Qualification goals: This course covers the differentiation of primary immune cells from progenitor cells and their subsequent characterization. Students will learn to stimulate these cells with specific ligands targeting immune receptors. Various methods, including intracellular cytokine staining by flow cytometry, Western blot, and high-resolution microscopy, will be taught for investigating immune responses. Different immune cell subtypes will be compared based on cellular morphology, expression patterns of immune receptors, and the elicited immune response. A key focus is placed on comparing immune responses activated through cell surface immune receptors versus intracellular receptors to illustrate the immune system’s ability to distinguish between different infection modalities and assess infection threats. Experiments will utilize both mouse and human immune cells.

Contents: - Intracellular cytokine staining after activation of immune cells - Analysis using flow cytometry - Differentiation of primary immune cells from precursor cells -

Immunophenotyping of primary immune cells through surface staining - Western blot for visualization of signaling pathways - High-resolution microscopy for localization of immune receptors and visualization of immune activation - Data evaluation and visualization.