Dr. Carol Pontzer

3 credits

Human Immunology will address how your body fights infection and keeps you healthy. We will examine ways that the immune system uses to distinguish between self and foreign substances and organisms. The innate immune system that is always active but not specific is contrasted with adaptive immunity, a potent response that must be generated and targeted to the foreign invader. Further the two main branches of the adaptive immune system, antibodies and cells, will be discussed. Finally, we will cover abnormal immune responses and how they lead to illness.