Didactic Courses for Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

Nutritional Aspects of Gastrointestinal Immunology

Sourcebooks

Food Allergy and Intolerance, Brostoff J, Challacombe SJ (eds.), London: Bailliére Tindall, 1987

Fundamental Immunolgy, 5th edition, Paul WE (ed.), Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2003

Immunobiology, 6th edition, Janeway CA, Travers P, Walport M, Shlomchik MJ (eds.), New York: Garland Science, 2005

Mucosal Immunology, 3rd edition. Mestecky J, Lamm ME, McGhee JR, Bienenstock J, Mayer L, Storber W (eds.). Boston: Elsevier Academic Press, 2005.

Nutrition in Pediatrics: Basic Science & Clinical Applications, Walker WA, Watkins JB, Duggar C (eds.), Hamilton: BC Decker, Inc., 2005

Course Description

This course in nutritional aspects of mucosal immmunology will examine the interrelationships that link human nutrition, mucosal immunology and chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this course is to review and integrate the basic science and mechanisms underlying the research projects that are under active investigation in the laboratories of the HCNRC. Topics will include mucosal response to food antigens, probiotics, interrelationship gut physiology, mucosal inflammation, gut ontogeny, symbiosis between humans and their microflora, the interrelation between nutrition and mucosal immunity, ontogeny of allergic responses, and interaction of developing gut with human milk. Each two-hour session (typically one per week) will be organized and presented by one of the students, with preceptors present to add perspective and outside information to the discussion. The amount of new information on the structure and function of the mucosal immune system, its relationship to many of the intractable chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, and its movement into the mainstream of immunology and biology in general are all contributing to its growth and to the increase in appreciation for the field. This couse will provide a solid foundation for advanced research in the nutritional sciences as they related to mucosal function.

Syllabus

1. Nutrition and digestive function: Overview
2. Pregnancy, lactation, and neonates
3. Infants, children, adolescents, older adults
4. The ontogeny of intestinal microflora
5. Commensal, symbiotic, probiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms of the gut
6. Health benefits of probiotics/prebiotics in modulating mucosal immune function
7. Homeostasis: the role of bacterial-host cross talk
8. Homeostasis: innate immune system of the gut
9. Homeostasis: adaptive immune system
10. Homeostasis: nutritional deficiencies
11. Nutrition in maintaining and modulating the mucosal immune system
13. Immune activation versus hyporesponsiveness and tolerance in the gut
14. Mucosal immune system and digestive disorders
15,16. Food hypersensitivity and allergic diseases
17,18. Human milk and the ontogeny of gastrointestinal tract

Preceptors

Haining Shi, DVM, PhD
Bobby Cherayil, MD
Beth McCormick
W. Allan Walker