Dentistry
Syllabus of lectures
Syllabus of lectures - Dentistry, Academic year 2025/2026
1.) February 18, 2026. Introduction to the study of Immunology. Antigen.
Assoc. prof. Ivana Shawkatová, Mgr., PhD.
- Introduction to the study of Immunology
- The immune system, its characteristics and function
- Innate and acquired immunity
- Organs, tissues, cells and molecules of the immune system
- The immune system of the oral cavity
- Antigen, its characteristics and properties
2.) February 25, 2026. B cells. Structure and function of antibodies.
Assoc. prof. Vladimíra Ďurmanová, RNDr., PhD.
- B cells, plasma cells
- Immunoglobulins, their structure, classification and function
- The role of IgA in muccosal immunity
- Primary and secondary immune responses
- Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Hybridoma
- Antibody deficiencies and their clinical symptoms
3.) March 4, 2026. The complement system.
Assoc. prof. Vladimíra Ďurmanová, RNDr., PhD.
- Classical, alternative, and lectin pathways of activation
- Vasoactive and chemotactic factors
- Complement receptors, regulatory proteins
- Biological significance of the complement system
- Complement system deficiencies in the oral cavity
4.) March 11, 2026. Phagocytosis. Pattern recognition receptors and pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Inflammation.
Assoc. prof. Vladimíra Ďurmanová, RNDr., PhD.
- Professional phagocytes
- Process of phagocytosis. Microbicidial mechanisms
- NETosis
- Pathogen-associated molecular patterns and pattern recognition receptors
- Infectious and non-infectious inflammation, molecular and cellular events
- Acute phase proteins
5.) March 18, 2026. The major histocompatibility complex in man. Membrane molecules. Antigen presentation.
Assoc. prof. Ivana Shawkatová, Mgr., PhD.
- HLA-molecules, their biochemical structure and distribution
- Endogenous and exogenous pathways of antigen presentation
- Genetic determination of the HLA-complex
- Membrane molecules and their functions
- The role of HLA-complex in medicine
- The role of HLA molecules in peri-implant inflammation
6.) March 25, 2026. Cytokines of innate and adaptive immunity. The role of cytokines in differentiation of T cells.
Juraj Javor, MD., PhD.
- General properties of cytokines, classification of cytokines
- Cytokines of innate and adaptive immunity
- Pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines
- Differentiation of T helper cells
- Chemokines and hematopoietic growth factors
7.) April 1, 2026. Peridontal diseases.
Prof. Richard Imrich, MD., DrSc.
- Acute vs. chronic inflammation in the oral cavity
- Tissue healing and regeneration, tissue and bone resorption
- Gingivitis vs. periodontitis
8.) April 8, 2026. Cells of adaptive immunity - T cells. Regulatory and memory T cells. Non-conventional lymphocytes.
Prof. Milan Buc, MD., DrSc.
- T cells. Subsets of T helper cells
- Regulatory and memory T cells
- Non-conventional lymphocytes: NK, NKT, MAIT, and ILC cells, their characteristics and functions
9.) April 15, 2026. Hypersensitivity reactions and their classification. Hypersensitivity reactions types I - V.
Juraj Javor, MD., PhD.
- Type I hypersensitivity reactions - allergy, allergens in dentistry, clinical symptoms
- Anaphylactic shock
- Non-IgE mediated pseudoallergic reactions (anaphylactoid reactions)
- Therapy of allergy and anaphylactic shock
- Hypersensitivity reactions types II - V
10.) April 22, 2026. Foreign materials in the oral cavity - immune implications.
Assoc. prof. Michal Pastorek, Mgr., PhD.
- Implant as a foreign material - pathomechanisms and implantation failure
- Immunomodulatory effects of dental materials
- Interactions with the oral microbiome (biofilm, dysbiosis)
- Environmental exposures (smoking, alcohol) - changes in healing, cytokines
11.) April 29, 2026. Autoimmune processes. Autoimmune diseases affecting the oral cavity. Autoinflammatory diseases.
Prof. Richard Imrich, MD., DrSc.
- Mechanisms of T-cell tolerance to self-antigens
- Central and peripheral tolerance
- Genetic and hormonal factors in autoimmunity. The role of autoantigen
- Organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases
- Autoimmune diseases affecting the oral cavity. Sjögren´s syndrome, pemphigus vulgaris
- Autoinflammatory diseases, genetics, symptomatology and diagnosis
12.) May 6, 2026. Primary and secondary immunodeficiencies
Juraj Javor, MD., PhD.
- General features of immunodefiencies
- Deficiencies of innate immunity
- Symptomatology of immunodeficiencies in the oral cavity
- Secondary immunodeficiencies
- Etiological agents of AIDS. Genetic variability of HIV
- Interaction of HIV with cells of the immune system
- Clinical stages of HIV infection, diagnostics and therapy
Prof. Richard Imrich, MD., DrSc.
Head of the institute
Bratislava, February 4, 2026
The lectures will be held on Wednesdays, 9.30 - 11.20 a.m., on Moskovská street no. 2., auditorium M106.
Syllabus of practical classes
Syllabus of practical classes - Dentistry, Academic year 2025/2026
1. (02.03. - 06.03. 2026)
Serologic Reactions I. Classical methods based on antibody – antigen interactions
· Agglutination
· Precipitation
· Radial immunodiffusion and other immunodiffusion techniques
· Turbidimetry, nephelometry
· Immunoelectrophoresis
Practical experiments:
- ABO blood groups and Rh-factor determination
- Evaluation of antibodies against Treponema pallidum by passive haemagglutination
Teacher responsible for the PC: Zuzana Párnická, MD., PhD.
2. (09.03. - 13.03. 2026)
Serologic Reactions II. Progressive methods based on antibody – antigen interactions. Laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection
· Enzyme immunoassays
· Radioimmunoassays
· Immunofluorescence
· Immunoblotting
· Immunochromatography
· Chemiluminescence
Practical experiments:
- ELISA techniques and their modifications, HCG pregnancy test, diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori and SARS-CoV-2 infection
Teacher responsible for the PC: Zuzana Párnická, MD., PhD.
3. (16.03. - 20.03. 2026)
Evaluation of innate humoral immunity components
· Total complement activity assays (CH50, AH50)
· Evaluation of complement components (RID, turbidimetry and nefelometry)
· Determination of acute phase proteins
. CRP determination
Practical experiments:
- Separation of serum and plasma
- CRP-determination from capillary blood by the means of reflectometry (NycoCard®)
Teacher responsible for the PC: Zuzana Párnická, MD., PhD.
4. (23.03. - 27.03. 2026)
Evaluation of innate cellular immunity components
· Isolation of leukocytes from peripheral blood, enumeration of neutrophils
· Functional analysis of neutrophils
· Phagocytic activity and phagocytic index
· Candidacidal activity
· Metabolic activation (NBT test)
Practical experiments:
- Separation of leukocytes from peripheral blood using 6% dextran
- Evaluation of phagocytic activity, phagocytic index and candidacidal activity
· CREDIT TEST No. I
Teacher responsible for the PC: Zuzana Párnická, MD., PhD.
(30.03. - 03.04. 2026 - NO PRACTICAL CLASS !!!)
5. (06.04. - 10.04. 2026)
Evaluation of adaptive humoral and cellular immunity components
· Isolation of lymphocytes
· Separation of T cell subpopulations
· Evaluation of T and B cell numbers (flow cytometry)
· Evaluation of the function of T and B cells (lymphocyte transformation test, determination of the levels of antibodies against vaccine antigens)
· Immunoskin tests
· Interferon-gamma release assays
· Case report
Practical experiments:
- Isolation of lymphocytes from peripheral blood using Ficoll-Hypaque
Teacher responsible for the PC: Zuzana Párnická, MD., PhD.
6. (13.04. - 17.04. 2026)
In vivo and in vitro tests used in the diagnosis of allergies
· Allergy: atopy and anaphylaxis, clinical symptomatology. Anaphylactic shock – symptomatology and therapy.
. Family and personal history, indoor and outdoor allergens.
· Skin tests: prick test, scarification test, intradermal skin test, epicutaneous test
. Determination of total and allergen–specific IgE levels
. Basophil-degranulation test
. Case report
Demonstration: Test for the measurement of IgE levels
Epinephrine (adrenaline) autoinjector
Teacher responsible for the PC: Zuzana Párnická, MD., PhD.
7. (20.04. - 24.04. 2026)
Simulation
8. (27.04. - 01.05. 2026)
Laboratory methods used in the diagnosis of autoimmune disorders. Diagnosis of HIV infection
· Determination of acute phase proteins, levels of immunoglobulins, total complement activity, C3, C4 complement levels, CD4/CD8 T cell ratio
· Detection of autoantibodies
· Determination of circulating immune complexes
· Laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection
. Case report
Practical experiments:
- Rheumatoid factor determination by passive agglutination
Teacher responsible for the PC: Zuzana Párnická, MD., PhD.
9. (04.05. - 08.05. 2026)
Laboratory methods used in transplantation immunology – HLA-typing
Laboratory assessment of the immune status - overview
· HLA-typing by serologic methods: microlymphocytotoxicity assay
· HLA-typing by DNA-based methods: PCR–SSP, sequencing, etc.
· Detection of donor-specific antibodies
· Evaluation of innate and adaptive immunity – summary of methods
· Immunodiagnostics of tumors
Practical experiments:
- Video explaining DNA-based HLA-typing
- Interpretation of the results of HLA-typing by PCR-SSP
· CREDIT TEST No. II
Teacher responsible for the PC: Zuzana Párnická, MD., PhD.
Practical classes take place at Moskovská street 2, room 106.
Zuzana Párnická, MD., PhD. Prof. Richard Imrich, MD., DrSc.
Charged with the organisation of Practical claases Head of the Institute
Study literature
Obligatory textbooks
Buc M: Basic and Clinical Immunology. 4th revised version. Bratislava: Comenius University 2020, 554 p.
Buc M, Javor J: Basic and Clinical Immunology for Dentistry Students. Bratislava: Comenius University 2017, 324 p.
Shawkatová I and coauthors: Laboratory Methods in Immunology. Bratislava: Comenius University 2014, 128 p.
Video- and pdf-presentations in MSTeams
Recommended textbooks
Abbas AK, Pillai S, Lichtman, AH, Henrickson, S: Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 11th ed. Elsevier 2025, 600 p.
Murphy KM, Weaver C, Berg L: Janeway's Immunobiology, 10th ed. W. W. Norton & Company 2022, 960 p.
Stranford S, Owen JA, Punt J, Jones P: Kuby Immunology, 8th ed. Macmillan Learning 2023, 996 p.
Material and guidelines for self-study
Information on exam
Dear students,
The Immunology exam in the summer semester 2025–2026 will be conducted in a dual format: first, a test in Moodle, followed by an oral examination. Both parts will take place on the same day.
The test will consist of 30 questions with 5 options each—each option must be marked as either correct or incorrect. You will receive 1 point for each correct answer and 0 points for each incorrect answer. The time limit for the test is 30 minutes. You may return to previous pages during the test. Only students who pass the test—i.e., achieve at least 105 points out of 150—will be allowed to take the oral part of the exam.
The final grade depends on the oral examination, which consists of two questions. The first question will cover general basic and clinical immunology, while the second will focus specifically on immunology in dentistry. The list of questions can be found on our website https://zona.fmed.uniba.sk/en/departments/institutes/institute-of-immunology/dentistry/ in the file titled Dentistry – Oral Exam Questions 2025–2026. Please pay special attention to the study of diseases and pathological conditions that you may encounter in clinical practice, some of which are life-threatening and require knowledge of their causes, manifestations, and treatment (anaphylactic reaction and shock, serum sickness and other hypersensitivity reactions, certain immunodeficiencies, autoimmunity, AIDS).
In the case of an unsuccessful oral examination but a successful test, the student does not need to repeat the test in the next term.
Students carrying over the exam from the 2024–2025 semester will take the exam according to the original rules, which can be found in MS Team Immunology DN 2024-25. Prepare for the exam using the questions in the files titled Dentistry – Examples of Test Questions 2024-2025 and Dentistry – Oral Exam Questions 2024-2025.
We recommend to prepare for the exam from the PDF presentations available in the MSTeams and also from the textbooks:
Buc M: Basic and Clinical Immunology. 4th revised version. Bratislava: Comenius University 2020, 554 p.
Buc M, Javor J: Basic and Clinical Immunology for Dentistry Students. Bratislava: Comenius University 2017, 324 p.
Shawkatová I and coauthors: Laboratory Methods in Immunology. Bratislava: Comenius University 2014, 128 p.
Those who are interested can also prepare for the exam using other recommended literature published on the website of the Institute of Immunology.