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FIRST BLACK SEA INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOLOGY SCHOOL (BSIIS2014) 2 October 2014 „Lilia” Hotel, Golden Sands, Varna ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Maria Nikolova Andrey Tchorbanov, Elissaveta Naumova, Viktoria Sarafian Marianna Murdjeva Tchavdar Vassilev EFIS and the European Journal of Immunology have provided €6000 for bursaries and €3000 for the management of the First Black Sea International Immunology School . Dear friends and colleagues, Welcome at the 1st Black Sea International Immunology School! This is an educational initiative of the Bulgarian Immunology Society and the Bulgarian Association of Clinical Immunology, aiming to develop a training framework in fundamental, translational and clinical immunology that will involve academic, scientific and healthcare institutions from Bulgaria, and the neighboring Balkan and Black Sea regions. Each edition of the School will be organized around a specific topic, and combine intensive lectures and tutorials with updated practical information on the possibilities for continuous education, project development and networking in Europe. BSIIS2014 will take place under the motto “Immunology for All”. It will focus on the basics of immunology, and “trace” career opportunities for an immunology beginner. Thanks to the generous support of EFIS and the European Journal of Immunology, 63 applicants will have the opportunity to join the school. A group of international speakers will ensure the highly interactive and intense program. The training is addressed to you: research - oriented young people, engaged in the field of biomedical studies, and willing to complete your theoretical and practical skills in immunology. Do participate in the lectures, don’t be afraid to ask, share your ideas, enjoy the discussions! Looking forward to meeting you at the beautiful Black Sea coast! The Organizing Committee THE PROGRAM WEDNESDAY, 1 OCT 16.00 – 19.00 ARRIVAL AND REGISTRATION 19.30: “GET-TO-KNOW EACH OTHER” DINNER THURSDAY, 2 OCT 8.45 OFFICIAL OPENING. 9.00 – 9.30 UNCERTAINTY AND PLASTICITY IN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. T. Vassilev, Bulgaria 9.30 – 10.00 PARAMETERS INFLUENCING THE IMMUNE RESPONSE. J-M Cavaillon, France 10.00 – 10.30 IMMUNE SYSTEM: FRIEND OR FOE? S. Kaveri, France 10.30 – 11.00 COFFEE BREAK 11.00 – 11.30 AUTOIMMUNITY – KEY FACTS AND PARADOXES M. Murdjeva, Bulgaria 11.30 – 12.00 IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF TRANSPLANTATION A. Mihaylova, Bulgaria 12.00 – 12.30 FLOW CYTOMETRY: MAKING THE BEST OF IT M. Nikolova, Bulgaria 13.00 – 14.00 “MEET THE SPEAKERS” LUNCH 14.00 – 14.30 MOUSE MODELS IN IMMUNOLOGY A. Tchorbanov, Bulgaria 14.30 – 15.00 IMMUNOINFORMATICS IN THE “-OMIC” ERA Massimo Amicosante, Italy 15.00 – 15.30 THE INSTRUCTIVE ROLE OF THE INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM. A. Erdei, Hungary 15.30 – 16.00 COFFEE BREAK 16.00 – 16.30 “DARE TO DREAM, DARE TO FLY”: ORGANIZATION AND CHALLENGES OF PhD EDUCATION V. Sarafian, Bulgaria 16.30 – 17.00 THE TRAINING PROGRAM OF IMMUNOLOGY ACCORDING TO THE EUROPEAN BOARD OF UEMS Gerhard Zlabinger, Austria 17.00 – 17.30 IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH PROJECTS FOR BEGINNERS - HOW TO APPLY AND GET FINANCE M. Murdjeva, Bulgaria 17.30 – 18.00 APPLYING FOR INTERNATIONAL FUNDING: EFIS OFFERS A. Erdei, Hungary THE FACULTY Dr. Massimo Amicosante, PhD PhD in immunology Associate Professorship of General Pathology and Clinical Pathology (Italian Ministry of University, Research and Education – 2014) Assistant Professor Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy e-mail: [email protected] Prof. Jean-Marc Cavaillon, Professor, Dr.Sc. , Cytokines & Inflammation Unit, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue Dr. Roux, 75015, Paris, France [email protected] Prof. Anna Erdei, PhD Department of Immunology, University L. Eotvos, Pazmany Peter s. 1/C 1117 Budapest, Hungary [email protected] Srini Kaveri, PhD INSERM U872 Equipe 16 Immunopathology and Therapeutic Immuno-Intervention, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France [email protected] Prof. Marianna Murdjeva, MD, PhD Specialist in Microbiology and Clinical Immunology Head, Department of Microbiology and Immunology Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria Plovdiv 4000, 15A Vassil Aprilov blvd [email protected] Prof. Maria H. Nikolova, MD, DSc Specialist in Clinical Immunology Head, Department of Immunology and Allergy Reference laboratory of Immunology National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Yanko Sakazov St.26, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria [email protected] Prof. Gerhard J. Zlabinger, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Vienna, Austria Prof. Anastasiya Mihaylova, PhD Department of Clinical Immunology University Hospital “Alexandrovska”, Sofia, Bulgaria [email protected] Prof. Victoria Sarafian, MD, PhD, DMSc Professor of Immunology Specialist in Medical Biology and in Clinical Immunology Head of Department of Medical Biology Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria Assoc. Prof. Andrey Tchorbanov, PhD Laboratory of Experimental Immunology Department of Immunology Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 26 Acad. Georgi Bonchev St. 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria [email protected] Prof. Tchavdar Vassilev, MD, DMSc Department of Immunology Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, 26 Acad. Georgi Bonchev St. 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria [email protected] THE LECTURES PLASTICITY AND UNCERTAINTY IN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Tchavdar Vassilev Immunology textbooks tend to present the immune response as a quite simple and predictable sequence of events. What happens in real life is more complex. This short lecture will focus on the ability of cells and molecules of the immune system to undergo dramatic and quite unexpected changes during adaptive- or innate types of immune responses: a) B cells change often the light or heavy chains of their immunoglobulin receptors and thus their antigen-binding specificity and could even repeat this modification several times during the individual cell’s lifetime; b) the strongly pro-inflammatory Th17 cells could under certain circumstances become regulatory (antiinflammatory); c) some circulating immunoglobulins exposed in vivo to aggressive molecules may change their antigen-binding properties and become polyspecific, etc. The role of this plasticity of cells and molecules will be discussed. PARAMETERS INFLUENCING THE IMMUNE RESPONSE Jean-Marc Cavaillon Our life and our health are not only under the control of our genes, but many events linked to our behavior and our environment have profound effects on them. Similarly, a large number of actions greatly modify the performance of our immune cells. It starts at birth, which can occur through either vaginal delivery or after caesarean: as a consequence, the acquisition and the nature of the initial microbiota in newborns will be different. This is probably one of the reasons for the moderate risk increase for allergic diseases observed in children born after caesarean. This observation is reminiscent of the hygiene hypothesis that suggest that sterile and too clean environment after birth favors the occurrence of allergic diseases. It is also known that immune cells of axenic (germ-free) mice are not fully mature in the absence of gut and skin microbiota. The nature of individual microbiota is itself greatly influenced by the nutrients, and the beneficial effects of probiotics have been recognized since the pioneer work of E. Metchnikoff. Similarly, fish n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids or vitamin D have potent immunomodulatory properties. Of course, the genetic polymorphism greatly influence the quality of the immune response differing from one individual to another or from one mouse strain to another. Of note, heritability of premature death due to infection is higher than any death due to other causes. However, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) are not sufficient to explain inter-individual heterogeneity and other events that end to epigenetic modifications can modify the relative influence of the individual SNP. Gender is the most important genetic difference between individuals and sexual hormones have also a great influence on immune cells, with testosterone favoring inflammatory reaction while estradiol displays protective properties. Ageing is associated with modification of the immune cell counts and reactivity, leading to modified responsiveness of old people as compared to that of adult. The immune system is closely associated with both central and peripheral nervous system, and immune cells display receptors for neuromediators and can themselves produce certain neuromediators. Then, as expected, any events leading to the release of different neuromediators will affect the behavior of immune cells; this is particularly the case of the stress. The sequence of signals received by an immune cell leads to different responses, illustrating that timing is an important issue. Similarly, circadian rhythms are associated with different levels of cellular responsiveness throughout the day and night. Importantly, the same immune cells are strongly influenced by their local microenvironment. For example, macrophages present in spleen, liver (Kupffer cells), brain (microglial cells), bone marrow, lungs (alveolar macrophages), gut, peritoneal cavity and blood monocytes are different phagocytic cells with different receptors and different properties. Accordingly, the nature of the immune response is greatly dependent on its compartmentalization. Other events that influence the observations of the functions of the immune cells are consecutive to different parameters used in in vitro experiments (nature of culture medium, nature of additive serum, nature of plastic, time of incubation…). Similar discrepancies can be consecutive to in vivo experiments since the nature of the animal models may generate totally opposite results. Mice largely used in immunology (15 millions/year in USA, 7 millions per year in Europe) are far to mimic the human immune system and human pathologies. Of note, their high resistant to infection and to microbial toxins leads to major differences with humans. In conclusion, the immune system is greatly under influence and the quality of the response of the immune cells is under the control of many non-immunological parameters. ‘THE IMMUNE SYSTEM: FRIEND OR FOE?’ Srini Kaveri Every day, in our body, millions of cells take birth, communicate with each other, generate many substances and some of them die, all to ensure the maintenance of the well being of the organism. Some of these cells have an important task – that of sentinels. The immune system through its cells and molecules protects us from external pathogens (bacteria, virus, fungus, parasites) and internal unwanted invasion, such as when our own cells reproduce abnormally to form cancers. The system of gendarmerie is extremely powerful and is regulated to perfection to fight specifically against the invading pathogens but not body own tissues and cells. However, the same system of sentinel turns out to become aggressive against our own organs – leading to most dreadful autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, when there is dysregulation of immune system. What are the causes for this dysregulation? What role does genetics, or environment play in this dysregulation? What are the current therapeutic approaches for the treatment of autoimmune diseases? AUTOIMMUNITY – KEY FACTS AND PARADOXES Marianna Murdjeva The present lecture focuses on basic terms and definitions on autoimmunity and autoimmune disorders, the main facts about evolution of autoimmunity ideas, the basis of immunological tolerance and the mechanisms that break it, types of autoimmune reactions and Th polarization of the autoimmune response, the role of autoantibodies in the diagnostics of autoimmune diseases and the basic principles of their treatment. The evolution of autoimmunity ideas, initiated by Paul Erlich with his “Horror autotoxicus”, followed by clonal-selection theory of Burnett, established gradually the present conception that autoreactive cells and molecules are found normally in the immune system repertoire. The two sides of the “coin” - autoimmunity and immunological tolerance, are discussed in brief. Several immunological paradoxes are found in autoimmunity: 1/ the normal presentation of autoreactive cells and autoantibodies in the immune repertoire, 2/ the polyclonal activation of the immune cells, 3/ the change in the paradigm of immune system’s functions; 4/ autoreactive T cells. The battle between natural and “pathogenic” autoantibodies represents the immune struggle between good and evil and is the essence of autoimmunity. However, the autoantibodies are the main diagnostic molecules for detection and prognosis of the autoimmune process and improvement of their methods and tests is a key point in autoimmune diagnostics. Various treatment approaches in autoimmune disorders are presented: metabolic control, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic drugs, plasmapheresis or plasma exchange, IVIG, cytokines and inhibitors, etc. IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF TRANSPLANTATION Anastassia Mihaylova Throughout history people have always been intrigued by the possibilities of the transplantation of organs and tissues from one body to another but the clinical transplant practice began few decades ago. Development of the field of organ and tissue transplantation has accelerated remarkably since the discovery of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Nowadays transplantation has therapeutic applications not only for patients experiencing end-stage organ failure, but also in other clinical settings, such as malignancies and immune deficiencies. However, the immune system remains a major barrier to a successful transplant outcome. This lecture will focus on the fundamental concepts in transplant immunology: histocompatibility antigens and their role in transplantation, types of grafts, molecular basis for alloreactivity, immune mechanisms of allograft rejection and graft versus host reaction, immune tolerance. The current methodological approaches for tissue typing and compatibility evaluation will be also discussed. FLOW CYTOMETRY: MAKING THE BEST OF IT Maria Nikolova, Bulgaria Although almost 50 years old now, flow cytometry is still as a cutting-edge technology in the field of single-cell analysis. The concept of monoclonal antibody reagents, the development of high-quality fluorochromes, and the construction of multi-laser digitalized cytometers have made possible the routine simultaneous evaluation of over 20 parameters per cell, and the high speed robust analysis of extremely rare events. The “happy marriage” between flow cytometry and immunology has brought to a phenomenal accumulation of knowledge about lymphocyte heterogeneity and functions. Deciphering the plasticity of CD4 T cells, defining “immune risk profiles”, or…doing epigenetics by flow are among the newest exciting applications. Yet, the mere fact of using flow cytometry is no guarantee of success. The obligatory steps to follow in any flow cytometry experiment: the ABC’s of choosing reagents, constructing a panel, setting controls, analyzing and presenting data will be discussed. In addition, the most important information and training sources for a flow beginner will be highlighted. MOUSE MODELS IN IMMUNOLOGY A.ndrey Tchorbanov Experimental therapy with newly developed drugs in humans is limited by technical and ethical restrictions. In contrast, studies in mouse models can circumvent some of these limitations. Mouse models in immunology are a tool for understanding human diseases. Mice are the mainstay of in vivo immunological experimentation and in many respects they mirror human biology remarkably well. This conservation of function is reflected in recent reports on the sequencing of both the human and mice genomes, which reveal that to date only 300 or so genes appear to be unique to one species or the other. Despite this conservation there exist significant differences between mice and humans in immune system development, activation, and response to challenge, in both the innate and adaptive arms. However, because there are so many parallels there has been a tendency to ignore differences and in many cases, perhaps, make the assumption that what is true in mice is necessarily true in humans. By making such assumptions we run the risk of overlooking aspects of human immunology that do not occur, or cannot be modeled, in mice. Included in this subset will be differences that may preclude a successful preclinical trial in mice becoming a successful clinical trial in human. SCID (severe combined immunodeficient) mice tolerate normal human lymphoid cells due to a mutation affecting their recombinase system and resulting in mature T- and B- cell deficiency. SCID mice are perfect recipients and reconstituted with purified peripheral mononuclear cells from patients could develop symptoms specific for human diseases. IMMUNOINFORMATICS IN THE “-OMIC” ERA Massimo Amicosante With the incredible expanding number of genomic information, both for pathogens and for immune-related genes in vertebrate host, together with the large dataset of structures, epitope sequences and immune based database, it is becoming more and more important for scientists to approach at the problem with large view and perspectives. Since the terms „immunomics” and „immunome” have been created few years ago following examples in other life science fields, this was principally related to the computational determination of epitopes in sequences. Computational tools allow the analysis of thousands of protein sequences collected from database libraries and the definition of potential peptide T-cell epitopes that can be recognised by the most relevant and common HLA alleles in the target population or worldwide. Further, the antigen processing rules can be used to improve the quality of T-cell antigens selected. Similarly, both continuous and discontinuous B-cell epitopes could be efficiently determined. Thus, target antigens can be identified in silico and used in different areas of immunology, reducing up to 99% the wet-lab screening needs. In addition, the large availability of the immune response associated protein receptor 3D structures is opening new possibility in the area of computational immunology, allowing the analysis of complex interactions and role in modulating immune response. This is the case of the HLA class I molecules that, a part playing the key role in interacting with the TCR, is interacting with KIR and LIR receptors in different cells. An emerging role for the HLA-bound peptide in modulating the interaction with these receptors and immune response, is suggesting that the so called “innate immune response” is presenting a certain grade of specificity in the recognition. This opens the possibility to modulate this important response with appropriate peptide reagents and controlling the early critical phases of immune responses against pathogens, or in cancer or immune disorders where the role played by the cells bearing these receptors is critical. THE INSTRUCTIVE ROLE OF THE INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM Anna Erdei For the development of the adaptive immune response stimuli derived from the innate immune system are required. The intimate crosstalk and a bidirectional cooperativity between the two systems has broad implications for the immune response developing in physiological conditions and also under various pathogenic conditions. The function of the elements of these two immune systems and various mechanisms of their interactions will be discussed. “DARE TO DREAM, DARE TO FLY”: ORGANIZATION AND CHALLENGES OF PhD EDUCATION V. Sarafian The lecture presents an overview on the challenges a PhD student in biomedicine faces. The profiles of the successful PhD student and the good supervisor are presented. The motivation, qualities and skills each PhD candidate should develop are discussed. A short history of doctoral education is traced together with the modern concepts for changing the mindset, independence, creativity and community thinking. Examples of good practice and a focus on the outcomes of PhD education are discussed. A lecture based on personal and shared experience providing new insights and inspiration for all quality oriented PhD students. THE STUDENTS 1. Dzhemal Moten, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Biology, Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski” 2. Shina Pashova, PhD student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction "Acad. Kiril Bratanov. 3. Andrey Velichkov, PhD student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction "Acad. Kiril Bratanov". 4. Zhivka Kostova, PhD student, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Biology, Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”. 5. Kristiana Dobrikova, undergraduate student, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Faculty of Biology and National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. 6. Dr. Martyn Nedyalkov, Medical Doctor, PhD student, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Immunology and Allergy. 7. Kameliya Vinketova, PhD student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction "Acad. Kiril Bratanov. 8. Valeriya Gyurkovska, PhD, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Department of Immunology, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 9. Lyudmila Belenska-Todorova, PhD student, Sofia Univesity “St. Kliment Ohridski” Medical faculty. 10. Kiril Kolev, undergraduate student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 11. Snejana Kestendjieva, PhD student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction "Acad. Kiril Bratanov". 12. Elena Stoyanova, PhD student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction "Acad. Kiril Bratanov". 13. Silvina Zapryanova, PhD student, Bulgarian Academy of Science, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction "Acad. Kiril Bratanov". 14. Mariya Muhtarova, PhD, Assistant professor at National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Immunology and Allergy. 15. Rumiana Drenska, PhD, Medical Doctor, University Multi-profile Hospital for Active Medical Treatment and Emergency Medicine “N. I. Pirogov”. 16. Yana Feodorova, PhD student, Assistant professor, Department of Medical Biology, Medical University – Plovdiv. 17. Elina Avramska, PhD student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction "Acad. Kiril Bratanov". 18. Tsvetelina Velikova, Resident at the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology at University Hospital “St. Ivan Rilski”. 19. Maria Kazakova, PhD, Assistant-professor, Medical Biology at Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Plovdiv. 20. Boryana Petkova, PhD student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences- Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction "Acad. Kiril Bratanov". 21. Marina Alexandrova, PhD student, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department of Immunology and Allergy. 22. Eleonora Kaneva, Biologist, Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases. 23. Kristiyan Kanev, assistant professor, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction "Acad. Kiril Bratanov". 24. Maya Hadzhieva, PhD Student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 25. Luiza Keremidchieva, undergraduate student, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. 26. Milena Todorova, graduate student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 27. Nelly Delcheva, undergraduate student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 28. Slav Slavov, undergraduate student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 29. Gergana Todorova-Nikolova, PhD student, University Hospital of Endocrinology "Acad. Ivan Penchev ". 30. Maria Mihailova, PhD student, University Hospital of Endocrinology "Acad. Ivan Penchev". 31. Mihaela Georgieva, undergraduate student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 32. Natalya Stoyanova, graduate student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 33. Pavlina Sredkova, PhD student, Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski”. 34. Ivan Pavlov, PhD student, University Hospital “Aleksanrovska’’. 35. Petroslav Chipinski, graduate student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 36. Lora Dyakova, PhD student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Neurobiology. 37. Marina Dimcheva, undergraduate student, Medical Faculty, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. 38. Nikola Simeonov, undergraduate student, Medical Faculty, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. 39. Iva Ivanova, PhD student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 40. Tsvetelin Lukanov, PhD student, University Hospital “Alexandrovska”, Department of Clinical Immunology. 41. Valentina Atanasova, PhD, University Hospital “Alexandrovska”, Department of Clinical Immunology. 42. Spaska Lesichkova, Medical Doctor, University Hospital “Alexandrovska”, Department of Clinical Immunology. 43. Ivaylo Balabanov, graduate student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 44. Kamelia Velcheva, undergraduate student, Trakia University, Stara Zagora. 45. Georgi Semovski, undergraduate student, Medical Faculty, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. 46. Silviya Bradyanova, graduate student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”, Department of Immunology. 47. Alba Grifoni, PhD, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy. 48. Violeta Kostadinova, undergraduate student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”, Department of Immunology. 49. Desislava Hlebarska, graduate student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”, Department of Immunology. 50. Abdulkadir Abudalleh, PhD, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Experimental Morphology Pathology and Anthropology with Museum. 51. Maria Mutafchieva, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Oral Pathology Department, Medical University Plovdiv. 52. Maria Boyadzhieva, Medical Doctor, PhD, Clinical Center of Endocrinology, Medical University. 53. Marin Zhelezov, undergraduate student, Medical University of Varna. 54. Cveta Kalinova, undergraduate student, Medical University of Varna. 55. Iliyan Manoylov, PhD student, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology “Stephan Angeloff”. 56. Trifon Chervenkov, Medical Doctor, Medical University of Varna. 57. Ivaylo Dankov, undergraduate student, Medical Faculty, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. 58. Mila Dukova, postgraduate student, National Genetic Laboratory, University Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital “Maichin Dom”. 59. Petya Ganova, PhD student, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases 60. Dimiter Enchev, postgraduate student, University Hospital “Alexandrovska”. 61. Milena Draganova-Filipova, PhD, Assistant Professor, Medical University – Plovdiv. 62. Rumyana Susurkova, Graduate student, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 63. Cvetelina Kutleva, Graduate student, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, WHY IMMUNOLOGY… “ Many diseases in humans and animals are caused by infections and disorders of the immune system… I think, there are professional development opportunities in this area, so I focused my interest in immunology”. “…. immunology is a puzzle. How does the solving of this puzzle work? We collect up as many clues as we can, we make a guess, we do an experiment and we try to figure out whether our idea was correct. We compare what we thought would happen to what did happen. We have tools we can use. And we have rules for addressing these puzzles. We have several paths that others have taken before us that guide our way…If you could jump in and try out these tools, and attempt a few of the puzzles yourself, then you would understand how immunology works. You would experience the fun! You would play immunology… And you will fall in love with it, too!” “ Immunology … gives me the answers to the questions of my childhood, it makes me ask new questions, but most of all it makes me want to be the one who will find the answers to unresolved problems.” “There is something about the complexity and the harmony of the immune system that inspires scientists. Studying and understanding the immune system can affect our everyday life and the way we protect ourselves.” “ In an age of overspecialization in medicine, where it is becoming more and more difficult to grasp it in wholeness, immunology stands out by making connections between disciplines and concepts. For example, the new field of the human microbiome gives a fresh new look at the causes and mechanisms by which the immune systems learns and matures and their implications in understanding and, hopefully, managing key social diseases like asthma, autoimmune diseases and even depression and autism.” “I think that the immune system plays a central role in orchestrating and conducting the body’s molecular symphony.” “The rapid development of immunology perpetually astonishes us and like the Alice in Wonderland’s Red Queen said: “it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place, if you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!” “ I was fascinated by the coherency , the logical connections between each and every part that I read about, I was enchanted by this genius machine that works all the time, to ensure our undisturbed by pathogens life.” “I believe it is important to understand the immune system because it could be crucial for the survival of humanity”