Microbiology Takes the Stage 



By SELMAN A. WAKSMAN 

 Direcfor, Institute of Microbiology 



The first institute devoted primarily to 

 microbiology was named after Louis Pasteur. It was dedi- 

 cated two thirds of a century ago, November 14, 1888. At 

 the time of its organization, the staff consisted of Pasteur 

 as the director; Duclaux, in chars^e of s^eneral microbi- 

 ology; Chamberland, concerned with microbiology in re- 

 lation to hygiene; Roux, studying microbiological methods 

 in their medical applications; and Metchnikoff, working 

 in the general field of morphology of lower organisms and 

 comparative microbiology. 



These investigators were interested primarily in the rela- 

 tion of microorganisms to human health and the causation 

 of disease. General microbiology, systematics of micro- 

 organisms, and microbial physiology and biochemistry oc- 

 cupied only a secondary place. Microbial genetics and 

 cytology were hardly considered. The broad aspects of the 

 role of microorganisms in the cycle of life in nature and in 

 soil processes and the wider problems of chemotherapy 

 were not yet contemplated. 

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