Elie Metchnikoff

Elie Metchnikoff was a Russian zoologist and microbiologist best known for his discovery of phagocytosis, a process by which certain cells in the immune system engulf and destroy pathogens. Born in 1845, he is often called the "father of immunology" for his pioneering work on the body's defense mechanisms against infections. Metchnikoff proposed that the immune system could be enhanced by consuming beneficial bacteria, leading to the development of probiotics. He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1908 for his contributions, significantly influencing our understanding of health and disease.