This document provides an overview of immunology and tolerance mechanisms:
1. It begins with a historical perspective on immunology research from Thucydides in 430 BC describing immunity from plague to Edward Jenner's pioneering smallpox vaccination in the late 18th century.
2. The major theories of adaptive immunity are discussed, including clonal selection theory which established the paradigm of lymphocytes recognizing and responding to specific antigens.
3. An overview of the adaptive immune system is given including T cell and B cell functions, antigen presentation by MHC molecules, and the roles of dendritic cells and other antigen presenting cells.
4. Mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance are summarized which allow the immune system to distinguish