Karazin Impresses: Ilya Mechnikov’s Phagocytic Theory

16 may 2025 year

One of the most important and remarkable discoveries associated with Karazin University is the foundation of immunology laid by Ilya Mechnikov.

In 1882, while working in Odesa (and later closely collaborating with the university and its scientists), Mechnikov formulated a theory stating that the body’s cells can protect it by "eating" harmful microorganisms. He called these cells phagocytes.

This discovery was a scientific revolution: it laid the groundwork for modern immunology and led to Mechnikov being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1908.

Although Mechnikov worked at several scientific institutions, it was Kharkiv University that provided him with a strong foundation in science, and he always emphasized the role this university played in his scientific career.