At the Edge of Mysteries: The Discovery of the Immune System

by Shantha Perera

THE JOURNEY OF THE PIONEERS OF IMMUNOLOGY FROM SMALLPOX TO COVID-19 In December 2019 a new virus emerged, one that caused a global pandemic. Millions were infected. In the recesses of their fragile bodies a battle between the immune system and the virus. But what is the immune system? What are its components? How do they work? One way to understand this system, arguably the most complicated in human physiology, is by walking in the footsteps of history, one observation and experiment at a time – beginning with the first written record of the concept of immunity in 430 BCE and traveling through the ensuing centuries, which gave the world vaccines, organ transplantation, novel therapies for cancer and now the understanding and tools to tackle the pandemic virus. An entertaining and accessible work of popular science, At the Edge of Mysteries introduces the reader to a compelling cast of characters, from Edward Jenner and Louis Pasteur to the Nobel laureates of the modern day. This book glimpses into their lives and times – seeking clues to their genius and celebrating their yearning for discovery – and asks the question of what can be learned from the past in the age of global pandemics. 'A unique historical perspective on how the field of immunology developed, told in short stories that will both educate and entertain and which can be read and understood by all. A captivating read' Paul Murray, Professor of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham 'This book should be in every university library' Neville Punchard, Professor Emeritus in Molecular Biosciences, University of East London

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2023

Reviews

[Rupinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book with some apprehension. Although it is written by someone who is trained as an immunologist and teaches it for a living, I knew from my limited reading that books written by academics can be, for the lack of a better word, academic (read “boring”).

But man, was I in for a surprise! This is one of the best grand tours of immunology, which accomplishes a lot in the space of 250 or so pages. You meet almost all the amazing scientists who made the seminal discoveries in immunology. You are explained some of the most intricate experiments in a lucid prose. And perhaps most importantly, you are shown the human side of the scientists who sometimes worked 16-hour days, 7 days a week, who couldn’t wait till the next day to see the results of their experiments, and who used themselves as guinea pigs in the name of Science.

The book does assume the reader is a bit familiar with immunology concepts, but for those who pick this up are in for a lovely ride through the whole gamut of discoveries that helped us understand this astonishingly complex science.

[Sumesh Arora · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book. Well written. A good deal of technical detail. Very nice illustrations. Detailed description of the function of early vaccines, functioning of the monocytes and macrophages, the historical account of the work done by Mechnikof and Erlich, the discovery of antibodies, the description of the T cells and the dendritic cells, the historical account of work done by Sterling, Doherty, Peter Medawar and others. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and have recommended to many of my friends.