virology. The beginning of the second semester comprises a concentration in the areas of adaptive and innate immunity. From the second semester onwards on one can further specialize in the areas of basic research, synthetic immunology, clinical immunology and virology to prepare a Master-Thesis in one of these areas.

In Immunology, the teachers are from biology and medicine, thus providing multidisciplinary studies at the front line of basic and clinical research. The institutions involved are amongst others the faculty of biology, the Centre of Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, and the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics (MPI-IE). The topics cover a broad spectrum ranging from molecular to cellular and clinical immunology. They include research on B-, T-, NK- and dendritic cells, synthetic immunology, innate immunity as well as diseases with involving the immune system such as viral and bacterial infections, immunodeficiencies, autoimmunity, allergy and cancer.

Content and structure of the M.Sc. Biology - Major Immunobiology

First Semester

	Experimental Design and Statistics	3 ECTS
	Orientation module “Introduction to Immunobiology” (OM-03) basic experimental and analysical methods in immunobiology basic knowledge in immunology and virology	9 ECTS
	Orientation module offered by other Majors Translational Biologie (OM-01), or Genetics & Developmental Biology (OM-02), or Biochemistry & Microbiology (OM-04), or Neuroscience (OM-05), or Plant sciences (OM-06), or Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (OM-07)	9 ECTS
	Orientation module offered by other Majors Translational Biologie (OM-01), or Genetics & Developmental Biology (OM-02), or Biochemistry & Microbiology (OM-04), or Neuroscience (OM-05), or Plant sciences (OM-06), or Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (OM-07)	9 ECTS

 

⇒ Module guide "Orientation Modules"

Second Semester

	Advanced Immunobiology I (SP1-03) Adaptive and innate immune systems Synthetic biology	12 ECTS
	Current Topics in Immunology Evolution, development and function of the innate and adaptive immune system Systems immunology and synthetic immunology	9 ECTS
	Clinical Immunology Pathomechanisms, genetics and epidemiology of allergy, autoimmune diseases, and primary immunodeficiency	9 ECTS
	Virology Pathogen-host interactions Modern options for therapy and prevention of viral infections Viral strategies of immune evasion	9 ECTS
	Synthetic Immunobiology Development and function of lymphocytes Synthetic systems for immune cell signaling pathways Reverse genetics	9 ECTS
	Another of the above listed elective modules A, oder One of the elective modules offered by other Majors, oder Laboratory internship, oder Business internship (company, industry), oder Modules offered by other faculties, oder Modules offered by other universities (abroad)	9 ECTS

 

⇒ Module guide "Major modules I"

⇒ Module guide "Elective modules"

Third Semester

	Humoral Immunity B cell development, activation and signalling	21 ECTS
	Cellular Immunity T cell activation, signalling, differentiation and effector functions proliferation and apoptosis	21 ECTS
	Innate Immunity NK cells, neutrophiles and macrophages	21 ECTS
	Advanced Virology Viral infections	21 ECTS
	Project module Preparation for the Master thesis	9 ECTS

 

⇒ Module guide "Major modules II"

Fourth Semester

	Master thesis 6 months research project in one of the groups participating in the Major Immunobiology	24 ECTS
	Master thesis seminar oral presentation of the results of the master thesis	6 ECTS

 

Faculty contributing to this Major

	Prof. Wolfgang Schamel (Adaptive Immune System, T cells)
	Prof. Björn Lillemeier (Molecular Immunology)
	PD Dr. Susana Minguet (Adaptive Immune System, T cells)

 

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⇐ Genetics & Developmental Biology

M.Sc. Biology

Biochemistry & Microbiology ⇒