Author: Dave Rosenberg M.D.

Educational Pearls:

• Louis Pasteur developed the technique that is now known as pasteurization. It was first used in the wine-producing regions of France, and eventually in dairy products like milk.
• Pasteur also investigated infectious disease. During one experiment, Pasteur's lab assistant accidentally infected chickens with a weakened form of cholera. When none of the chickens died, Pasteur re-infected them with a stronger strain. This time, none of the chickens became sick because they had been inoculated against the disease. This experiment paved the way for modern vaccination.

References: Smith KA. Louis Pasteur, the Father of Immunology? Frontiers in Immunology. 2012;3:68. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2012.00068.