Anthrax bacillus and Koch's postulates
Bacilo del ántrax y postulados de Koch
- Date
- 1876 · confidence high
- Place
- Wollstein, Posen (Wolsztyn, Poland)
- Credited to
- Robert Koch
- People
- 👤 Robert Koch1843–1910
- Field
- Life & health
What was discovered
He cultured Bacillus anthracis, described its spore cycle and demonstrated that a specific microbe causes a specific disease. He formalised (1884-1890) the postulates for proving microbial causation.
What it led to
- bacteriology as an experimental science
- identification of dozens of pathogens in the 'golden age' (1876-1900)
- pure culture on agar plates (Petri)
- medicine based on aetiology
Built on
- Germ theory (Pasteur)1857-1865
- Bacterial taxonomy and heat-resistant spores (Cohn)1872-1876
- Pasteur
- Casimir Davaine (rod-shaped bodies in the blood)