Abstract

The historical overview deals with the development of knowledge in immunology during the last two and half centuries in Estonia. Like elsewhere, the evolution of the knowledge here was closely associated with the progress of knowledge in microbiology and in prophylaxis and treatment of infectious diseases. Further, the spheres of investigative and applied immunology expanded and since the 1970s a number of studies on allergy, autoimmunity and infections as well as on cancer immunology have been carried out. A significant milestone of immunology in Estonia was the foundation of the Estonian Society of Immunology in 1984.