Immunology : Historical Background

Shubham Thorat
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Historical Background



1. Early Observations and Theories

Ancient Times: 

Early civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Greeks, observed phenomena related to immunity without understanding the underlying mechanisms.


Middle Ages: 

The concept of immunity was linked to the observation that individuals who survived certain diseases seemed to be protected from subsequent infections.



2. Early Experiments and Discoveries

Variolation: 

In 10th century China and later in 18th century Europe, individuals were intentionally exposed to smallpox scabs or material from smallpox lesions to induce immunity.


To encourage the public to vaccinate against smallpox in the 1940s, the New York State Board of Health used this photograph with the caption, “This man was never vaccinated against smallpox."


Edward Jenner: 

In 1796, Jenner conducted the first successful vaccination against smallpox using material from cowpox lesions, leading to the development of the smallpox vaccine.


British physician Edward Jenner (1749-1823) discovered the vaccine against smallpox.
 Hulton Archive via Getty Images


3. Germ Theory and Immunology

Louis Pasteur: 

In the late 19th century, Pasteur's work on germ theory laid the foundation for understanding infectious diseases and the role of microorganisms in immunity.


Louis Pasteur's spontaneous generation experiment illustrates that liquid nutrients are spoiled by particles in the air rather than the air itself. These results of these experiments supported the germ theory of disease.


Robert Koch: 

Koch's postulates provided a framework for establishing the causative agents of infectious diseases, contributing to the understanding of immunity.





4. Milestones in Immunology

Paul Ehrlich: 

Proposed the side-chain theory in 1897, suggesting that cells possess specific receptors for antigens, laying the groundwork for understanding antibody-antigen interactions.


Paul Ehrlich


Elie Metchnikoff: 

Discovered phagocytosis in the late 19th century, highlighting the role of innate immune cells in defense against pathogens.


Elie Metchnikoff



5. Emergence of Modern Immunology

Theodore E. Woodward and Benjamin D. J. Davis: 

Coined the term "immunology" in 1908, marking the formal recognition of the field.


Theodore E. Woodward



Discovery of Antibodies: 

In the early 20th century, scientists such as Emil von Behring and Shibasaburo Kitasato demonstrated the existence of antibodies and their role in immunity.


Antibodies



6. World Wars and Immunology

WWI and Blood Transfusions: 

The need for blood transfusions during WWI spurred research into blood compatibility and immune responses, leading to the discovery of blood groups.


Blood transfusion procedure


WWII and Penicillin: 

The widespread use of penicillin during WWII showcased the power of antibiotics in treating bacterial infections, influencing research on antimicrobial immunity.




7. Modern Advances and Challenges

Monoclonal Antibodies: 

The development of monoclonal antibodies in the 1970s revolutionized diagnostics and therapeutics in immunology.


Genetic Engineering: 

Advances in genetic engineering techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9, are enabling precise manipulation of immune cells for therapeutic purposes.



8. Contributions of Women in Immunology

Emilie Roux: 

Worked alongside Louis Pasteur and contributed to the development of the rabies vaccine.


Cécile Vogt-Mugnier: 

Pioneered research on immune tolerance and transplantation immunology in the early 20th century.



9. Discovery of Humoral Immunity:

Emil von Behring and Shibasaburo Kitasato 

  • In 1890 showed that serum from immunized animals could transfer immunity to non-immunized animals.
  • This led to the discovery of serum components capable of neutralizing toxins, precipitating toxins, and agglutinating bacteria.


Elvin Kabat

  • Identified gamma-globulin (now immunoglobulin) as the active component responsible for various immune activities.
  • These active molecules were termed antibodies, and immunity mediated by them was called humoral immunity.



10. Discovery of Cellular Immunity:

Elie Metchnikoff

  • In 1883 demonstrated that cells, specifically phagocytes, contributed to immunity by ingesting microorganisms.
  • He hypothesized that cellular components were the major effectors of immunity.
  • Controversy arose between advocates of humoral immunity and cellular immunity.

Merrill Chase

  • In the 1940s, demonstrated immunity transfer against tuberculosis by transferring white blood cells between guinea pigs.
  • With improved cell culture techniques in the 1950s, lymphocytes were identified as cells responsible for both cellular and humoral immunity.



11. Resolution of Humoral vs. Cellular Immunity:

Bruce Glick

His experiments with chickens indicated two types of lymphocytes: 

  1. T lymphocytes from the thymus and 
  2. B lymphocytes from the bursa of Fabricius.


T lymphocytes mediated cellular immunity, while B lymphocytes were involved in humoral immunity.


Eventually, it was understood that both humoral and cellular immunity are intertwined and necessary for an effective immune response.



12. Nobel Laureates in Immunology

Peter C. Doherty and Rolf M. Zinkernagel: 

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1996 for their discoveries concerning the specificity of the cellular immune defense.


James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo: 

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2018 for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation.



13. Current Trends and Future Directions

Immunotherapy: 

The use of immunotherapy in treating cancer and autoimmune diseases represents a promising frontier in immunology.


Systems Immunology: 

Integrating computational and systems biology approaches to understand the complexity of immune responses and diseases.


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