Fred Neufeld
Encyclopedia
Fred Neufeld (born 17 February 1869, Danzig - died 18 April 1945, Berlin) was a physician
and bacteriologist who discovered the pneumococcal types. This discovery led Fred Griffith to show that one pneumococcal type could be transformed into another (Griffith's experiment
). Subsequently, Oswald Avery
demonstrated that the transforming substance was DNA. All modern molecular biology has evolved from this work.
. He worked with Koch on studies of tuberculosis
and went to Rhodesia with Koch in 1903 to study rinderpest
.
then found that the transforming substance was DNA. All of modern molecular biology has evolved from this work.
in Berlin. He never married and lived with his mother until her death. When the Nazis came to power they immediately demoted Neufeld, although he was Protestant (Mennonite
), not Jewish. Neufeld remained on the Institute staff as an "honorary member" (Ehrenmitglied) and continued to publish. In 1939 he was nominated for the Goethe-Medaille für Kunst und Wissenschaft
for his scientific achievements, but the Nazis repeatedly denied him this honor, year after year until his death. Neufeld died in war torn Berlin of “Entkräftung” (wasting).
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and bacteriologist who discovered the pneumococcal types. This discovery led Fred Griffith to show that one pneumococcal type could be transformed into another (Griffith's experiment
Griffith's experiment
Griffith's experiment, reported in 1928 by Frederick Griffith, was one of the first experiments suggesting that bacteria are capable of transferring genetic information through a process known as transformation....
). Subsequently, Oswald Avery
Oswald Avery
Oswald Theodore Avery ForMemRS was a Canadian-born American physician and medical researcher. The major part of his career was spent at the Rockefeller University Hospital in New York City...
demonstrated that the transforming substance was DNA. All modern molecular biology has evolved from this work.
Early years
Neufeld was the son of a physician. He was musically talented and a gifted pianist. In 1894, Neufeld became assistant to Robert KochRobert Koch
Heinrich Hermann Robert Koch was a German physician. He became famous for isolating Bacillus anthracis , the Tuberculosis bacillus and the Vibrio cholerae and for his development of Koch's postulates....
. He worked with Koch on studies of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and went to Rhodesia with Koch in 1903 to study rinderpest
Rinderpest
Rinderpest was an infectious viral disease of cattle, domestic buffalo, and some other species of even-toed ungulates, including buffaloes, large antelopes and deer, giraffes, wildebeests and warthogs. After a global eradication campaign, the last confirmed case of rinderpest was diagnosed in 2001...
.
Neufeld's discoveries
In 1900 Neufeld discovered bile solubility of pneumococci. Addition of a small amount of ox bile to a pneumococcal culture results in complete destruction of the culture after a short incubation. This unique property became widely used to diagnose pneumococcal infection. Then, using immunological techniques, Neufeld discovered that there were three pneumococcal types. In the presence of type I antiserum type I pneumococci would swell, likewise types II and III in the presence of their specific antisera. Neufeld called this the Quellung reaction, after the German word for swelling. The Quellung reaction allowed for easy laboratory identification of pneumococcal types. Using Neufeld’s discoveries, Fred Griffith showed that pneumococci could transfer genetic information and transform one type into another. Oswald AveryOswald Avery
Oswald Theodore Avery ForMemRS was a Canadian-born American physician and medical researcher. The major part of his career was spent at the Rockefeller University Hospital in New York City...
then found that the transforming substance was DNA. All of modern molecular biology has evolved from this work.
Later life
From 1917 to 1933, Neufeld was director of the Robert Koch InstituteRobert Koch Institute
The Robert Koch Institute is the German federal institution responsible for disease control and prevention. It is located in Berlin and Wernigerode and is part of the Federal Ministry of Health.-History:...
in Berlin. He never married and lived with his mother until her death. When the Nazis came to power they immediately demoted Neufeld, although he was Protestant (Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
), not Jewish. Neufeld remained on the Institute staff as an "honorary member" (Ehrenmitglied) and continued to publish. In 1939 he was nominated for the Goethe-Medaille für Kunst und Wissenschaft
Goethe-Medaille für Kunst und Wissenschaft
The Goethe-Medaille für Kunst und Wissenschaft was a German award. It was authorized by Reichspresident Paul von Hindenburg to commemorate the centenary of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's death on March 22, 1932...
for his scientific achievements, but the Nazis repeatedly denied him this honor, year after year until his death. Neufeld died in war torn Berlin of “Entkräftung” (wasting).