Kovalyova А. A., Velikaia M. M. I.I.MECHNIKOV – THE FOUNDER OF THEORY OF AGING AND DOCTRINE OF PROBIOTICS

The National University of Pharmacy, 61124 Kharkov

Dealt with have been several fundamental areas of microbiology, immunology and physiology, connected with the ideas of I.I. Mechnikov. Mechnikov was first who established the role of symbiotic interrelationships in the provision of organism resistance. He considers that death is not a general law of nature, since with increasing complexity of the organism its capacity for regeneration disappears and, instead, the processes of aging and death appear. In his view the death occurs due to the lack of metabolism in the proper tissues and aging is a disease that should be treated like any other illness. The phagocytosis of alive cells (but modified as a result of their activity) can indeed cause a weak low-grade inflammation and atrophy of tissues that, in turn, leads to unhealthy aging.

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