Włodzimierz Ptak

“Contrary to what is often thought, excessive hygiene, staying in an antibacterial environment, does not necessarily lead to a better health. Sometimes it causes even health deterioration. Indirect proof may be that among rural children there are fewer allergic diseases than among urban children. This is because children in the countryside have contact with a lot more bacteria. In every respect, you can see that exaggeration is unhealthy.”

“Despite such an extensive knowledge, immunity is still a field full of secrets. It fascinates and pushes us to develop new research strategies. Sometimes it resembles a fight with an unknown, invisible enemy. Although lately, thanks to the modern technology, this „battlefield” has been quite well recognized.”

“I don't like to stay long outside of Kraków. I was always happy to go back there, just like a cat. Well, that's my mental structure.”

“I have peasant origins. It manufactures hardness. One of my grandfathers was a peasant, the other one was a foreman in a cigarette factory. I trained my mind whole life. For example, I studied poems by heart, ranging from Mickiewicz to Mayakovsky. (in answer to the question of how he managed to stay active scientifically for so long)”

“If we look at the highly specialized action of our immune system, we will appreciate into what a brilliant tool evolution has shaped us. Each of us has millions of cells that recognize and destroy foreign antigens. Of course, I mean a healthy, well-functioning immune system, because unfortunately – sometimes it fails.”

“In my childhood, I had natural interests. I got a microscope from someone, I made a telescope myself – a very poor quality, but I could see the moon. First, I wanted to become an astronomer. I read books about astronomy by James Jeans. I even read Arthur S. Eddington, which I did not quite understand. On the other hand, Jan Dembowski's book Natural History of One Protozoan made a huge impression on me. I decided that I would go towards biology, that I would become a physician.”

“Jews are one of the few ethnic groups in which learning is equivalent to praising God. This brings results. One Jewish Nobel Prize winner, when asked where his passion for science came from, explained, that when his friends were returning home, they were asked what the teacher asked them during the day. The Nobel Prize winner mother asked him instead: „What did you ask the teacher today?”. He was taught to ask, not to prepare answers.”

“My professional work connects with intellectual play, with great passion. But I like to read, I'm interested in philosophy, religion and history. And I love dogs! Now I have two friends that take me out for a walk every day.”

“People spend unnecessarily high amounts of money on drugs or supplements that support immunity (for example, fashionable Japanese ginkgo – there is no evidence that it works), meanwhile they do more harm to themselves by their way of life, for example by inadequate diet.”

“Stupefied parents must be persuaded that by not vaccinating their children, they harm these children and the enitre society. Because, as a significant part of the society will not become resistant to a given pathogen, there is a chance that an epidemic will occur. Now, for example, measles returns. Completely harmless in the childhood (in my time all children went through it and nothing bad happened), it can lead to very serious complications in adult patients.”

“The Catholic Church has a lot of sins regarding health prevention. I still have a copy of a church magazine from 1905, that condemns the use of vaccines. Until recently, the Church believed that every illness is the result of God's decision. So if the disease attacked, it was necessary to accept it with dignity – as the judgment of the Supreme.”

“The task of immune cells is to recognize foreignness. And fight with it. An implanted foreign organ, or its fragment, is undoubtedly a foreign body. The immune system therefore begins to fight it. However, now immunopressives – and therefore immunosuppressants – are so effective that the rejection of transplants is inhibited.”