This course aims to deepen students' understanding of immunology and provide insight into current research trends by offering hands-on experience with core experimental procedures in cellular immunology.

LIFE209 – Modern Life Science Laboratory

This course provides a comprehensive, hands-on introduction to core experimental methodologies in cellular immunology. Students will bridge theoretical immunology with contemporary research trends through practical laboratory sessions.
Animal Handling Notice: Please note that this course inherently involves mouse handling and in vivo/ex vivo animal experimentation.
Syllabus Disclaimer: The specific schedule and experimental protocols detailed below are subject to change depending on laboratory circumstances, reagent availability, and institutional compliance guidelines.

Phase 1: Foundations & Anatomical Understanding
Week 1: Course Introduction & Safety Orientation
Lecture: Introduction to the course, safety guidelines, and mouse handling ethics (IACUC principles).
Week 2: Introduction to Laboratory Mice & Basic Handling
Lab: Mouse restraint, sexing, and basic injection techniques.
Week 3: Anatomy of the Immune System I: Primary Lymphoid Organs
Lab: Isolation and anatomical dissection of the bone marrow and thymus.
Week 4: Anatomy of the Immune System II: Secondary Lymphoid Organs
Lab: Isolation and anatomical analysis of the spleen and lymph nodes.
Week 5: Mid-term Progress Review & Interim Lecture
Lecture: Mid-term evaluation, review of anatomical principles, and introduction to immune cell analysis.

Phase 2: Phenotypic & Cellular Immune Analysis
Week 6: Immune Cell Isolation & Single-Cell Suspension
Lab: Preparing high-viability single-cell suspensions from lymphoid organs.
Week 7: Principle of Flow Cytometry (FACS) & Staining Design
Lab: Understanding fluorochromes and designing antibody panels for immune cell profiling.
Week 8: Cell Surface Staining & Flow Cytometry Acquisition
Lab: Antibody staining of surface markers (e.g., CD4, CD8, B220) and running the FACS analyzer.
Week 9: Flow Cytometry Data Analysis (FlowJo/Cytobank)
Lab: Gating strategies, setting controls (FMO), and interpreting immunophenotyping data.
Week 10: Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting (MACS)
Lab: Positive/negative selection to isolate specific T-cell or B-cell populations.

Phase 3: Adaptive Immune Responses & Evaluation
Week 11: In Vitro T-cell Activation & Proliferation Assay
Lab: Simulating adaptive immune responses via anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation and assessing proliferation.
Week 12: Intracellular Cytokine Staining (ICS)
Lab: Evaluating T-cell effector functions (e.g., IFN-gamma, IL-17 production) using golgi blockers and intracellular staining.
Week 13: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
Lab: Quantifying antibody or cytokine titers from serum to evaluate humoral/cellular adaptive responses.
Week 14: Final Lab Presentation & Peer Review
Lab: Student presentations on experimental outcomes and troubleshooting data.
Week 15: Final Evaluation & Course Wrap-up
Lecture: Final comprehensive evaluation, summary of the semester, and discussion on the latest trends in cellular immunology.