title: Richard Pfeiffer and Alexandre Besredka: creators of the concept of endotoxin and anti-endotoxin.
abstract: Richard Pfeiffer, working with Robert Koch in Berlin, intellectually and experimentally conceived the concept of endotoxin as a heat-stable bacterial poison responsible for the pathophysiological consequences of certain infectious diseases. Pfeiffer's definition of endotoxin included the inability to evoke neutralizing antibodies against this bacterial toxin. Alexandre Besredka, Ilya (Elie) Metchnikoff's successor at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, was the first to demonstrate that, in fact, antibodies could be engendered which were capable of suppressing the poisonous effects of endotoxin. Endotoxin and anti-endotoxin antibodies have since then fascinated researchers of many disciplines and continue to do so, particularly in the fields of diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of severe Gram-negative infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunochemistry and Biochemical Microbiology, Leibniz-Centre for Medicine and Biosciences, Research Centre Borstel, Parkallee 22, 23845 Borstel, Germany. erietschel@fz-borstel.de
authors.forename: Ernst Th
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Rietschel
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cavaillon
mesh_terms: D004731:Endotoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000266:history* / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D014116:Toxicology / Q000266:history*
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins