On 2016 Sep 07, Donald Forsdyke commented:

PATERNITY OF INNATE IMMUNITY?

The accolades cast on scientists we admire include that of paternity. Few will dispute that Gregor Mendel was the father of the science we now call genetics. At the outset, this paper (1) hails Metchnikoff (1845-1916) as “the father of innate immunity.” However, an obituary of US immunologist Charles Janeway (1943-2003) hails him similarly (2). Can a science have two fathers? Well, yes. But not if an alternative of Mendelian stature is around. While paternity is not directly ascribed, a review of the pioneering studies on innate immunity of Almroth Wright (1861-1947) will perhaps suggest to some that he is more deserving of that accolade (3).

1.Gordon S (2016) Phagocytosis: the legacy of Metchnikoff. Cell 166:1065-1068 Gordon S, 2016

2.Oransky I (2003) Charles A Janeway Jr. Lancet 362:409.

3.Forsdyke DR (2016) Almroth Wright, opsonins, innate immunity and the lectin pathway of complement activation: a historical perspective. Microbes & Infection 18:450-459. Forsdyke DR, 2016

On 2016 Sep 07, Donald Forsdyke commented:

PATERNITY OF INNATE IMMUNITY?

The accolades cast on scientists we admire include that of paternity. Few will dispute that Gregor Mendel was the father of the science we now call genetics. At the outset, this paper (1) hails Metchnikoff (1845-1916) as “the father of innate immunity.” However, an obituary of US immunologist Charles Janeway (1943-2003) hails him similarly (2). Can a science have two fathers? Well, yes. But not if an alternative of Mendelian stature is around. While paternity is not directly ascribed, a review of the pioneering studies on innate immunity of Almroth Wright (1861-1947) will perhaps suggest to some that he is more deserving of that accolade (3).

1.Gordon S (2016) Phagocytosis: the legacy of Metchnikoff. Cell 166:1065-1068 Gordon S, 2016

2.Oransky I (2003) Charles A Janeway Jr. Lancet 362:409.

3.Forsdyke DR (2016) Almroth Wright, opsonins, innate immunity and the lectin pathway of complement activation: a historical perspective. Microbes & Infection 18:450-459. Forsdyke DR, 2016