(January 29, 1853 – June 13, 1931)
Kitasato Shibasaburo was an outstanding researcher who made pioneering contributions to Epidemiology, Immunology and Bacteriology. While working under Robert Koch at Berlin University in 1889 (alongside Paul Ehrlich and Emil von Behring) he gained acclaim as the first person who grew Clostridium tetani (the etiologic agent of tetanus) in pure laboratory culture. The following year (1890), he and Emil von Behring succeeded in producing antitoxins effective for both Clostridium tetani and Corynebacterium diphtheriae (the etiologic agent of diphtheria). These early successes consolidated Kitasato’s status as a budding authority in both serology and serotherapy. While back home at Japan in 1891, he founded The Institute for Study of Infectious Diseases. This research center (which was later renamed The Kitasato Institute) ranks among the world’s best clinical research institutes. Kitasato would as well receive kudos for co-discovering Yersinia pestis (the etiologic agent of bubonic plague) just days after Alexandre Yersin independently discovered it. Both clinicians attained their feats while working separately in Hong Kong during an outbreak of the disease in summer of 1894. Early 20th century saw him inspiring protégés that include Sahachiro Hata. Together they furthered research on both tuberculosis and pneumonic plague (which alongside bubonic and septicemic plagues are the three manifestations of the same malady caused by Yersinia pestis). Although Kitasato and von Behring conjointly developed diphtheria antitoxin, the Nobel Committee controversially awarded their inaugural Medicine/Physiology Prize to von Behring in 1901: instead of sharing it between the co-discoverers. However, numerous honors (including posthumous accolades) have been conferred on Kitosato Shibasaburo.
All rights reserved. © Valentine Oduenyi
I love how you wrote these articles.
I came to your 83. KITASATO SHIBASABURO – SAPAVIVA page. Nice.
I enjoyed learning about KITASATO SHIBASABURO @ SAPAVIVA website. Thanks for the eye-opening info. Never heard about him until today.
Today is also my first time of hearing about Kitasato Shibasaburo and I am impressed.
Very good info.
Awesome website! Getting to know these scientists and mathematicians is amazing.
Amazing!
He was in many ways Asia’s Paul Ehrlich.
Awesome!
Splendid!
It’s great to see this Japaneses icon. He is often underrated, so I’m glad to see him here.
Good job Sapaviva!
What’s up friends? How is everything? Who is your favorite scientist?
I agree with the other commentators. This is also an eye-opener for me.
I’ve enjoyed your blog posts and will be subscribing to your rss feed
Excellent post
Thanks, yours is the best blog I have found so far on this topic.
Agreed!
Extraordinary!
I bookmarked this post to my FB faves.
Superb content
wow! what a guy!
The coincidences between Kitasato’s research topics and that of European scientists of the same period got me thinking.
Really interesting!
Well-deserved! 🙂
What a coincidence. Goes to show that this world is truly a small place.
His, was a mind-blowing coincidence.
Nice and new stuffs on this website.
Well, well, well, well.
A good surprise to remember Kitasato Shibasaburō here
Great line up. We will be seeing more of this website later.
Nice to know about him.
.. Excellent ..
Awesome intro.
I was just checking …
sehr gut
Much obliged
Hello! Thanks for the post.
Among the grandest
A scientific shogun?!
This site is known for awesome information.
So many beautiful contents
Well-done.
Wonderful!