Talk with Emil von Behring

Emil von Behring, born Emil Adolf von Behring on March 15, 1854, in Hansdorf, Prussia (now Jeżewo, Poland), was a German physiologist who was a pioneer in the field of immunology and a key figure in the development of serum therapy. He is best known for his discovery of the diphtheria antitoxin, an achievement that marked the beginning of modern immunology and earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1901.

Behring studied medicine at the University of Berlin and later joined the Army Medical Corps. His research initially focused on the mechanisms of immunity and the development of antitoxins for the treatment of diseases such as diphtheria and tetanus. Working with Shibasaburo Kitasato, he developed a serum therapy for diphtheria that significantly reduced the mortality rate from the disease. This therapy involved the injection of antitoxins, which are substances produced by the body to neutralize toxins, thereby helping the immune system to fight off bacterial infections.

Behring's work in the field of immunology did not stop with diphtheria; he also made significant contributions to the development of a serum for treating tetanus. This involved similar principles - using antitoxins to neutralize the powerful toxin produced by the bacterium that causes tetanus.

Throughout his career, Behring received various accolades and recognition for his contributions to medicine and science, his most notable being the Nobel Prize. He also founded the Behringwerke pharmaceutical company, which further researched and produced vaccines and serums for various diseases.

Emil von Behring died on March 31, 1917, in Marburg, Germany. His legacy includes not only his seminal contributions to immunology and serum therapy but also his influence on the development of vaccines and immune therapies that continue to save countless lives worldwide.

Emil von Behring's main contributions to immunology are principally centered around his pioneering work in the development of serum therapy, particularly in the treatment of diphtheria and tetanus, which earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1901.

1. Diphtheria Antitoxin: Behring's most celebrated achievement is his work on diphtheria. He discovered that he could confer passive immunity to the disease by injecting animals with diphtheria toxin and then using their serum, which contained antitoxins, to effectively treat diphtheria in humans. This work, which he carried out with Shibasaburo Kitasato, marked the beginning of the use of antitoxins to treat other bacterial infections and was a fundamental step in the development of immunotherapy.

2. Tetanus Antitoxin: Behring also developed an antitoxin for tetanus, showing that tetanus toxin, like the diphtheria toxin, could be neutralized by the appropriate antitoxin. His work on tetanus further established the basis for the use of passive immunization to prevent and treat diseases.

3. Theory of Serotherapy: Through his experiments and developments with serum therapy, Behring contributed to the establishment and acceptance of serotherapy in medical practice. This therapeutic approach involves injecting a person suffering from a given disease with the blood serum from another individual or animal who has immunity to the disease. His successes played a crucial role in the acceptance of immunological concepts and the therapeutic potential of the emerging field of immunology.

Behring’s work not only provided immediate therapeutic tools to combat devastating bacterial infections but also opened up new pathways for research in immunology and the development of vaccines and other immunotherapeutic approaches. His contributions have had a lasting impact on public health and the scientific understanding of infectious diseases.

Emil von Behring, despite his monumental contributions to medical science, did face criticisms and controversies during his career. Some of the major criticisms revolve around the following aspects:

1. Effectiveness and safety of therapies: Some of Behring’s contemporaries questioned the safety and effectiveness of his diphtheria antitoxin. Early versions of the serum could cause severe allergic reactions, which led to concerns and criticisms from other scientists and the public. This was partly because the process of producing the antitoxin involved the use of animal serum, which could vary in quality and purity.

2. Commercial practices: Behring was also criticized for his dealings with pharmaceutical companies. He entered into an exclusive contract with the Farbwerke Hoechst company to produce and sell the diphtheria antitoxin. This monopoly led to high prices and limited availability of the antitoxin, which drew criticism for prioritizing profit over public health.

3. Interpersonal and professional relationships: Behring's interactions with some of his colleagues were sometimes strained. He had disagreements and conflicts with other scientists, including Paul Ehrlich, with whom he initially collaborated. These conflicts sometimes spilled over into public and academic realms, which affected his reputation.

4. Research practices: Behring was at the forefront of developing serotherapy, but like many scientists of his era, some of his research methodologies, particularly those involving animal testing, were questioned. The ethical standards for research during Behring's time were different from today’s standards, but even by the norms of his day, there were occasionally critiques about the treatment of animals in medical experimentation.

Despite these criticisms, Emil von Behring's impact on immunology and infection treatment was profound, earning him the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1901 for his work on serum therapy, particularly its application against diphtheria.

Emil von Behring's focus on infectious diseases was primarily motivated by the significant impact these diseases had on public health during his lifetime, coupled with the progress and opportunities presented by the burgeoning field of bacteriology and immunology in the late 19th century. Behring was deeply influenced by his medical education and the prevailing scientific and medical environment, which was rapidly evolving due to advances made by researchers like Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur.

Behring began his medical career in the army, which further exposed him to the ravages of infectious diseases among soldiers, notably observing the conditions that led to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and typhoid. This exposure undoubtedly fueled his interest and dedication to finding treatments and preventative measures against such devastating ailments.

His collaboration with Shibasaburo Kitasato marked a turning point, leading to their breakthrough in developing a serum therapy for diphtheria, which at the time was a leading cause of death among children. Behring's motivation was thus a combination of personal exposure to the effects of infectious diseases, the scientific milieu of the time, and the practical possibilities opened up by serum therapy and immunology.

Emil von Behring's discoveries have significantly shaped modern immunology, primarily through his pioneering work on antitoxins and serum therapy. Behring is best known for his discovery of diphtheria antitoxin in the late 19th century, which marked the beginning of the era of antitoxin treatment against infectious diseases.

1. Introduction of Serum Therapy: Behring’s work led to the development of serum therapy, where antibodies from the blood of immunized animals were used to treat infectious diseases in humans. This was a revolutionary concept at the time because it provided a direct therapeutic strategy to combat bacterial infections like diphtheria and tetanus, which were major causes of mortality, particularly among children.

2. Antitoxins: By showing that it was possible to transfer immunity via the blood serum containing antitoxic substances, Behring demonstrated the existence and function of components in the blood that could confer immunity. This laid foundational knowledge for the later discovery of antibodies and the development of various types of immunoglobulins.

3. Impact on Vaccine Development: Behring’s work on antitoxins paved the way for the broader field of vaccine development. Understanding that the body could be incited to produce specific responses against pathogens opened avenues for the creation of vaccines across various diseases. Vaccination, involving the stimulation of the body’s immune system to develop immunity to specific pathogens before exposure, was profoundly influenced by the concept of actively acquired immunity demonstrated through his serum therapy.

4. Awards and Recognition: Emil von Behring was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1901 for his work on serum therapy, particularly its application against diphtheria. This not only highlighted the importance of his contributions but also helped cement the role of immunology as a crucial scientific field.

5. Foundation for Modern Immunology: Behring’s research established key concepts that are fundamental to immunology today, such as the idea of passive immunity (providing immunity through the transfer of antibodies) and the therapeutic potential of combating infectious agents with biological rather than purely chemical means.

Overall, Emil von Behring’s contributions are foundational to immunological science and clinical practices regarding the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, influencing decades of research and saving countless lives through therapies derived from his discoveries.

Emil Adolph von Behring died on March 31, 1917.

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