Mechnikoff

Mechnikoff is a surname of Russian origin. It is most famously associated with Ilya Mechnikoff, a prominent Russian zoologist and microbiologist. Ilya Mechnikoff was born in 1845 and is recognized for his pioneering work in immunology. He is widely credited with the discovery of phagocytosis, the process by which certain white blood cells engulf and destroy foreign particles and pathogens. This groundbreaking observation formed the basis of his Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1908, which he shared with Paul Ehrlich. Mechnikoff's research also extended to the study of aging and the development of probiotics, with his ideas on the beneficial effects of certain bacteria in the gut influencing modern health practices. The surname Mechnikoff, therefore, carries a significant legacy within the scientific community, particularly in the fields of immunology and cellular biology. Beyond Ilya Mechnikoff, the surname may be found among other individuals, though none have achieved the same level of international scientific recognition.