Normal processes (Step 1 Emphasis)
Development of (B and T cells) of the adaptive immune response, including positive and negative selection for B cells and negative and positve selection of T cells during immune development
Structure, production, and function
of granulocytes
of macrophages
of mast cells
of dendritic cells,
cell receptors (eg, complement receptors and toll-like receptors),
of cytokines
of chemokines
of T lymphocytes, including T-lymphocyte receptors, accessory molecules (eg, CD3, CD4, CD8, B7), cell activation and proliferation, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and memory T lymphocytes
of B lymphocytes and plasma cells, including B-lymphocyte receptors, immunoglobulins, cell activation and proliferation, including development of antibodies and memory B lymphocytes
host defense mechanisms, host barriers to infection, mucosal immunity (eg, gutassociated lymphoid tissue and bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue), anatomical locations of T and B lymphocytes
Cellular basis of the immune response and immunologic mediators
antigen processing and presentation in the context of MHC I and MHC II molecules (eg, TAP, beta-2 microglobulin), intracellular pathways, mechanisms by which MHC is expressed on the surface; including distribution of MHC I and MHC II on different cells, mechanisms of MHC I and MHC II deficiencies, and the genetics of MHC
regulation of the adaptive immune response (eg, peripheral tolerance, anergy, regulatory T lymphocytes, termination of immune response, and B-T 5 lymphocyte interactions)
activation, function, and molecular biology of complement (eg, anaphylatoxins) functional and molecular biology of cytokines (eg, IL 1-15)
Basis of immunologic diagnostics (eg, antigen-antibody reactions used for diagnostic purposes, ELISA, immunoblotting, antigen-antibody changes over time, ABO typing)
Principles of immunologic protection vaccine production and mechanisms of vaccine action biologically active antibodies (eg, monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies including IVIG, VZIG, rabies immunoglobulin)
Effect of Age on the function of components of the immune system
Abnormal Processes: Health and Health Maintenance, Screening, Diagnosis, Management, Risks, Prognosis (Step 2 & 3 Emphasis)
Disorders associated with immunodeficiency
deficiency primarily of humoral immunity: common variable immunodeficiency; hyper IgM syndrome; hypogammaglobulinemia/agammaglobulinemia, X-linked (Bruton); selective immunodeficiency (eg, IgA, IgM, IgE)
deficiency/dysfunction primarily of cell-mediated immunity: adenosine deaminase deficiency; DiGeorge syndrome; severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID); Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome; granulomatosis; allergic reactions (insect bites)
complement deficiency: alternative pathway component deficiency (C2, C3b, C3bB, C36B6); classical pathway component deficiency (C1q, C1r, C1-C5); terminal component deficiency (C5b-C9; terminal complement complex); C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency, hereditary angioedema; mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency; membrane attack complex deficiency
deficiency of phagocytic cells and natural killer cells: Chediak-Higashi disease; chronic granulomatous disease and other disorders of phagocytosis; leukocyte adhesion deficiency
HIV/AIDS:
HIV1 and HIV2; AIDS;
AIDS complications (eg, neuropathy, dementia, renal insufficiency); immunology of AIDS;
immune reconstitution syndrome (IRS);
secondary infections; noninfectious complications
Immunologically mediated disorders hypersensitivity reactions:
type 1, 2, 3, including anaphylaxis; type 4; drug reactions; serum sickness transplantation: rejection; graft-vs-host disease
Adverse effects of drugs on the immune system:
drugs affecting the immune system
(eg, prednisone, azathioprine, cyclosporine, methotrexate, monoclonal antibody drugs [eg, abciximab, adalimumab; bevacizumab, infliximab, omalizumab, rituximab]);