Émile van Ermengem
Encyclopedia
Émile Pierre-Marie van Ermengem (1851–1932, or 1851–1922 according to some sources) was a Belgian bacteriologist who, in 1895, isolated Clostridium botulinum
, the bacterium that causes botulism
, from a piece of ham that had poisoned thirty four people.
He worked at the University of Ghent. His sons were the writer Franz Hellens
and the art critic François Maret
.
Clostridium botulinum
Clostridium botulinum is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium that produces several toxins. The best known are its neurotoxins, subdivided in types A-G, that cause the flaccid muscular paralysis seen in botulism. It is also the main paralytic agent in botox. C. botulinum is an anaerobic...
, the bacterium that causes botulism
Botulism
Botulism also known as botulinus intoxication is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by botulinum toxin which is metabolic waste produced under anaerobic conditions by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and affecting a wide range of mammals, birds and fish...
, from a piece of ham that had poisoned thirty four people.
He worked at the University of Ghent. His sons were the writer Franz Hellens
Franz Hellens
Franz Hellens, born Frédéric van Ermengem was a prolific Belgian novelist, poet and critic...
and the art critic François Maret
François Maret
François Maret, or Frans van Ermengem, or Frans Ermengem was a Belgian poet, painter and art critic...
.