David Bruce (physician)

David Bruce (1855–1931) was a Scottish physician and microbiologist who is best known for his discovery of the causative agent of brucellosis, a disease that he named after himself.

Early life and education

David Bruce was born in Melbourne, Australia, on May 29, 1855. His parents were Scottish, and they returned to Scotland when Bruce was five years old. He received his early education in Stirling, and then studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated in 1876.

Career

After graduation, Bruce joined the British Army as a surgeon and was posted to Malta. There, he began his research into microbiology, studying the disease known as Malta fever. In 1887, he discovered the bacteria that caused the disease, which he named Brucella melitensis in his honor.

Bruce's work on Malta fever led to his appointment as a member of the Sleeping Sickness Commission in Uganda. There, he discovered the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, which causes sleeping sickness. This discovery was a significant contribution to the field of tropical medicine.

In 1914, Bruce was appointed Director of the Royal Society's laboratories, a position he held until his retirement in 1925.

Legacy

David Bruce's work has had a lasting impact on the field of infectious diseases. His discoveries have led to improved diagnosis and treatment of brucellosis and sleeping sickness. The genus Brucella and the species Trypanosoma brucei are named in his honor.

See also

• Brucellosis
• Sleeping sickness
• Tropical medicine

References

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