The Germ Theory of Disease Alexander Fleming “One sometimes finds what one is not looking for.”

The Germ Theory of Disease Important early microbiologists helped to develop the Germ Theory Anton Van Leeuwenhoek (1670’s) Ignaz Semmelweis (1840’s) Louis Pasteur (1860’s) Joseph Lister (1860’s) Robert Koch (1870’s) Alexander Fleming (1920’s)

Alexander Fleming

Alexander Fleming Scottish Biologist and Pharmacologist Discovered the first antibiotic

Alexander Fleming Antibiotic =

Alexander Fleming World War I: worked as medical officer

Alexander Fleming Problems with antiseptics: Work well on surfaces, but deep wounds are harder to treat Kill bacteria indiscriminately

Alexander Fleming Began searching for more effective antiseptic Discovered lysozyme =

Alexander Fleming “ When I woke up just after dawn on September 28, 1928, I certainly didn’t plan to revolutionize all medicine by discovering the world’s first antibiotic, or bacteria killer. But I suppose that was exactly what I did”

Discovery of Penicillin Brilliant researcher, untidy laboratory Contaminated petri dish contained mold that was attacking staphylococci

Discovery of Penicillin Found that Penicillin could be used against:

Problems with Penicillin

Penicillin Fleming finally abandoned penicillin, but two scientists took up his research during World War II