Laboratory of Immunology and Vaccine Immunogenicity Analysis 

6 ECTS / Semester / Portuguese

Intended learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and competences to be developed by the students):

The objectives of the curricular unit are to provide students with a set of skills for laboratory research work in immunology and vaccinology. Thus, the aim is to prepare students with solid knowledge and skills in laboratory studies of microbiology and immunology, which constitute the experimental basis for the development of vaccines. Additionally, students will be equipped with methodological skills in quantitative and qualitative analysis of vaccines, as well as the analysis of the immunological response induced by vaccines, offering an in-depth dimension of vaccine analysis to students. 

Syllabus:

The objective of this curricular unit is to introduce laboratory research methods in vaccinology and its experimental bases in microbiology and immunology. This curricular unit will take place in the second semester of the master's degree. 

  • Experimental virology; 
  • Experimental bacteriology; 
  • Interaction between host and pathogen; 
  • Innate Immunology; 
  • Adaptive Immunology; 
  • Analytical Vaccinology 
  • Analysis of the immune response to vaccines (immunogenicity).

Practical laboratory classes will provide students with the development of the following skills: 

  • Design and planning of laboratory experiments; 
  • Carrying out experiments; 
  • Analysis of experimental data and the application of statistical methods; 
  • Formal methods of scientific presentation. 

The laboratory practices offered will cover the following contents: 

Virology

  • Laboratory Techniques in Virology (MJA)

Bacteriology

  • Antibiogram (LM) 

Host-Pathogen Interactions 

  • Infeção de macrófagos com Mycobacterium bovis BCG e quantificação da infecção por unidades formadoras de colónias (PB) 

Imunologia Inata 

  • Infection of macrophages with Mycobacterium bovis BCG and quantification of infection by colony forming units (PB) 

Adaptive Immunology

  • Analysis of immune cell populations by flow cytometry (BC) 

Analytical Vaccinology 

  • PCR analysis to quantify viral vector (AE) yields

Vaccine-induced immunogenicity - Antibodies 

  • Quantification of antibodies by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) (AE) 

Vaccine-induced immunogenicity – T Lymphocytes 

  • Quantification of cellular immunity by Interferon-gamma Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) (PB). 

Programs: