Spring 2026
Lectures: Mon/Wed/Fri, 10:40-11:30 am, R2-265 (Academic Research Building)
Application Sessions: Tuesdays, 9:35-11:30 am, R2-265
Course Co-Directors: Wayne T. McCormack, PhD, mccormac at ufl.edu, 294-8334, CG-72K
Allison Bayer, PhD, allisonbayer at ufl.edu, 273-9703, BMS J581
2026 SYLLABUS (Updates will be made in Canvas only)
PART ONE – Cells, Receptors, and Innate Immunity
DATE TOPICS
Mon, Jan 12 Course Overview, Basic Principles of Immunity
Tue, Jan 13 TBL: Basic Concepts of Immunity
Wed, Jan 14 Hematopoiesis and Lymphoid Organs
Fri, Jan 16 Overview and Cells of Innate Immunity
Mon, Jan 19 No Class – MLK Holiday
Tue, Jan 20 TBL: Innate Immunity 1
Wed, Jan 21 Complement
Fri, Jan 23 Pattern Recognition by Innate Immunity
Mon, Jan 26 Soluble Mediators & NK cells In Innate Immunity
Tue, Jan 27 TBL: Innate Immunity 2
Wed, Jan 28 Ig Structure/Function
Fri, Jan 30 Generation of Receptor Diversity
Mon, Feb 2 Introduction to Immunogenetics & MHC
Tue, Feb 3 TBL: Antibody Diversity
Wed, Feb 4 T Lymphocyte Receptors
Fri, Feb 6 The MHC and its Proteins
Mon, Feb 9 Antigen Processing and Presentation
Tue, Feb 10 TBL: T Cell Receptors & Ag Presentation
Wed, Feb 11 Evolution of the Immune System
Fri, Feb 13 Review Session
Tue, Feb 17 Exam 1 available online in Canvas (Honorlock) for 24 hours beginning at 7:00 am
PART TWO – Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity
DATE TOPICS FACULTY
Mon, Feb 16 B Cell Receptors, Signaling, & Activation
Tue, Feb 17 No class (Exam 1)
Wed, Feb 18 B Lymphocyte Development
Fri, Feb 20 B Lymphocyte Responses
Mon, Feb 23 Somatic Diversification of Ab Responses
Tue, Feb 24 TBL: Humoral Immunity
Wed, Feb 25 Dendritic Cells
Fri, Feb 27 T Lymphocyte Development
Mon, Mar 2 T Cell Signaling Mechanisms
Tue, Mar 3 TBL: T Cell Development
Wed, Mar 4 T Helper Cells and Their Roles
Fri, Mar 6 CD8 T Cell Responses
Mon, Mar 9 Other T Cell Populations
Tue, Mar 10 TBL: T Cell-Mediated Immunity
Wed, Mar 11 Immune Tolerance & Reg/Suppressor T Cells
Fri, Mar 13 Immunological Memory
Mon, Mar 23 Integration of Innate & Adaptive Immunity
Tue, Mar 24 TBL: Memory & Integration of Inn & Adap Imm
Thu, Mar 26 Exam 2 available online in Canvas (Honorlock) for 24 hours beginning at 7:00 am
PART THREE – Immune Responses in Health & Disease
DATE TOPICS
Wed, Mar 25 Mucosal Immunity 1
Fri, Mar 27 Mucosal Immunity 2
Mon, Mar 30 Immunology of HIV Infection
Tue, Mar 31 TBL: Mucosal Immunity
Wed, Apr 1 Inborn Errors of Immunity
Fri, Apr 3 Allergy & Allergic Diseases
Mon, Apr 6 Evasion & Subversion of Immune Defenses
Tue, Apr 7 TBL: Failures of Host Defense
Wed, Apr 8 Autoimmunity 1
Fri, Apr 10 Autoimmunity 2
Mon, Apr 13 Autoimmunity 3
Tue, Apr 14 TBL: Autoimmunity
Wed, Apr 15 Vaccines
Fri, Apr 17 Cancer Immunology
Mon, Apr 20 Transplantation Immunology
Tue, Apr 21 Manipulation of Immune Responses
Treatment of Unwanted Immune Responses
Wed, Apr 22 Review Session
Mon, Apr 27 Exam 3 available online in Canvas (Honorlock) for 24 hours beginning at 7:00 am
Catalog Description
Fundamental principles of basic and experimental immunology, from first engagement of innate immunity to the generation of the adaptive immune response and its clinical consequences. (4 credits)
Course Overview
This course is taught in person only, not online or hybrid. This course focuses on fundamental principles of basic and experimental immunology, from first engagement of innate immunity to the generation of the adaptive immune response and its clinical consequences. It is required as a core course for PhD students in the Immunology & Microbiology concentration of the biomedical sciences PhD program. This course is open to other UF graduate students with consent of the course director. Weekly small group sessions (Tuesdays) will provide students with experience in problem-solving, application of immunology principles in an experimental context, and integration of immunology & microbiology, via team-based learning.
Course Objectives
Successful will be expected to accomplish the following learning objectives.
1. Attain a working knowledge of current immunological principles related to:
a. cell surface molecules and receptors on cells of the immune system;
b. how immune cells develop and acquire the ability to recognize antigens;
c. how immune cells interact in order to defend the body against microbes, including both innate and adaptive immunity;
d. how immune cells malfunction in autoimmunity and immunodeficiency; and
e. how the immune system may be manipulated to improve health.
2. Be able to read and discuss research papers from the current research literature in order to become familiar with experimental protocols, and develop skills in interpreting immunological data, critique of experimental designs, and formulation of new hypotheses.
3. Interpret immunological data.
4. Design immunological experiments to test a given hypothesis.
Course Material
Handouts, PowerPoint presentations, and other course material will be posted at a Canvas web site (login with Gatorlink ID and password). All registered students will automatically be enrolled at the site during the first week of classes.
The following textbook is REQUIRED for Spring 2026: “Janeway’s Immunobiology” 10th Edition, by Kenneth Murphy, Casey Weaver, and Leslie Berg, 2022, W.W. Norton
Preparation for Team-Based Learning (TBL) Sessions
Teams will be set up at the beginning of the semester, and will work together throughout the semester. Your assignment before each TBL session is to review the assigned reading, lecture presentation, and your notes relevant to the topic of that session.
Session schedule:
9:35 am – Individual Readiness Assurance Test
9:50 am – Team Readiness Assurance Test
10:05 am – Team Application Exercise – Team discussion of case studies and questions, followed by class discussion
11:30 am – Adjourn
Readiness Assurance Tests will consist of up to 10 multiple-choice questions (closed book) based on the material you have studied for that session. Individual Readiness Assurance Tests will be completed individually, and answers will be collected using an answer sheet that is provided. Team Readiness Assurance Tests (closed book) will consist of the same questions as the Individual Readiness Assurance Test, and team answers will be recorded on scratch-off cards that will be provided. It is important to arrive on time! You will not be given extra time for the individual test if you are late.
Grading
The final course grade will be based on an average of three exams (75%) and your average scores on the TBL readiness assurance test (25%). Final grade cut-offs will be based on the final class score distribution. They will be set no higher than the following, and may be adjusted lower depending on the final score distribution. Final % score A 90%-100%; A- 85%-89%; B+ 80%-84%; B 75%-79%; B- 70%-74%; C+ 65%-69%; C 60%-64%; C- 55%-59%.
Class Attendance
Students are expected to read all assignments prior to class, and to be prepared to attend and participate in all sessions. Personal issues with respect to class attendance or participation will be handled on an individual basis.
Exam or Other Work Make-up
Make-up assignments may be provided for excused absences from TBL sessions and must be completed by mutually agreed upon dates. Alternate dates will be arranged for exams with excused absences or extenuating circumstances (e.g., professional travel).
UF Academic Policies and Resources
Please see this link for information about UF policies about class attendance, learning accommodations, grading, course evaluation, UF Honor Pledge, and in-class recording (https://go.ufl.edu/syllabuspolicies). The web page also includes links to academic, health and wellness resources.