Immunology for Pharmacy Students

By Evelyn Vance
320
2026

Description

Immunology is a branch of medicine and biology that covers the medical study of immune systems in humans, animals, plants and sapient species. Immunology has applications in numerous disciplines of medicine, particularly in the fields of rheumatology, virology, alergology (dermatology), bacteriology, oncology and further transplantation medicine. Immunology measures, uses charts and differentiate in context in medicine the studies of immunity on cell and molecular level, and the immune system as part of the physiological level as its functioning is of major importance. Basic concepts of immunology, including innate immunity, antigen recognition, lymphocyte development and adaptive immunity will lay the groundwork for understanding immunity in a clinical context. Immunologists are actively involved in the drug discovery process in the pharmaceutical sector especially for the development of antibodies and vaccines. "Immunology for Pharmacy Students" is a specialized textbook tailored specifically for individuals pursuing degrees in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. This book prepares pharmacists for practice by providing a complete understanding of the basis of immunology and the consequences of either suppressing or enhancing immune function. It covers key subjects such as prophylaxis and vaccination, antibodies as therapeutic and diagnostic agents, biological modifiers, and the rationale for use and mechanisms of therapeutic agents.

About Author

Dr. Evelyn Vance, PhD, RPh, is a leading immunologist and educator with over two decades of experience training future pharmacists. She currently serves as a consultant of Vanguard of Pharmacy Services. Dr. Vance earned her Doctorate in Immunology from Johns Hopkins University and completed her residency in clinical pharmacy at Mayo Clinic. Her unique background bridges the gap between complex laboratory science and practical patient care. She has published over 50 peerreviewed papers on immunotherapies and vaccine delivery systems. Driven by her passion, Dr. Vance wrote this textbook to transform how pharmacy students learn immunology. She strips away the overly dense jargon found in traditional medical texts. Instead, she focuses on the exact immunological concepts pharmacists need for daily clinical decision-making. When she is not teaching or conducting research, Dr. Vance travels globally to speak at pharmaceutical conferences and volunteers at community health clinics.

Table of Content

Preface
1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Immunology and Pharmaceutics
1.2 Organs and Cells in the Immune System
1.3 Divisions of the Immune System
1.4 Bactericidal Factors
1.5 Complement Pathways
1.6 The Major Histocompatibility Complexes

2. THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
2.1 Historical Perspective of Immunology
2.2 Vaccination
2.3 Immunology in the Last Hundred Years
2.4 Cardinal features of vertebrate immune system
2.5 Cells of Innate Immunity
2.6 Cells of Adaptive Immunity
2.7 Conclusion

3. INNATE IMMUNITY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Anatomic and Physiologic Barriers
3.3 Toll-Like Receptors and Autoimmunity
3.4 Antimicrobial Agents Produced by Cells and Tissues

4. ANTIBODIES AND COMPLEMENT
4.1 Antibodies—The Center of the Humoral Immunity
4.2 Antibody Fragments
4.3 Antigens, Haptens, and Immunogens
4.4 Antigen Processing and Antibody Formation
4.5 Genetic Basis of Antibody Diversity

5. ANTIBODY AS DRUG AND DRUG CARRIER
5.1 Antibodies as Drugs
5.2 Antibodies as Drugs to Eliminate Target Cells
5.3 Commercial Antibodies Used as Drugs for Prevention or
Treatment of Human Diseases
5.4 Intracellular Acting Antibody Conjugates
5.5 Extracellular Acting Antibody Conjugates
5.6 Radionuclides—Radioimmunotherapy
5.7 Comparison of Different Agents in Antibody-Mediated Drug Delivery
5.8 Safety and Efficacy of Antibodies in Therapeutic Applications

6. SURFACE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN T CELLS AND
ANTIGEN-PRESENTING CELLS

6.1 Introduction
6.2 Clonal Selection Hypothesis
6.3 T Cell Receptors
6.4 Origin Of T Cell Receptor Diversity
6.5 CD3–T Cell Receptors Protein
6.6 CO-Stimulatory Molecules
6.7 Agents That Block T Cell Receptor–Antigen Presenting Cell
Interactions
6.8 Aberrant Interactions Between Tcr And Class Ii Molecules
6.9 Toxic Shock Syndrome And Tampon Use
6.10 Toxic Shock Syndrome
6.11 Omenn Syndrome

7. CELLULAR RESPONSES IN IMMUNITY 
7.1 Cells in the Circulation
7.2 Host Defense Mechanism
7.3 Antigen Presentation
7.4 Role Of Cytokines In Immune Response
8. PHAGOCYTOSIS AND INTRACELLULAR KILLING
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Precipitation Of Antigen–Antibody
8.3 Cellular Receptors For Complement
8.4 Ingestion Of Antigens Or Microbes
8.5 Intracellular Killing Of Bacteria
8.6 Inflammation, Tissue Damage, And Cancer
8.7 Immunodeficiencies Associated With Phagocytosis
8.8 Conclusion

9. HYPERSENSITIVITY AND DRUG ALLERGY
9.1 Type I Hypersensitivity
9.2 Drug Induced Mast Cell Degranulation
9.3 Endogenous Factors Induced Mast Cell Degranulation
9.4 Control of Type I Hypersensitivity
9.5 Type I Hypersensitivity in Drug Allergy
9.6 Type II Hypersensitivity
9.7 Type III Hypersensitivity
9.8 Type IV Hypersensitivity

10. HUMORAL AND CELLULAR IMMUNODEFICIENCY
10.1 Introduction to Immunodeficiency
10.2 Humoral Immune Dysfunction
10.3 X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia
10.4 Selective IgA Deficiency
10.5 Common Variable Immunodeficiency
10.6 Cellular Immunodeficiency Syndromes
10.7 Virus-Mediated Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
10.8 Immune Response to HIV Infection
10.9 Immune Therapy
10.10 Opportunistic Infections Associated with AIDS

11. CYTOKINES AND IMMUNOTHERAPY
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Interleukins
11.3 Interferons
11.4 Pathogenesis of Septic Shock
11.5 Immunotherapy for Septic Shock

12. TRANSPLANTATION
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Types of Rejection
12.3 Hyperacute Graft Rejection
12.4 Acute Graft Rejection
12.5 Chronic Graft Rejection
12.6 Graft Versus Host Disease
12.7 Transplantation Immunology
12.8 Laboratory Tests for Compatibility
12.9 Immunosuppressive Agents
12.10 Immunophilin Binding Agents

13. VACCINES
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Immune Response Primary Exposure
13.3 Cellular Response During Secondary Antigenic Exposure
13.4 Vaccines
13.5 Characteristics of an Ideal Vaccine
13.6 Attenuated Live—Vaccines
13.7 Inactivated Vaccines
13.8 Tumor Vaccine
13.9 Vaccine Adjuvant

14. IMMUNODIAGNOSTICS AND IMMUNOASSAY
14.1 Antibody-Antigen Interaction
14.2 Detection of Antibody-Antigen Interaction
14.3 Principles of Immunoassays
14.4 Examples of Immunoassays
14.5 Commercial Immunodiagnostic Kits
14.6 Types of Immunodiagnostic Kits
14.7 Advantages and Limitations of Immunodiagnostic Kits

15. IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Hypersensitivity
15.3 Conclusion

Bibliography
Index