History of the development of the science of the immune system

Abstract

The immune system is a large network of organs, white blood cells, proteins (antibodies), and chemicals. This system works in concert to protect the body from foreign pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi) that cause infection, disease, and illness. The human immune system works hard to stay healthy. Its task is to prevent the invasion of pathogens, destroy them or limit the extent of their damage if they enter. When the immune system is working properly, it can distinguish which cells are "own" and which substances are foreign to the body. It activates, mobilizes, attacks and kills foreign organisms that can harm human health. It is believed that the term "immunity" was used for the first time by Thucydides -  a prominent ancient Greek philosopher, historian, political scientist and military leader. For the first time, he discovered the resistance of a recovered person to a recurrence of the disease. Since that time, hundreds of outstanding scientists have devoted their lives to the study of extremely complex processes that occur in the human immune system during invasion. The invention of the vaccine became a significant impetus in the development of immunology as a science. In 1885, Pasteur administered the first vaccine to a human, a young boy who had been repeatedly bitten by a rabid dog. Immunology made significant progress in the late 19th century due to rapid developments in the study of humoral immunity and cellular immunity. In 1903, a humoral component known as an opsonin was discovered that makes target bacteria suitable for phagocytosis. Particularly important was the work of Paul Ehrlich, who proposed the side chain theory to explain the specificity of the antigen-antibody reaction. His contribution to the understanding of humoral immunity was recognized by awarding a joint Nobel Prize in 1908 together with the founder of cellular immunology, the Russian zoologist Ilya Mechnikov, who first formulated the phagocytic theory in 1880. Modern immunologists, using the tools of molecular and cellular biology, genomics, and proteomics, will take a step towards preventing fatal diseases. The world is expected to witness a further explosion of knowledge in the field of immunology in the coming decades. Collaborative efforts across subjects such as tumor immunology, autoimmunity, and vaccinology are needed to develop strategies to protect against multiple diseases.