We are swamped with information and each day seems to bring new discoveries that must be considered. Never before in the history of science have so many scientists been as active as today. It has become a major problem for the expert just to keep up with the literature in his or her own field of research. Why, then, should experts and their poor students worry about the pioneers of microbiology, those half-forgotten scientists who a century ago devoted their lives to a new science that was on its way to revolutionizing medicine? With so many new facts and problems screaming for our attention, it is easy to lose sight of the long road that we have travelled in order to get to the point where we are now. Tracing the path of those who have gone before us will help us to see our own scientific goals and efforts in a more revealing perspective. The great figures who are at the center of interest in this book — Robert Koch, Emil von Behring, Paul Ehrlich and Elie Metchnikoff — were far from uncontroversial during their lifetimes. It is interesting to see how they were judged by their peers at the Karolinska Institutet when they were considered for the Nobel Prize. Pioneers of Microbiology and the Nobel Prize has been written in such a way that it can be enjoyed even without an extensive knowledge of microbiology and medicine. In fact, a considerable part of the book portrays the state of medicine during the middle of the 19th century, when bacteriology can be said to have made its debut on the medical scene. Contents:The Sites of DiseasesCellular PathologyThe New PhysiologyBankruptcy and a Gleam of HopeContagion Versus MiasmaThe Birth of MicrobiologyBacteriology and the Nemesis of SurgeryRobert KochEmil von BehringPaul EhrlichElie MetchnikoffNobel Prizes and Nobel Committees (1901, 1905 and 1908)In Defence of the Nobel Prize Readership: Microbiologists; medical researchers, undergraduates and graduate students in microbiology and the life sciences; general readers. Keywords:Microbiology;Medical History;Nobel Prize;Robert Koch;Emil von Behring;Paul Ehrlich;Elie MetchnikoffReviews:“… The four main sections of the book are each a gem of a portrait in the miniature. The treatment is balanced; not only human greatness but failings are presented, making the descriptions very human and informative … Ulf Lagerkvist provides interesting data and observations about the nominations and the studies conducted by various members of the Committee on the candidates.”István Hargittai Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary “Lagerkvist has written an extremely informative and simple description of four giants in the field of microbiology. His easy-going style and a focus on the straightforward elements of the lives of the Nobelists make for a voyage of entertainment and education.”Sidney Altman Yale University, USA “It is an informative review of the notable achievements of four great figures in medicine whose researches have virtually been eclipsed by the rapid advances of the 20th century.”Paul Berg Stanford University Medical Center, USA “This timely book reminds us of the achievements and careers of the equally great scientific pioneers of a hundred years ago, who discovered most of the agents that cause major human diseases, and also revealed our main defence against infectious agents, the antibodies … The author provides fascinating insights into the deliberations which resulted in well deserved awards for several scientific pioneers. This is an insiders' view of the strategy for choosing the right candidates for Nobel prizes.”Tomas Lindahl Cancer Research UK London Research Institute “Just over 100 years ago, the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded. This book is an authoritative and entertaining account of four of the early winners. The life and work of Robert Koch, Emil von Behring, Paul Ehrlich and Elie Metchnikoff are closely examined in the light of contemporary scientific knowledge and ignorance. Politics appear to have had as much to do with their final acceptance as Nobel Prize winners as did their outstanding scientific achievements. Many full-page portraits add to the charm of this book. Members of the public wanting to learn more about the birth of microbiology will find this book invaluable. Trainee as well as experienced microbiologists and immunologists will also find much of interest. There should be a copy in the often neglected history section of all good microbiologists libraries.”Microbiology Today “The book supplies superior details about the research and the social climate leading to the discoveries and provides good insight into the intellect and personalities that make extraordinary scientific discoveries. The rationale for awarding Nobel prizes in science is also thoroughly discussed … For anybody interested in the history and process of science.”Choice “The initial chapters beautifully describe the evolution of the ideas that formed the basis not only of medical microbiology but also of physiology and pathology … This book provides a series of portraits in which not only the achievements but additionally the failings are described, and effectively conjures up the academic milieu of the time.”Notes and Records of The Royal Society

Pasteurization, penicillin, Koch's postulates, and gene coding. These discoveries and inventions are vital yet commonplace in modern life, but were radical when first introduced to the public and academia. In this book, the life and times of leading pioneers in microbiology are discussed in vivid detail, focusing on the background of each discovery and the process in which they were developed — sometimes by accident or sheer providence.

Germ Theory: Medical Pioneers in Infectious Diseases, Second Edition From the ancient worlds of Hippocrates and Avicenna to the early 20th century hospitals of Paul Ehrlich and Lillian Wald to the modern-day laboratories of François Barré-Sinoussi and Barry Marshall, Germ Theory brings to life the inspiring stories of medical pioneers whose work helped change the very fabric of our understanding of how we think about and treat infectious diseases. In beautifully crafted narratives, author Robert Gaynes describes and presents compelling stories, including How Edward Jenner, the pioneer of vaccination, faced down scores of naysayers How a chance discovery led Louis Pasteur to the idea that the virulence of microbes can be altered How scientists in France, the Netherlands, and Denmark produced penicillin during World War 2 while keeping their efforts hidden from the Nazis The second edition features three new chapters based on interviews with Nobel Laureates François Barré-Sinoussi and Barry Marshall, and former NIAID Director and medical advisor to seven U.S. presidents Anthony Fauci, detailing fascinating accounts from their careers, including their groundbreaking work in the areas of HIV, peptic ulcers, and COVID-19, respectively. A CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title winner, Germ Theory is required reading for anyone training or working in the field of infectious diseases or with an interest in microbes, the history of medicine, or how new discoveries can bring about paradigmatic shifts in thinking.

The latter half of the 19th century witnessed a revolution in medicine with the breakthrough of microbiology. Four of its pioneers, who were also colourful personalities - Emil von Behring, Robert Koch, Paul Ehrlich and Elie Metchnikoff - were awarded the Nobel Prize. This volume tells the story of their contributions to science and how they were judged by their colleagues at the Karolinska Institutet, who had been charged with the responsibility of evaluating the candidates for the early medical Nobel Prizes.

This book brings together in one volume fifteen discoveries that have had a major impact upon medical science and the practice of medicine but where the scientists involved have not been awarded a Nobel Prize. Its aim is to publicize the achievements of these lesser-known heroes of our time and thereby inform and entertain the reader, whether medical student, professor or scientifically-minded layman. Contents:Archibald E Garrod: The Founding Father of Biochemical Genetics (David J Galton)Nikolai Anitschkow: The Birth of the Lipid Hypothesis of Atherosclerosis and Coronary Heart Disease (Daniel Steinberg)Willem-Karel Dicke: The Role of Gluten in Coeliac Disease (Chris J J Mulder and Karel A Dicke)Richard Doll: The Link Between Smoking and Lung Cancer (Tony Seed)Albert Sabin: The Development of an Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (Derek R Smith and Peter A Leggat)René Favaloro: Pioneer of Coronary Artery Surgery (Stephen Westaby)Christiaan Barnard and Norman Shumway: The Heart Transplant Pioneers (Stephen Westaby and David Marais)William Kouwenhoven and Paul Zoll: The Introduction of External Cardiac Massage, Defibrillators and Pacemakers (Max Lab)Inge Edler and Carl Hellmuth Hertz: The Development of Ultrasound for Clinical Use (Bhavna Batohi and Paul S Sidhu)Cyril Clarke, Ronald Finn, John Gorman, Vincent Freda and William Pollack: The Prevention of Rh Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn (David J Weatherall)Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen: Recombinant DNA (Anne Soutar)Harvey Alter and Michael Houghton: The Discovery of Hepatitis C and the Introduction of Screening to Prevent Its Transmission in Transfused Blood (Leonard B Seeff and Marc G Ghany)Willem Kolff and Belding Scribner: The Development of Renal Haemodialysis (John Turney)James Till and Ernest Mcculloch: The Discovery of Stem Cells (Joe Sornberger)Akira Endo: The Discovery of Statins (Gilbert Thompson and Hiroshi Mabuchi) Readership: Medical students, professionals and general public. Key Features:This book is the sequel to Nobel Prizes that Changed Medicine. Many of the authors have personal knowledge of the scientists they write about and all are distinguished authorities in their own field. No other book has brought together the non-Nobel Prize-winning discoveries having the greatest influence upon the practice of Medicine, dating from the first description of inborn errors of metabolism by Garrod in 1908 to the discovery of statins, for which Endo received the Lasker Award in 2008Keywords:Inborn Errors;Metabolism;Lipid Hypothesis;Atherosclerosis;Gluten;Coeliac Disease;Smoking;Lung Cancer;Polio Vaccine;Coronary Angiography;Coronary Bypass Grafting;Cardiac Transplantation;Cardiac Massage;Defibrillator;Pace Maker;Ultrasound;Rh Disease;Gene Cloning;Hepatitis C;Haemodialysis;Stem-Cells;Statins

A biography of one of the four scientists responsible for the discovery of the molecular structure of DNA, the key to heredity in all living things.