Vaccines
Vaccines are generally a substance that can and is intentionally placed inside the body to stimulate the production of antibodies. These antibodies are what protect us all, both humans and animals/organisms alike. From harmful germs or Viruses. Therefore allowing the body to effectively set up an immunity, once the germ or virus has been beaten with the help of vaccines.
Since Louis Pasteur had already developed the knowledge he needed involving germs in the air as the cause of alcoholic fermentation, milk spoilage, and or disease etc. All before even developing his first "Vaccine", it was only a matter of time when he would do exactly that, shortly after he had only recently started to do so...
The beginning: First Vaccine (1865)
Shockingly, the first ever vaccine-process wasn't even used or was even human related in any way. In fact it was used to save an entire industry of trade, both for France and the world! That Industry was the silk Industry, based solely off the production of silk from silkworms.
Pébrine:
In 1865, he was asked to investigate his first disease called pébrine that affected the silk worm industry.
The signs of the disease were that the eggs did not hatch or the worms would die before making their silk cocoons. It had now reached epidemic proportions and even disease free worms brought in from Spain and Italy had been contaminated. By 1864 there were no uncontaminated eggs left, except for those brought in from Japan. Pasteur observed through his microscope that the diseased caterpillars and eggs all contained tiny organisms. He identified these as disease producing organisms. He managed to obtain some healthy worms and he divided them into two lots. He fed one lot with mulberry leaves smeared with the remains of diseased worms and fed the others with mulberry leaves smeared with the remains of healthy worms. Pasteur was able to show that the worms fed on diseased smeared leaves got the disease, whereas those fed on uncontaminated leaves remained disease free (From: Zephyrus.co.uk "Louis Pasteur (1822-95)").
He eventually developed a method to prevent their contamination and it was soon used by silk producers throughout the entire world, thus saving the silk industry. Therefore saving the money of not only the people of France who sold/ produced silk, but also others such as China. The leading manufacturer and distributor of silk throughout the world.
The signs of the disease were that the eggs did not hatch or the worms would die before making their silk cocoons. It had now reached epidemic proportions and even disease free worms brought in from Spain and Italy had been contaminated. By 1864 there were no uncontaminated eggs left, except for those brought in from Japan. Pasteur observed through his microscope that the diseased caterpillars and eggs all contained tiny organisms. He identified these as disease producing organisms. He managed to obtain some healthy worms and he divided them into two lots. He fed one lot with mulberry leaves smeared with the remains of diseased worms and fed the others with mulberry leaves smeared with the remains of healthy worms. Pasteur was able to show that the worms fed on diseased smeared leaves got the disease, whereas those fed on uncontaminated leaves remained disease free (From: Zephyrus.co.uk "Louis Pasteur (1822-95)").
He eventually developed a method to prevent their contamination and it was soon used by silk producers throughout the entire world, thus saving the silk industry. Therefore saving the money of not only the people of France who sold/ produced silk, but also others such as China. The leading manufacturer and distributor of silk throughout the world.
Chicken Cholera: Vaccine
In 1865, a cholera epidemic hit Marseilles.
At first Pasteur carried out a number of experiments in a hospital in the hope of finding the germ that caused this feared disease. He was not successful.
Pasteur knew about the work done by Edward Jenner regarding smallpox. Pasteur reasoned that if a vaccine could be found for smallpox, then a vaccine could be found for all diseases. Pasteur did not know how Jenner’s vaccination worked so he had to proceed searching for a chicken cholera vaccine using a process of trial and error(From: Biography.com "Louis Pasteur Biography").
Pasteur frequently worked by himself. He realized that this was not the way to proceed and so he also gathered around him a team of research scientists. Pasteur had always lacked detailed medical knowledge. Because of this he introduced into his team two brilliant young doctors, Emile Roux and Charles Chamberland. The first disease this team worked on was chicken cholera – a disease that affected many poultry farmers.In the summer of 1880, he found a vaccine by chance. Chamberland had inoculated some chickens with chicken cholera germs from an old culture that had been around for some time. The chickens did not die. Pasteur asked Chamberland to repeat what he had done but with a fresh culture of chicken cholera germs. Pasteur reasoned that a new culture would provide more potent germs.Two groups of chickens were inoculated; one that had been given the old culture and one group that had not. Those chickens that had been given the old culture survived, those that had not died. The chickens that had been inoculated with the old culture had become immune to chicken cholera. Pasteur believed that their bodies had used the weaker strain of germ to form a defence against the more powerful germs in the fresher culture (From: Hisitorylearningsite.co.uk"Louis Pasteur").
At first Pasteur carried out a number of experiments in a hospital in the hope of finding the germ that caused this feared disease. He was not successful.
Pasteur knew about the work done by Edward Jenner regarding smallpox. Pasteur reasoned that if a vaccine could be found for smallpox, then a vaccine could be found for all diseases. Pasteur did not know how Jenner’s vaccination worked so he had to proceed searching for a chicken cholera vaccine using a process of trial and error(From: Biography.com "Louis Pasteur Biography").
Pasteur frequently worked by himself. He realized that this was not the way to proceed and so he also gathered around him a team of research scientists. Pasteur had always lacked detailed medical knowledge. Because of this he introduced into his team two brilliant young doctors, Emile Roux and Charles Chamberland. The first disease this team worked on was chicken cholera – a disease that affected many poultry farmers.In the summer of 1880, he found a vaccine by chance. Chamberland had inoculated some chickens with chicken cholera germs from an old culture that had been around for some time. The chickens did not die. Pasteur asked Chamberland to repeat what he had done but with a fresh culture of chicken cholera germs. Pasteur reasoned that a new culture would provide more potent germs.Two groups of chickens were inoculated; one that had been given the old culture and one group that had not. Those chickens that had been given the old culture survived, those that had not died. The chickens that had been inoculated with the old culture had become immune to chicken cholera. Pasteur believed that their bodies had used the weaker strain of germ to form a defence against the more powerful germs in the fresher culture (From: Hisitorylearningsite.co.uk"Louis Pasteur").
Anthrax: Vaccine
Louis Pasteur began his works on the Anthrax disease between the years of 1877-1878
Pasteur also determined the natural history of anthrax, a fatal disease of cattle. He proved that anthrax is caused by a particular bacillus and suggested that animals could be given anthrax in a mild form by vaccinating them with attenuated (weakened) bacilli, thus providing immunity from potentially fatal attacks. In order to prove his theory, Pasteur began by inoculating 25 sheep; a few days later he inoculated these and 25 more sheep with an especially strong inoculants, and he left 10 sheep untreated. He predicted that the second 25 sheep would all perish and concluded the experiment dramatically by showing, to a skeptical crowd, the carcasses of the 25 sheep lying side by side. Anthrax, disease of warm-blooded animals, including humans, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in cattle and other plant-eating mammals, but it can also affect humans who come in contact with infected animals. The disease is not considered contagious, however, and person-to-person spread of the disease is highly unlikely. Vaccines can protect against anthrax, and antibiotics can treat the disease in its early stages. Anthrax is a spore-forming bacterium. The spores have protective coats and can withstand extreme heat, drought, and other harsh conditions. They can live for centuries in soil. Anthrax spores also have the potential for use in biological warfare because of their ability to survive and because they spread easily in air and can be inhaled. Once the spores are inside the lungs, the bacteria develop and begin to multiply(From: fjcollazo.com"LOUIS PASRUER'S ACOMPLISHMENTS"). (see Chemical and Biological Warfare).
Pasteur also determined the natural history of anthrax, a fatal disease of cattle. He proved that anthrax is caused by a particular bacillus and suggested that animals could be given anthrax in a mild form by vaccinating them with attenuated (weakened) bacilli, thus providing immunity from potentially fatal attacks. In order to prove his theory, Pasteur began by inoculating 25 sheep; a few days later he inoculated these and 25 more sheep with an especially strong inoculants, and he left 10 sheep untreated. He predicted that the second 25 sheep would all perish and concluded the experiment dramatically by showing, to a skeptical crowd, the carcasses of the 25 sheep lying side by side. Anthrax, disease of warm-blooded animals, including humans, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in cattle and other plant-eating mammals, but it can also affect humans who come in contact with infected animals. The disease is not considered contagious, however, and person-to-person spread of the disease is highly unlikely. Vaccines can protect against anthrax, and antibiotics can treat the disease in its early stages. Anthrax is a spore-forming bacterium. The spores have protective coats and can withstand extreme heat, drought, and other harsh conditions. They can live for centuries in soil. Anthrax spores also have the potential for use in biological warfare because of their ability to survive and because they spread easily in air and can be inhaled. Once the spores are inside the lungs, the bacteria develop and begin to multiply(From: fjcollazo.com"LOUIS PASRUER'S ACOMPLISHMENTS"). (see Chemical and Biological Warfare).
RABIeS: Vaccine
In 1885, After the discoveries in the vaccines for Chicken cholera and Anthrax, Louis Pasteur was confident he could do the same for Rabies. Since Rabies was already much more prevalent during his time, and because it killed all if not most of its victims. Pasteur was determined to find a cure or a Vaccine for that matter, and so he did.1885: Louis Pasteur successfully tests his rabies vaccine on a human subject.He developed his rabies vaccine by growing the virus in rabbits, then drying the affected nerve tissue to weaken the virus.On July 6, 1885, the vaccine was administered to Joseph Miester, a 9-year-old boy who had been attacked by a rabid dog. The boy survived and avoided contracting rabies, which would have almost certainly proved fatal.Good thing it worked: Pasteur was not a licensed physician and could have been prosecuted had the vaccine failed. The legalities were forgotten, and Pasteur instead became a national hero (From: Wired.com"July 6, 1885- Rabies Vaccine Saves Boy and Pasteur").