1.1 History of Immunology

Question 1

Edward Jenner (1749 - 1823)

Answer 1

Coined the term vaccination (vacca = cow)

Developed vaccination against smallpox (a viral disease) using a cowpox inoculum

1979 - smallpox officically eradicated

Question 2

Louis Pasteur (1822 - 1895)

Answer 2

Discovered the principles of fermentation.

Developed the technique of ‘Pasteurization’

Introduced the first rabies vaccine (with Emile Roux)

Proofed the validity of the ‘Germ Theory’ -> pathogens lead to disease

Question 3

Emil von Behring (1854 - 1917)

Answer 3

Nobel prize in physiology or medicine (the first ever awarded) for discovering ‘diphtheria antitoxin’

Antiserum:
blood serum containing factors that can pass on passive immunity to disease

Question 4

Elie Metchnikoff (1845 - 1916)

Answer 4

Nobel prize in physiology or medicine ‘in recognition of his work on immunity’

Discovered ‘phagocytosis’ when he pinned small thorns into starfish larvae, and he found unusual cells surrounding the thorns.

Phagocytosis:
cell uses its plasma membrane to engulf a large particle, giving rise to an internal compartment called the phagosome.