The following are notable events in the Timeline of immunology:
1550 BCE – The Ebers papyrus recommends placing a poultice on a tumor and then making an incision, which would induce infection and cause regression of the tumor. 1549 – The earliest account of inoculation of smallpox (variolation) occurs in Wan Quan's (1499–1582) Douzhen Xinfa (痘疹心法). 1718 – Smallpox inoculation in Ottoman Empire realized by West, and Henry Kipkosgei , recorded the positive effects of variolation. 1761 – A case of breast cancer cured after ulcerating and getting infected is reported by Lambergen 1796 – First demonstration of smallpox vaccination (Edward Jenner) 1808 – 1813 - First experimental demonstration of the germ theory of disease by Agostino Bassi though he does not formally propose the theory until 1844 1813 – Vautier reports spontaneous remission of cancer after gangrene infection (later to be known as Clostridium perfringens) 1829 – Another case of spontaneous remission of breast cancer after a patient refused surgery and the tumor ruptured, became infected and during a febrile illness with purulent discharge, it shrunk and disappeared after a few weeks. (Guillaume Dupuytren) 1837 – Description of the role of microbes in putrefaction and fermentation (Theodore Schwann) 1838 – Confirmation of the role of yeast in fermentation of sugar to alcohol (Charles Cagniard-Latour) 1850 – Demonstration of the contagious nature of puerperal fever (childbed fever) (Ignaz Semmelweis) 1857–1870 – Confirmation of the role of microbes in fermentation (Louis Pasteur) 1862 – Phagocytosis (Ernst Haeckel) 1867 – Aseptic practice in surgery using carbolic acid (Joseph Lister) 1868 – Busch discovered that a sarcoma patient being surgically intervened to remove the tumor, after being exposed to a patient suffering from erysipelas, got a skin infection and her tumor disappeared. He inoculated some other cancer patients with many successes. 1876 – Demonstration that microbes can cause disease-anthrax (Robert Koch) 1877 – Mast cells (Paul Ehrlich) 1878 – Confirmation and popularization of the germ theory of disease (Louis Pasteur) 1880 – 81 Theory that bacterial virulence could be attenuated by culture in vitro and used as vaccines. Used to make chicken cholera and anthrax "vaccines" (Louis Pasteur) 1882 – Identification of Streptococcus pyogenes as the causative agent of erysipelas (Friedrich Fehleisen). He repeats Busch experiments inoculating cancer patients with eryisipelas, noting tumor regression in many of them. 1883 – 1905 – Cellular theory of immunity via phagocytosis by macrophages and microphages (polymorhonuclear leukocytes) (Elie Metchnikoff) 1885 – Introduction of concept of a "therapeutic vaccination". Report of a live "attenuated" vaccine for rabies (Louis Pasteur and Pierre Paul Émile Roux). 1888 – Identification of bacterial toxins (diphtheria bacillus) (Pierre Roux and Alexandre Yersin) 1888 – Bactericidal action of blood (George Nuttall) 1890 – Demonstration of antibody activity against diphtheria and tetanus toxins. Beginning of humoral theory of immunity. (Emil von Behring) and (Kitasato Shibasaburō) 1891 – Demonstration of cutaneous (delayed type) hypersensitivity (Robert Koch) 1893 – Use of live bacteria and bacterial lysates to treat tumors-"Coley's Toxins", based on Busch and Fehleisen experiences (William B. Coley) 1894 – Bacteriolysis (Richard Pfeiffer) 1896 – An antibacterial, heat-labile serum component (complement) is described (Jules Bordet) 1900 – Antibody formation theory (Paul Ehrlich) 1901 – Blood groups (Karl Landsteiner) 1902 – Immediate hypersensitivity anaphylaxis (Paul Portier) and (Charles Richet) 1903 – Intermediate hypersensitivity, the "Arthus reaction" (Maurice Arthus) 1903 – Opsonization 1905 – "Serum sickness" allergy (Clemens von Pirquet and (Bela Schick) 1909 – Paul Ehrlich proposes "immune surveillance" hypothesis of tumor recognition and eradication 1911 – 2nd demonstration of filterable agent that caused tumors (Peyton Rous) 1917 – Hapten (Karl Landsteiner) 1921 – Cutaneous allergic reactions (Otto Prausnitz and Heinz Küstner) 1924 – Reticuloendothelial system 1938 – Antigen-Antibody binding hypothesis (John Marrack) 1940 – Identification of the Rh antigens (Karl Landsteiner and Alexander Weiner) 1942 – Anaphylaxis (Karl Landsteiner and Merill Chase) 1942 – Adjuvants (Jules Freund and Katherine McDermott) 1944 – hypothesis of allograft rejection 1945 – Coombs test antiglobulin test (AGT) 1946 – Identification of mouse MHC (H2) by George Snell and Peter A.