Course Overview
(UBC BIOT 306) Divided into two major sections: Immunology and Virology. In the immunology section, pathogen recognition by the innate immune system and the development of the inflammatory response are explored. Antigen receptor structure and generation, the development of T and B cells and the cell-mediated and humoral arms of the adaptive immune response are covered. The virology section studies the replication cycles of several RNA and DNA animal viruses, while also touching upon the pathogenesis of these viruses and control of viral infection through vaccines and anti-viral drugs. The lab provides training in CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and analysis of gene and protein expression in mammalian cells. Isolation and differentiation of primary immune cell populations and their analysis by flow cytometry is also performed.
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the role of barriers in defense against infection.
- Describe the effector molecules and cells involved in innate immunity, and how pathogen recognition occurs in the innate immune response.
- Describe the inflammatory response and acute phase response.
- Discuss antigen receptor structure and the generation of antigen receptor diversity.
- Describe antigen presentation.
- Describe T and B cell development.
- Describe the cell-mediated and humoral immune response.
- Describe allergies and autoimmunity.
- Discuss current approaches to cancer immunotherapy.
- Describe the structure of typical animal cell viruses.
- Discuss the elements of a typical animal cell virus replication cycle.
- Describe in detail the replication cycle of several RNA and DNA animal viruses.
- Discuss the effects of viral infection on host cells.
- Describe antiviral drugs, vaccines and vaccine development.
- Use CRISPR-Cas 9 to knock-in genes in mammalian cell lines and generate CRISPR-edited cell clones for analysis.
- Use ELISA and qRT-PCR to analyze protein production and gene expression in mammalian cell lines.
- Use magnetic cell separation to isolate primary immune cells from mouse spleen.
- Use flow cytometry to analyze primary immune cell populations.
Effective as of Winter 2026
Related Programs
Microbiology 3 (BIOT 6201) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
- Indicates programs with a co-op option.
- Indicates programs eligible for students to apply for Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
School of Health Sciences
- Honours in Biotechnology
Bachelor of Science Full-time
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