Historical review: Sir Gustav Nossal--immunologist and more.

Sir Gustav Nossal, universally known as Gus Nossal, is Australia's best known medical research scientist and advocate, who over the past five decades has influenced the course of immunology. His research interests in this field commenced during PhD studies, and his accomplishments centre around the cellular events of antibody production. His scientific achievements are matched by the energy he has devoted over his entire career to public health; science in society; political, philanthropic and community support for science; global access to existing vaccines and development of new vaccines; and the personal and scientific development of colleagues and young scientists. His contribution and philosophy of science, together with political influence, capacity to inspire and an extraordinarily engaging personality, place Gus Nossal in the top bracket of biomedical scientists of the second half of the 20th century.