Immune and Immune Disorders 2025

Disease of a Thousand Faces: Lupus Erythematosus - Team 4

Media Type: Infographic

Summary

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, causing chronic inflammation and damage in organs like the skin, joints, heart, kidneys, and brain. SLE manifests in a multitude of organ systems and tissues, giving it the nickname “Disease of a Thousand Faces”. This infographic aims to provide a simple, visual overview of what lupus is, how it affects the body, common symptoms, and treatment options. SLE can be a challenging condition to diagnose and manage, and we wanted to make this information accessible to a broader audience, as it impacts millions globally, particularly women.

We chose an infographic to break down the scientific information visually, making it easier for people to understand the complex manifestations and causes of SLE at a glance. This topic also holds personal significance to our group, as one member has a connection to someone affected by lupus, inspiring us to raise awareness and understanding.
This project was created to allow students in the course, Pathology 3500, to gain more awareness of SLE by seeing its impact on an individual and worldwide scale. This infographic gives students the opportunity to re-engage with autoimmune disease and SLE concepts they have already learned, and build on them through a more in-detail look at the progression of the disease and its impact on diverse populations. The colorful infographic format makes the “thousand faces” of the disease easier to understand.

Keywords: Autoimmune Disease, Chronic Inflammation, Immune System Dysfunction, Butterfly Rash, Joint Pain, Complement System

Journey To The Pancreas: Type 1 Diabetes - Team 20

Media Type: Children's Book

Summary

Our PULSE experiential assignment focuses on Type 1 diabetes, a lifelong autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Without insulin, the body fails to regulate blood sugar levels, leading to serious health complications if not managed. We chose to present our topic in an interactive Genially format, designed to be both educational and engaging. The content includes visuals, simplified explanations, and clickable sections that break down complex information into more digestible parts. To implement active learning, we included questions and test-your-knowledge prompts throughout the presentation. These allow users to reflect on what they’ve learned as they progress, helping to raise awareness in an accessible way. Our project explores the key players in the immune system that contribute to Type 1 diabetes, such as T cells, B cells, and autoantibodies. We also explain how certain genetic factors, like specific HLA genes, can increase the risk of developing the disease. We touch on potential environmental influences that are currently being studied. Type 1 diabetes often begins in childhood and affects millions of people worldwide. By presenting the science behind Type 1 diabetes in an understandable way to the general public, we hope to promote early recognition, reduce stigma, and support better health education. Our interactive format not only informs but encourages active learning, making it easier for people to engage with important health information, regardless of their scientific background.

Keywords: Type 1 Diabetes, Autoimmunity, The Pancreas, Interactive Learning

Defence to Disease: Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Immune Disorders - Team 31

Media Type: Textbook

Summary

Our immune system is what keeps us alive, yet many people don’t understand how it works. It composes physical barriers, like the skin, as well as cellular and protein components, like different types of blood cells and peptides that fight against infections. It is important to understand how the immune system functions so that when it isn’t operating properly, immediate actions based on prior knowledge can be utilized to treat and manage disorders that arise.

We decided to focus on topics such as the basic functions of the immune system, Blau syndrome, AIDS/HIV, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and type 1 diabetes. These topics were chosen to cover many of the immune system’s capabilities, not limited to defenses and potential vulnerabilities. The content is presented in a simplified textbook-style format, with diagrams and definitions to help learners follow along. To support active learning and self-assessment case studies and MCQs were created with ChatGPT.

Our PULSE project is an introductory-style immunology section of a textbook created to help students in PATHOLOGY 3500 understand how our bodies fight illness and the system’s maladaptive states. This textbook breaks down complex concepts into clear explanations and simple visuals, which demonstrates the immune system’s functioning and significance. The textbook discusses each condition’s impact on daily life while pointing out current challenges in treatment and management. It also discusses the etiology, pathogenesis, and prognosis of each condition. By making the science approachable, we wanted to ensure that learners would find immunology less intimidating to learn about. Overall, this project was designed to empower students to discover and appreciate the complexities of the immune system in a straightforward and informative manner. By making immunology easier to understand, we hope this resource gives students a strong foundation and builds their confidence to explore more advanced topics in immunology and pathology.

Keywords: Immune System, Autoimmune Diseases, Blau Syndrome, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, HIV/AIDS, Type 1 Diabetes