Biography
Emil von Behring was born in 1854 in Ławice, a village that was then part of Prussia's province of Posen. He studied medicine at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, where he built his basic understanding of physiology and medicine. After finishing his education, Behring worked as a military doctor in the Prussian Army Medical Corps. During this time, he gained hands-on experience with infectious diseases and became interested in how immunity and disease prevention worked.
Behring's most important scientific work was on developing antitoxins and serotherapy. While working with Shibasaburo Kitasato at the Institute for Infectious Diseases in Berlin, he found that blood serum from animals immunized against diphtheria and tetanus had substances that could neutralize the toxins these dangerous bacteria produced. This discovery led to the creation of the diphtheria antitoxin, the first effective treatment for a disease that had been killing thousands of children each year. His work set the stage for passive immunization and changed how infectious diseases were treated.
Applying Behring's discoveries had immediate, significant impacts on public health. In places where the antitoxin treatment was used, the number of deaths from diphtheria, known as the "strangling angel of children," dropped dramatically. Behring set up commercial production of the antitoxin and collaborated with pharmaceutical companies to make it widely available. His methods were used worldwide, saving countless lives and setting new standards for treating bacterial infections.
For his groundbreaking contributions to medicine, Behring received the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1901. The Nobel Committee highlighted his work on serum therapy, especially its use in treating diphtheria. Besides the Nobel Prize, he received many other honors, including the Cameron Prize from the University of Edinburgh, honorary doctorates from the University of Halle-Wittenberg and the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and fellowship in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He married Else von Behring and spent his later years continuing his research in Marburg, where he died in 1917. His work paved the way for modern immunology and established principles that still guide vaccine development and the treatment of infectious diseases today.
Before Fame
Behring's early life was influenced by the medical and scientific advances of the mid-19th century. Growing up at a time when infectious diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, and tuberculosis were killing millions of people each year, especially children, he saw how devastating bacterial infections could be to communities. As a physician in the military, he learned about battlefield medicine and the urgent need for effective treatments for infected wounds and diseases.
During this time, the scientific world was making quick progress in bacteriology, with researchers like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch discovering the microbial causes of diseases. This set the groundwork for Behring's later research. His partnership with the Japanese bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato at Koch's institute in Berlin was vital. Their combined skills in bacterial cultures and animal experimentation led to breakthrough discoveries in developing antitoxins.
Key Achievements
- Discovered diphtheria and tetanus antitoxins with Shibasaburo Kitasato
- Received the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1901
- Established the scientific foundation for passive immunization therapy
- Developed commercial production methods for life-saving antitoxins
- Reduced childhood mortality from diphtheria by implementing serum therapy
Did You Know?
- 01.He initially studied theology before switching to medicine due to financial constraints that led him to accept a military scholarship
- 02.The first child successfully treated with his diphtheria antitoxin was the daughter of a Berlin physician in 1891
- 03.He established the Behringwerke pharmaceutical company in Marburg, which became one of Germany's major vaccine producers
- 04.His antitoxin treatment reduced diphtheria mortality rates from 50% to less than 5% in treated cases
- 05.He conducted early experiments with tuberculosis vaccines, though these were less successful than his work with diphtheria
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | 1901 | for his work on serum therapy, especially its application against diphtheria, by which he has opened a new road in the domain of medical science and thereby placed in the hands of the physician a victorious weapon against illness and deaths |
| Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences | — | — |
| Honorary Doctorate from the National Autonomous University of Mexico | 1910 | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Halle-Wittenberg | — | — |
| Cameron Prize of the University of Edinburgh | — | — |