To whom is the origin of immunology attributed, and what did this individual discover?

The origin of immunology is primarily attributed to Edward Jenner, who made a groundbreaking discovery that cowpox infection could provide protection against smallpox. This work laid the foundation for the principle of vaccination, which became a key component of immunology.

Jenner’s experimentation involved taking material from the blisters of a cowpox-infected individual and inoculating it into a healthy person. This person subsequently did not contract smallpox when exposed to the virus, which demonstrated a form of acquired immunity. Jenner's innovation moved the understanding of disease prevention forward and established a systematic approach to vaccination, influencing future discoveries and practices in immunology.

In contrast, other figures like Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, and Paul Ehrlich made critical contributions to microbiology and immunology, but they are associated with different aspects of the field. While Pasteur is known for developing vaccines against anthrax and rabies, and Koch is celebrated for his formulation of the germ theory of disease, it was Jenner's work that specifically initiated the systematic study of immunity, making it central to the development of immunological science.