Vivid Memories of Sercarz's Traineeship and Am Indebted to Him for My Professional Career

Abstract

I am writing this chapter to reflect of my memories spanning at the time that I have first met the late Eli Sercarz and succeeded to earn my PhD degree under his titulage and traineeship. My first experience was at the time when Eli was recruited at UCLA as a new Assistant Professor in Immunology and I was in my undergraduate senior year. His teaching course in Fundamental Immunology was revolutionary at the time as prior teaching in immunology was primarily basic serology. I was mesmerized by the subject and decided that my professional career will be in immunology and received my PhD in Eli's laboratory. My research thesis consisted of two related topics. 1. Characterization of the immunogenic, tolerogenic and cryptic epitopes in selectively fragmented hen egg-white lysozyme (HEL) peptide fragments. 2. Analyzing and characterizing human and rabbit tear lysozymes as well as investigating the transport of various antibody isotypes from the serum to the tear. In addition, isolating and characterizing a novel specific tear prealbumin in the tear. This review describes my journey in Eli Sercarz's laboratory and my sincere indebtness of my academic career which was the result of his input and care.