Elie Metchnikoff: Father of natural immunity
Top Cited Papers
- 27 November 2008
- journal article
- other
- Published by Wiley in European Journal of Immunology
- Vol. 38 (12), 3257-3264
- https://doi.org/10.1002/eji.200838855
Abstract
We celebrate the centenary of the Nobel award to Elie Metchnikoff in 2008, shared with Paul Ehrlich, as respective pioneers of cellular and humoral immunology. Metchnikoff is rightly famous for his recognition of the biological significance of leukocyte recruitment and phagocytosis of microbes in host defence against infection, inflammation and immunity. As a comparative zoologist he utilised a broad range of model organisms for microscopic studies in vivo and in vitro. His work prefigures much of contemporary research in innate immunity. In this brief review, I cover some details of his Europe‐wide life in Russia (mainly Odessa) and at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. He had a complex personality, yet his creative genius, imagination and insights justify the title of “Father of natural immunity”.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
- Life of Elie Metchnikoff, 1845-1916Published by Biodiversity Heritage Library ,1921
- Immunity in infective diseasesPublished by Biodiversity Heritage Library ,1905