Syllabus of lectures - General Medicine, Academic year 2025/2026

1.) September 22, 2025.  Introduction to the study of Immunology. Antigen.

Assoc. prof. Ivana Shawkatová, MSc., PhD.                                                                   

-     Introduction to the study of immunology, milestones of immunology

-     The immune system, its characteristics

-     Primary and secondary lymphoid organs

-     Innate and adaptive immunity, cells and humoral factors

-     Antigen, its characteristics and properties

2.) September 29, 2025.  B cells. Structure and function of antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies.

Assoc. prof. Vladimíra Ďurmanová, RNDr., PhD.     

-     B cells, antibody-producing plasma cells

-     Immunoglobulins, their structure, classification and function

-     Biological properties of immunoglobulins

-     Primary and secondary immune responses

-     Antibody deficiencies

-     Polyclonal antibodies. Hybridomas and monoclonal antibodies

3.) October 6, 2025.  The complement system.

Assoc. prof. Vladimíra Ďurmanová, RNDr., PhD.                                                          

-     Classical, alternative, and lectin pathways of activation

-     Vasoactive and chemotactic factors

-     Biological significance of the complement system

-     Receptors, regulatory proteins

-     Complement deficiencies

-     Hereditary angioedema

4.) October 13, 2025.  Phagocytosis. Pattern recognition receptors and pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Alarmins. Inflammation.

Assoc. prof. Vladimíra Ďurmanová, RNDr., PhD.                         

-     Professional phagocytes, process of phagocytosis

-     Oxygen-dependent microbicidal mechanisms

-     Nitrogen-dependent microbicidal mechanisms

-     Bactericidal proteins and peptides, NETs

-     Infectious and non-infectious inflammation

-     Pattern recognition receptors

-     Pathogen-associated molecular patterns and damage-associated molecular patterns

-     Molecular and cellular basis of inflammation, resolution of inflammation, acute phase proteins

5.) October 20, 2025.  The major histocompatibility complex in man. Membrane molecules of cells of the immune system.

Assoc. prof. Ivana Shawkatová, MSc., PhD.

-     HLA-molecules, genetic determination, biochemical structure

-     Distribution and biological significance of HLA molecules

-     The HLA-complex in organ and tissue transplantations

-     Membrane antigens, their characteristics, nomenclature and function

6.) October 27, 2025.  Antigen presentation. T cells, unconventional lymphocytes.

Prof. Milan Buc, MD, DrSc.                                                                       

-     Endogenous and exogenous pathways of antigen presentation

-     T cells, their receptors and subsets

-     Polarisation of Th cells

-     CD1 and MR1 presentation pathways

-     Unconventional lymphocytes - NK, NKT, MAIT, and ILC cells, their characteristics and function                                          

7.) November 3, 2025.  General properties of cytokines. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Polarization of T helper cells. Cytokines of innate and adaptive immunity. Chemokines and their receptors.

Juraj Javor, MD, PhD.                         

-     General properties of cytokines

-     Polarization of T helper cells

-     Cytokines that mediate innate and adaptive immunity

-     Pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines

-     Local inflammation, SIRS, sepsis, septic shock

-     SIRS versus polymicrobial sepsis

-     New definition of sepsis

-     Cytokines that stimulate haematopoiesis

-     Chemokines

8.) November 10, 2025.  Type I hypersensitivity reactions. Atopy and anaphylaxis. Anaphylactic shock, anaphylactoid (non-IgE pseudoallergic) reactions, therapy.

Assoc. prof. Ivana Shawkatová, MSc., PhD.                        

-     Hypersensitivity reactions type I.

-     Atopy and anaphylaxis 

-     Mediators of allergic reaction

-     Allergens. Clinical symptomatology of allergy

-     Anaphylactic shock, pseudoallergic (anaphylactoid) reactions

-     Therapy of allergy and anaphylactic shock

9.) November 17, 2025.  Hypersensitivity reactions types II - V.

Assoc. prof. Mária Bucová, MD, PhD.                        

-     Type II hypersensitivity reactions. Drug hypersensitivity

-     ABO and Rh system incompatibility

-     Type III hypersensitivity reactions. Immune complexes and diseases

-     Local Arthus reaction, serum sickness - immunopathogenesis, symptoms and therapy

-     Type IV hypersensitivity reactions. Cell-mediated hypersensitivity, contact dermatitis, photoallergic dermatitis, ...

-     Type V hypersensitivity reactions. Myasthenia gravis and Graves disease - immunopathogenesis and clinical symptomatology

10.) November 24, 2025.  Breakdown of central and peripheral tolerance. Autoimmunity. Organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases and their immunotherapy. Autoinflammatory diseases.

Assoc. prof. Richard Imrich, MD, DrSc.                                                                         

-     Dominant and recessive tolerance. Breakdown of tolerance

-     Genetic and hormonal factors in autoimmunity

-     Pathogenic mechanisms in the development of autoimmune processes

-     The role of antigens in autoimmune development

-     Organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases and their immunotherapy

-     Autoinflammatory diseases, mechanisms of their development, clinical manifestations and treatment

11.) December 1, 2025.  Anti-infectious immunity. Vaccination. Anti-tumor immunity.

Assoc. prof. Vladimíra Ďurmanová, RNDr., PhD.                                                                    

-     Immune defense mechanisms against bacteria, viruses and parasites

-     Vaccination, active and passive immunisation

-     Malignant transformation of cells, effector mechanisms against tumors

-     Escape of tumor cells from immune surveillance mechanisms

-     Metastatic processes. Immunotherapy of tumors

12.) December 8, 2025.  Primary immunodeficiencies.

Juraj Javor, MD, PhD.

-     Immunodeficiencies – general properties

-     An overview of primary immunodeficiencies

-     Deficiencies of innate cellular immunity

-     Deficiencies of innate humoral immunity

-     Deficiencies of adaptive cellular immunity

-     Deficiencies of adaptive humoral immunity

13.) December 15, 2025.  Secondary immunodeficiencies. HIV, AIDS.

Juraj Javor, MD, PhD.

-     History and epidemiology of AIDS

-     Etiological agents of AIDS. Genetic variability of HIV

-     Interaction of HIV with cells of the immune system

-     HIV replication

-     Stages of AIDS development

-     Prevention and therapy of HIV infection

Bratislava, September 2, 2025                                              

          Assoc. prof. Richard Imrich, MD, DrSc.

          Head of the department

The lectures are held on Mondays from 16:30 to 19:20 on Moskovska street 2, room M6. 

Syllabus of practical classes - General Medicine, Academic year 2025/2026

1. Practical class (29.09. – 03.10. 2025)  

Serologic Reactions I. Classical methods based on antibody – antigen interactions

·        Agglutination

·        Precipitation

·        Radial immunodiffusion and other immunodiffusion techniques

·        Turbidimetry, nephelometry

·        Immunoelectrophoresis

·        Case report

Practical experiments:

-         ABO blood groups and Rh-factor determination

-        Evaluation of antibodies against Treponema pallidum by passive haemagglutination

2. Practical class (06.10. – 10.10. 2025)  

Serologic Reactions II. Progressive methods based on antibody – antigen interactions. Laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

·        Enzyme immunoassays

·        Radioimmunoassays

·        Immunofluorescence

·        Immunochromatography

·        Immunoblotting

·        Chemiluminiscence

·        Case report

Practical experiments:

-         ELISA techniques and their modifications, HCG test, detection of antibodies to Helicobacter pylori and SARS-CoV-2

3. Practical class (13.10. – 17.10. 2025)  

Evaluation of innate humoral immunity components

·        Total complement activity assays (CH50, AH50)

·        Evaluation of complement components (RID, turbidimetry and nephelometry, ELISA)

·        Determination of acute phase proteins

.        CRP determination

.        Case report

Practical experiments:

-         Separation of serum and plasma

-         CRP-determination from capillary blood by the means of reflectometry (NycoCard^®)

! No practical classes in week 20.10. – 24.10. 2025

4. Practical class (27.10. – 31.10. 2025)  

Evaluation of innate cellular immunity components

·        Isolation of leukocytes from peripheral blood, counting of neutrophils

·        Functional analysis of neutrophils

·        Chemotactic activity

·        Phagocytic activity and phagocytic index

·        Candidacidal activity

·        Metabolic activation (NBT test)

·        Case report

Practical experiments:

-         Separation of leukocytes from peripheral blood using 6% dextran

-         Evaluation of phagocytic activity, phagocytic index and candidacidal activity        

 ·         CREDIT TEST I

5. Practical class (03.11. – 07.11. 2025)

Evaluation of adaptive humoral and cellular immunity components

·        Isolation of lymphocytes

·        Separation of T cell subpopulations

·        Evaluation of the number of T and B cells (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

·        Case report

Practical experiments:

-         Isolation of lymphocytes from peripheral blood using Ficoll-Hypaque

6. Practical class (10.11. – 14.11. 2025)

In vivo and in vitro tests used in the diagnostics 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 (patch) test

 .       Determination of total and allergen–specific IgE levels        

.        Basophil-activation tests

·        Case report

Demonstration: test for measurement of IgE levels

                         Epinephrin (adrenaline) autoinjector

7. Practical class (17.11. – 21.11. 2025)

Simulation

8. Practical class (24.11. – 28.11. 2025)

Laboratory methods used in the diagnostics of autoimmune disorders and immunodeficiencies. Diagnosis of HIV infection.

.        Determination of acute phase proteins, levels of immunoglobulins, total complement levels, C3, C4 complement levels, CD4/CD8 ratio

·        Detection of autoantibodies

·        Determination of circulating immune complexes

·        Laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection

·        Case report

Practical experiments:

-        Rheumatoid factor determination by passive agglutination 

9. Practical class (01.12. – 05.12. 2025)

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 acquired immunity – summary of methods

·        Immunodiagnostics of tumors

Practically: video explaining DNA-based HLA-typing

-        Interpretation of the results of HLA-typing by PCR-SSP

·         CREDIT TEST II

Practical classes are held at Moskovská street 2, room 106.

Zuzana Párnická, MD, PhD.                                           Assoc. prof. Richard Imrich, MD, DrSc.

Charged with the organisation of Practical classes                        Head of the Institute

• General_Medicine_-_Questions_for_the_Oral_Exam_2025-2026.docx

Obligatory textbooks

Buc M:  Basic and Clinical Immunology. 4th revised edition. Bratislava: Comenius University 2020, 554 p.

Shawkatová I and coauthors: Laboratory Methods in Immunology. Bratislava: Comenius University 2014, 128 p.

Pdf-presentations in MSTeams

Recommended textbooks

Buc M, Javor J: Basic and Clinical Immunology for Dentistry Students. Bratislava: Comenius University 2017, 324 p.

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.

The Immunology exam will be held in a dual form: at first a test in Moodle and then an oral exam. Both forms will be on the same day.

The test will have 50 questions with 5 options - for each you need to mark whether it is true or false. The time limit for the test is 50 minutes.

Only those students who pass the test, i.e. achieve at least 185 points out of 250, can participate in the oral part of the exam.

In the oral exam, you will choose 3 questions (one from each category A, B, C). The exact wording of the questions for the oral exam is published on the website of our institute.

In case of a successful test and an unsuccessful oral exam, the test must be repeated on the next date.

We recommend to prepare for the exam from the Pdf presentations available in MSteams and from the listed literature:

1. Buc M:  Basic and Clinical Immunology. 4th revised edition. Bratislava: Comenius University 2020, 554 p.
2. Shawkatová I and coauthors: Laboratory Methods in Immunology. Bratislava: Comenius University 2014, 128 p.

Those interested can also prepare for the exam using other recommended literature published on the website of the Institute of Immunology.

• DAMPs__PAMPs__alarmins_and_autoinflammatory_disorders.pptx
• Autoinflammatory_diseases.docx
• Histamine_intolerance.pdf