Fundamentals of Immunology: Dueling with the Dark Side (Coursera)

Offered by Rice University,
Fundamentals of Immunology: Dueling with the Dark Side (Coursera)

Fundamentals of Immunology, Course 4: Dueling with the Dark Side, covers the constant battle between your immune system and threats to your health. The first two lectures discuss viral and cellular pathogens, focusing on specific tactics they use to deflect immune attack. Next, a cheerier lecture describes other immune-based therapies, beginning with the use of engineered antibodies to treat specific diseases.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

This lecture continues with vaccine development (viral-engineered, killed, RNA-component vaccines and more) and adjuvant function and ends with vaccination strategies, including herd immunity and resisting the anti-vaccination movement. The last two lectures cover immune deficiencies and how cancer evades the immune system, concluding with advances in using immune therapies (antibodies and CAR T cells) to cure cancer.
This course is part of the Fundamentals of Immunology Specialization.

Syllabus

Viral Strategies
Pathogenic Organisms
Immune Counterattack
Immune Deficiency
Cancer
Final Exam and Farewell

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

The Heart, Blood, and Lungs (Coursera) Coursera
MedCerts

The Heart, Blood, and Lungs (Coursera)

In this course on The Heart, Blood, and Lungs, you will learn about the wonderful diversity of the cardiovascular, immune, and respiratory systems and the medical language that is used to describe these systems. Throughout each Lesson, the roots of terms are explained to help students understand how medical terminology works in healthcare and to increase their knowledge and understanding of the material discussed.

Jun 1st 2026
3 Weeks
Types of Vaccine (Coursera) Coursera
Imperial College London

Types of Vaccine (Coursera)

This course explores the different types of vaccine available. This is a useful framework for understanding the scientific understanding that went into vaccine development. It also gives a perspective of how innovation (e.g. fundamental virology, molecular biology) work in a translational medicine context.

Jun 1st 2026
4 Weeks
The Little Stuff: Energy, Cells, and Genetics (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

The Little Stuff: Energy, Cells, and Genetics (Coursera)

In this course, we will explore the smaller side of biology: molecular biology. We’ll cover basic topics including cell biology and how cells can go “rogue” and turn into cancer, how energy from the sun is transferred to fuel our bodies, basics of genetics and inheritance, and genetic technologies. At the end of this course, we will discuss ethical and moral implications of several exciting and new genetic technologies.

Jun 1st 2026
4 Weeks
Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care (Coursera) Coursera
Stanford University

Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care (Coursera)

This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients back to health, after cancer.

Jun 8th 2026
1 Week
Transmitting and Fighting Infectious Diseases (Coursera) Coursera
University of Leeds

Transmitting and Fighting Infectious Diseases (Coursera)

Understanding how pathogens cause infections and how infectious diseases are transmitted is crucial for preventing and controlling the spread of illnesses. In this course, you will learn how diseases like the common flu spread, the mechanisms behind bacterial resistance, the body's defence mechanisms, and the importance of immunization.

Jun 8th 2026
2 Weeks
The People, Power, and Pride of Public Health (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

The People, Power, and Pride of Public Health (Coursera)

The People, Power, and Pride of Public Health provides an engaging overview of the incredible accomplishments and promise of the public health field. The first module includes interviews with legendary public health figures whose work led to millions of lives saved with vaccines, air bags and car seats, and the federal Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program.

Jun 8th 2026
3 Weeks
Cáncer de próstata (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Cáncer de próstata (Coursera)

El profesional de la salud que lleve a cabo este curso tendrá presente la importancia de conocer el tema de cáncer de próstata, esto por ser el tumor maligno más frecuente en los hombres; además de identificar los factores de riesgo asociados a la presentación de la enfermedad y por tanto conocerá cómo se lleva a cabo el tamizaje en cáncer de próstata.

Jun 8th 2026
4 Weeks
Ebola : Vaincre ensemble ! (Coursera) Coursera
University of Geneva

Ebola : Vaincre ensemble ! (Coursera)

Il s’agit d’un MOOC sur la crise internationale sur Ebola partie d’Afrique de l’Ouest en 2014 ; d’une durée de 5 semaines, où interviendront plus de 30 professeurs des universités, chercheurs, responsables politiques, autorités sanitaires nationales et internationales, membres d’ONGs, et autres acteurs d’Europe et d’Afrique sur plus de 60 séquences vidéos. Les thèmes abordés se dérouleront selon une séquence hebdomadaire décrite ci-dessous (section « plan du cours »).

Jun 1st 2026
5-12 Weeks
How Vaccines Work (Coursera) Coursera
Imperial College London

How Vaccines Work (Coursera)

This course describes the underpinning science around vaccines and their development. It will look at the immunological underpinnings of how vaccines induce protection. It will also look at the epidemiological basis of how vaccines are rolled out. Finally it will explore how new vaccines are developed.

Jun 1st 2026
4 Weeks
Introduction to the Biology of Cancer (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Introduction to the Biology of Cancer (Coursera)

Over 500,000 people in the United States and over 8 million people worldwide are dying every year from cancer. As people live longer, the incidence of cancer is rising worldwide and the disease is expected to strike over 20 million people annually by 2030. This open course is designed for people who would like to develop an understanding of cancer and how it is prevented, diagnosed, and treated.

Jun 8th 2026
5-12 Weeks