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Key Individual in Disease and Infection : Paul Ehrlich Key dates: 1854-1915. Key discovery 1909. Nobel Prize in Medicine, 1908. Who? German physician and scientist Why significant? •Developed staining techniques making it possible to distinguish different blood cells. •In 1909, developed the first chemical cure for a disease – Salvarsan 606 •He called it a ‘magic bullet’ because it homed in on and destroyed the harmful bacteria that caused syphilis. Factors in their success: EDUCATION/CONNECTIONS/LUCK: Had been part of Robert Koch’s research team Problems: It wasn’t until the 1930s that Gerhard Dromagk developed Prontosil, the second ‘magic bullet’, to cure blood poisoning. Scientists then discovered that the important chemical in these cures was sulphonamide and drug companies then developed more sulphonamide cures for diseases such as pneumonia. Key Individual in Disease and Infection : Alexander Fleming Key dates: 1881 – 1955. Nobel Prize 1945 Who? Doctor and research scientist Why significant? •He identified and published the discovery of penicillin, an antibiotic mould that killed bacteria (1928). Factors in their success: LUCK: He was studying bacteria and returned from holiday to find mould in one dish that was killing it. SKILL/SCIENCE/TECH: He was able to see the importance of this and then conducted experiments to show it killed other types of bacteria. COMMUNICATION: He published his findings in scientific journals. Problems: In 1929, his findings were mainly ignored as he had not used penicillin on animals to heal infections so had no evidence of it being useful. It was difficult for him to produce penicillin in enough quantity. Fleming also cautioned against using too little penicillin or for too short a period, due to the possibility of developing resistance. Key Individual in Disease and Infection : Ernst Chain and Howard Florey Key dates: Florey (1898-1968) and Ernst Chain (1906- 79) Shared Nobel prize with Fleming in 1945 Who? Medical Scientists Why significant? They developed the way to mass produce penicillin which has since saved thousands of lives and made many other better more quickly. Factors in their success: COMMUNICATION: Fleming’s research. WAR: WW2 and especially the US involvement provided the funding to develop penicillin in large quantities. US drug companies provided facilities. SCIENCE/TECH: They were researchers from Oxford University who worked together. Problems: In the early days they also found production difficult and one patient improved then died when they ran out. Key Individual in Disease and Infection : Domagk Key dates: Domagk (1895-1964). Nobel Prize in 1939. Who? German Bacteriologist Why significant? Credited with creating KI-730. The first commercially available antibiotic – Prontosil. Fascinated by Ehrlich’s work. Factors in their success: LUCK: New it worked on Animals but untested on Humans. Daughter was injured by an infected needle. Wound turned bad. He gave her Prontosil and she survived. SKILL/SCIENCE/TECH: Very thorough with his work. Discovered in 1932 that a dye called Prontosil would work. Problems: Turned the patient a red tinge… Sulphonomides could damage Kidneys and Liver, they did not work on strong germs.