Robert Koch and bacteria
In the mid-19th century, the scientist Louis Pasteur argued that Single-celled microorganisms, some of which are pathogenic in humans, animals and plants. Singular is bacterium. - a type of Microscopically small organism, such as a bacterium or single-celled fungus. Also called a microorganism. - was the cause of disease. However, he was not able to identify the specific bacteria which cause individual diseases. It was the German doctor Robert Koch who was able to successfully identify some of the different bacteria that cause common diseases.
Robert Koch鈥檚 work on bacteria
Koch developed a new method of growing bacteria using A gel made from algae, which provides an ideal growth medium. in a A clear glass or plastic dish, used to grow living cells from organisms so they can be studied. He then used a dye to stain the bacteria so that it could be seen clearly under a A device used to enlarge tiny objects that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Using this method, he was able to identify individual bacteria.
In 1876, Koch found the bacteria that cause A serious disease of cattle that can transfer to humans. Then, in 1882, he identified the bacteria that cause A bacterial infection (also known as TB) spread through breathing in tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. His discovery of the bacteria that cause A bacterial infection caused by contaminated drinking water. followed shortly after, in 1883.
Koch鈥檚 research inspired other scientists. Their work led to the discovery of further bacteria that cause diseases, such as diphtheria, pneumonia and meningitis. Koch鈥檚 work greatly improved medicine in Britain, as doctors now understood that it was bacteria that caused the symptoms of disease, so it was the bacteria that needed to be removed.
Koch, Pasteur and the prevention of disease
Koch鈥檚 identification of bacteria did not make an immediate difference to the prevention of disease. This only happened when Pasteur took Koch鈥檚 work even further by developing other A substance that stimulates the body to produce antibodies to provide immunity against a disease.
Pasteur had read about Edward Jenner鈥檚 Serious illness caused by a virus. Smallpox gets its name from the pus-filled blisters (or pocks) that form during the illness. vaccine, which had been developed in the late 18th century. Now that the individual bacteria for specific diseases had been identified, Pasteur began work on developing further vaccines for animals and humans. He knew that to prevent each disease, a weakened dose of the disease was needed to build When a person's body is not prone to a disease because they have a resistance to it.
Pasteur began developing animal vaccines for the diseases anthrax and chicken cholera. Then in 1885, he tested a human vaccine for rabies that saved a boy鈥檚 life after he had been bitten by a dog. This was the first successful vaccine since Jenner鈥檚 smallpox vaccine.