I. I. Mechnikoff's contribution to immunology

I. I. Mechnikoff's contribution to various aspects of immunology is evaluated. The 25 years' struggle of this scientist for the existence of phagocytosis theory is briefly described. Works of I. I. Mechnikoff dealing with several factors of humoral immunity and cytotoxins are reviewed. The significance of I. I. Mechnikoff's studies providing analysis of immune processes in the phylogenetic sense as well as his ideas about the nervous system role in immunity processes is stressed.