Kitasato

Kitasato Shibasaburō (北里 柴三郎, 1853 – 1931) was a prominent Japanese physician and bacteriologist. He is remembered today as the co-discoverer of the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, alongside Alexandre Yersin.

Early Life and Education

Kitasato was born on January 29, 1853, in Oguni, now a part of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. He studied medicine at the Tokyo Imperial University, where he developed an interest in bacteriology.

Career

In 1885, Kitasato traveled to Germany to study bacteriology with Robert Koch. During his time in Germany, he developed a method for culturing bacteria which led to the discovery of the bacterium that causes tetanus. He returned to Japan in 1892 and founded the Kitasato Institute, the first private medical research facility in Japan.

In 1894, Kitasato was sent by the Japanese government to Hong Kong to investigate an outbreak of bubonic plague. There, he independently discovered the bacterium that causes the disease, at the same time as Alexandre Yersin.

Legacy

Kitasato's work has had a lasting impact on the field of bacteriology. His method for culturing bacteria is still used today, and his discovery of the bacterium that causes bubonic plague has saved countless lives. The Kitasato Institute continues to be a leading center for medical research in Japan.

See Also

• Bacteriology
• Kitasato Institute
• Bubonic Plague
• Tetanus