The main learning objectives concern the following thematic areas: 1) theoretical principles for the design and development of vaccines, in particular for infectious diseases prevention; 2) immunological basis of the immune response to infections and vaccinations; 3) parameters that influence the immunological response; 4) adjuvants

• Vaccines: historical notes
• Innate and acquired immunity
• Design and development of vaccines
• Vaccines against infectious diseases
• New technologies for vaccine development (e.g. gene-based vaccines, recombinant bacteria-based vaccines, nanotechnology)
• Evaluating the immunological response to vaccination
• Parameters affecting the immune response to vaccination
• Adjuvants
• Rational design of vaccines based on the mechanism of immunological action
• Reverse vaccinology and structural vaccinology
• New strategies for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
• Experimental vaccines against infectious diseases (e.g. malaria, Ebola, HCV and HIV,..)
• Experimental vaccines against non-infectious diseases (e.g. cancer, Alzheimer's disease,..)
• Public health and regulatory issues

Knowledge and understanding. The student should understand and describe the mechanisms behind the immunological response to vaccination highlighting the differences and similarities with the immunological response to infection. The student should know the principles that underlie the design and development of conventional and experimental vaccines as well as the immunological response induced by them. It will be important to understand how different parameters can influence the immunological response, including the use of adjuvants, as well as to acquire knowledge on the rational design of next-generation vaccines and on the regulatory and public health vaccination framework. The exam consists of a written test and, possibly, of a oral examination.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding. The student must be able to use the correct scientific terminology, clearly exposing the topics studied.

Autonomous judgement. The student must be able to critically apply the acquired knowledge to the resolution of vaccinology-related questions. These skills will be verified with a written test and, possibly, through oral questions.

Communication skills. The student must be able to clearly describe the topics learned during the course, using appropriate terminology and examples.

Learning skills. The student must be able to undertake a path of scientific growth in a critical and autonomous way, making use of the study material provided by the teacher as well as additional self-procured in-depth studies. These skills, as far as possible, will be stimulated by the teacher by proposing insights discussed during the lessons or the hours of laboratory activities.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Frontal lessons

Course books

Teacher's  handsout

Assessment

The exam consists of a written test.

The purpose of the written test is to verify the student's skills in the field of Vaccinology. The written test is divided into three parts: the first involves questions with multiple choice answers, the second provides a brief description of some topics covered during the lessons, the third provides more elaborate answers on vaccinology topics covered during the lessons. The written test will be judged with a mark out of thirty.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Frontal lessons

Course books

Teacher's  handsout

Assessment

The exam consists of a written test.

The purpose of the written test is to verify the student's skills in the field of Vaccinology. The written test is divided into three parts: the first involves questions with multiple choice answers, the second provides a brief description of some topics covered during the lessons, the third provides more elaborate answers on vaccinology topics covered during the lessons. The written test will be judged with a mark out of thirty.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.