3. He was a Russian-French zoologist of Romanian
noble ancestry and Ukrainian Jewish origin best known for
his pioneering research in immunology. He and Paul Ehrlich
were jointly awarded the 1908 Nobel Prize in Physiology or
Medicine "in recognition of their work on immunity
He was known for Phagocytosis ,cell-mediated
immunity, gerontoloy Awards
Copley Medal (1906) ,
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1908),
Albert Medal (1916)
Fields
Zoology ,immunology, gerontology
4. Honoured as the "father of innate immunity", Metchnikoff was the first
to discover a process of immunity called phagocytosis and the cell
responsible for it, called phagocyte, specifically macrophage, in
1882. This discovery turned out to be the major defence mechanism
in innate immunity, as well as the foundation of the concept of cell-
mediated immunity, while Ehrlich established the concept of humoral
immunity to complete the principles of immune system. Their works
are regarded as the foundation of the science of immunology.
5. Metchnikoff developed one of the earliest concepts in ageing, and
advocated the use of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus) for healthy
and long life. This became the concept of probiotics in medicine.[16]
Mechnikov is also credited with coining the term gerontology in
1903, for the emerging study of aging and longevity.[17][18] In this
regard, Ilya Mechnikov is called the "father of gerontology"[19][20]
(although, as often happens in science, the situation is ambiguous,
and the same title is sometimes applied to some other people who
contributed to aging research later). Supporters of life extension
celebrate 15 May as Metchnikoff Day, and used it as a memorable
date for organizing activities
