Charles Chamberland
Encyclopedia
Charles Chamberland was a French microbiologist
from Chilly-le-Vignoble
in the department of Jura who worked with Louis Pasteur
.
In 1884 he developed a type of filtration known today as the Chamberland filter
or Chamberland-Pasteur filter, consisting of an unglazed porcelain
bar. This filter had pores that were smaller than bacteria
, and made it possible to pass a solution containing bacteria through the filter and have them completely removed from the solution. He was also credited for starting a research project that led to the invention of the autoclave
device in 1879.
He worked with Pasteur and came up, by chance, with a vaccine
for chicken cholera. He went away on holiday, forgetting to inject the disease into some chickens as he had been told. When he came back he saw the jar of bacteria sitting on the side and thought he would inject it into the chickens anyway. To his amazement they did not die. He reported this to Pasteur, who told him to inject a fresh form into the chickens, they still did not die. He then went on to injecting the fresh form into new chickens, they did die. He had found a vaccine. They had also discovered that a weakened form of a disease can act as a vaccine.
Microbiologist
A microbiologist is a scientist who works in the field of microbiology. Microbiologists study organisms called microbes. Microbes can take the form of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists...
from Chilly-le-Vignoble
Chilly-le-Vignoble
Chilly-le-Vignoble is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:*...
in the department of Jura who worked with Louis Pasteur
Pasteur
Pasteur could refer to* Louis Pasteur , French chemist and microbiologist who invented:**Pasteurization**The pasteur pipette, both named after him-Things and places named after Louis Pasteur:* Pasteur Institute* Pasteur point, level of oxygen...
.
In 1884 he developed a type of filtration known today as the Chamberland filter
Chamberland filter
A Chamberland filter, also known as a Pasteur-Chamberland filter, is a porcelain water filter invented by Charles Chamberland in 1884. It is similar to the Berkefeld filter in principle.-Design:...
or Chamberland-Pasteur filter, consisting of an unglazed porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
bar. This filter had pores that were smaller than bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
, and made it possible to pass a solution containing bacteria through the filter and have them completely removed from the solution. He was also credited for starting a research project that led to the invention of the autoclave
Autoclave
An autoclave is an instrument used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high pressure saturated steam at 121 °C for around 15–20 minutes depending on the size of the load and the contents. It was invented by Charles Chamberland in 1879, although a precursor known as the...
device in 1879.
He worked with Pasteur and came up, by chance, with a vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
for chicken cholera. He went away on holiday, forgetting to inject the disease into some chickens as he had been told. When he came back he saw the jar of bacteria sitting on the side and thought he would inject it into the chickens anyway. To his amazement they did not die. He reported this to Pasteur, who told him to inject a fresh form into the chickens, they still did not die. He then went on to injecting the fresh form into new chickens, they did die. He had found a vaccine. They had also discovered that a weakened form of a disease can act as a vaccine.
External links
- Charles Edouard Chamberland and Louis Pasteur, PasteurBrewing.com