Basics of Medical Immunology

Trace immunology's arc from ancient experiential and experimental periods to the modern era, covering early vaccination by Edward Jenner, and contemporary gene therapy and immunotherapy approaches.

Explore the immune system's primary organs—the bone marrow and thymus—and how secondary organs like lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, and adenoids enable antigen contact and adaptive immunity.

Explore diverse immune cell types, including neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes, and how their innate and adaptive roles drive immune responses.

Explore the innate and adaptive immune systems, outlining cellular and humoral components like macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, B and T cells, antibodies, and complement, and compare origins, memory, and roles.

Define antigens and epitopes, explore composition and protein structure, explain antibody-epitope interactions, and review immunogenic proteins and the four levels of protein structure from primary to quaternary.

Discover antibodies, proteins produced by plasma cells that bind antigens with Fab and engage immune responses through Fc, covering structure, composition, and immunoglobulin classes.

Explore the five antibody classes, focusing on IgM as the primary response pentamer that activates the classical complement cascade, and IgG monomers (IgG1–IgG4) driving the secondary immune response and memory.

Explore the five immunoglobulin classes, IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE—their membrane and secreted forms, B cell receptor roles, mucosal protection, allergy mechanisms, and placental transfer.