Systematic and systemic immunology: on the future of research and its applications

This paper is a shortened English transcription of a lecture given on 13 February 2012 at the College de France. The lecture concluded a series of talks delivered the same year on the theme: “Immunity: the game of chance and specificity”. The article comprises four parts: I. The game of chance and specificity. II. About the future of research in immunology. III. On the future of the applications of research in immunology. IV. The social conditions of the evolution of research and its applications.