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When Good Antibodies Go Bad

By Cassy L. Cozine, Emily C. Gripka

When Good Antibodies Go Bad


 

Abstract

This interrupted case study was designed for an upper level course in immunology where the topic of autoimmunity is discussed in detail.  The storyline follows a woman with Celiac Disease and the effects that this autoimmune disease has on her life, specifically as it relates to her infertility issues. Although Celiac Disease is only one of many autoimmune diseases, it is a contemporary topic and a disease with which many students are familiar. The prevalence and popularity of gluten-free diets also makes this topic current.  Students should have a background in the basics of B and T cell biology, antibodies and antigens before they use this case to examine the concepts of autoantibodies, hypotheses for the induction of autoimmunity and the manifestations and complications of Celiac Disease. There are also opportunities to discuss types of web-based and scholarly information sources as the students are asked to do research on several emerging topics.

   

Date Posted

01/29/2014

Overview

Objectives

  • Define, draw, and explain what an antibody is.
  • Use a patient's symptoms to make a probable diagnosis of Celiac Disease.
  • Carry out a literature search using the Internet and compare the validity of the different sources of information found, for example, scholarly, open access journal articles, Wikipedia entries, etc.
  • Discuss possible hypotheses for the onset of autoimmune disease.
  • Understand the complications of Celiac Disease and the difficulties of maintaining a gluten-free diet.

Keywords

Autoimmunity; autoimmune disease; celiac disease; antibody; gluten; gluten-free; immune system; immunology

  

Subject Headings

Biology (General)
Medicine (General)

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate upper division

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Interrupted

 

 

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