Elie Metchnikoff

Revolutionized immunology by discovering phagocytes and pioneering probiotics research

Elie Metchnikoff (1845-1916), a Russian-born zoologist, transformed modern medicine through his groundbreaking discovery of phagocytosis – the process by which cells engulf and destroy pathogens. His work earned him the 1908 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, shared with Paul Ehrlich.

While studying starfish larvae at Italy's Marine Biological Station, Metchnikoff observed mobile cells attacking foreign bodies. This led to his cellular theory of immunity, challenging the prevailing humoral theory. He later joined Louis Pasteur at the Pasteur Institute, where he conducted revolutionary research on:

• Cholera immunity
• Aging processes
• Gut microbiota

Metchnikoff's probiotics concept emerged from studying Bulgarian peasants' longevity and their consumption of fermented milk. He advocated Lactobacillus-rich yogurt as a health booster, laying foundation for modern microbiome research.

His interdisciplinary approach combined zoology, pathology, and anthropology. Metchnikoff's 1901 book The Prolongation of Life pioneered gerontology studies, while his immunological theories remain fundamental to vaccine development and cancer immunotherapy.