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Anton von Leeuwenhoek begins Microbiology.
As the first one to view living microorganisms, Anton von Leeuwenhoek marks the beginning of Microbiology. -
First smallpox vaccination
Edward Jenner performs the first
vaccinations against smallpox -
Ignaz Semmelweis suggests hand-washing
Gives the idea of hand-washing when assisting in childbirth. -
Louis Pasteur begins the Golden Age of Microbiology
Discovered that yeast causes the fermentation of wine. Begins the Golden Age of Microbiology -
Rudolf Virchow introduces biogenesis
Introduced the theory of living cells only coming from pre-existing living cells. -
Louis Pasteur disproved spontaneous generation
Demonstrated microorganisms are in the air everywhere by boiling broth for many days without contamination. -
Ferdinand J. Cohn begins the science of bacteriology
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Robert Koch confirms the Germ Theory of Disease
Validated the Germ Theory of Disease, while studying anthrax, proving illnesses are not caused by evil spirits. -
Albert Neisser identifies Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Neisser may have been the first to link chronic illnesses to microbes. -
Hans Christian Gram creates the gram stain
This is now used to determine gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. -
Escherich identifies Escherichia coli
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Dmitri Iosifovich Ivanovski discovers viruses
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The accidental creation of penicillin
Alexander Fleming discovers the first antibiotic when he accidentally left some cultures in a lab. Later fungus Penicillium contaminated and no bacteria was near it. -
Chain and Abraham shows evidence of antibiotic resistance
E coli. was found to produce a substance that inactivates pencillin. First evidence of antibiotic resistance is shown. -
The term 'antibiotic' is created
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First penicillin resistant bacterium
Just after 4 years of the discovery of penicillin, a bacterium gain resistance towards it. -
First fecal transplant
The first case of fecal transplant took place by Eiseman. It was successful. -
MRSA first detected in Britain
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is detected. It is now common in hospitals. -
Woese discovers Archaea
Using analysis of RNA, archaea is discovered. -
Smallpox officially eliminated
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Prusiner discovers prions
The infectious protein microbe is discovered. -
NASA found bacteria-like fossils in rock on Mars
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World's first light-activated antimicrobial material created
Two simples dyes with nanoscopic particles of gold is found to be deadly to bacteria when activated by light; also found to work in the dark.
