Octave Gengou

Octave Gengou

Octave Gengou, Belgian bacteriologist

Birth date	1867-02-05
Birth place	Liège, Belgium
Died	1 January 1936(1936-01-01) (aged 68)
Place of death	Brussels, Belgium
Nationality	Belgian
Known for	Co-discovery of Bordetella pertussis

Octave Gengou (5 February 1867 – 1 January 1936) was a prominent Belgian bacteriologist known for his work in the field of infectious diseases, particularly for his co-discovery of the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough.

Early Life and Education

Octave Gengou was born in Liège, Belgium. He pursued his medical studies at the University of Liège, where he developed a keen interest in microbiology and bacteriology. After completing his medical degree, Gengou continued his studies in Paris, where he worked under the tutelage of renowned bacteriologists.

Career and Research

Gengou's career was marked by his collaboration with Jules Bordet, a fellow Belgian scientist. Together, they conducted groundbreaking research on the bacterium responsible for whooping cough. In 1906, they successfully isolated and identified Bordetella pertussis, a significant advancement in the understanding and treatment of the disease.

Discovery of Bordetella pertussis

The discovery of Bordetella pertussis was a pivotal moment in medical microbiology. Gengou and Bordet's work laid the foundation for the development of vaccines against whooping cough, which have since saved countless lives. Their research was published in several scientific journals, gaining international recognition.

Other Contributions

In addition to his work on whooping cough, Gengou made significant contributions to the study of other infectious diseases. He was involved in research on tuberculosis and diphtheria, and his work helped improve diagnostic techniques and treatment methods for these diseases.

Legacy

Octave Gengou's contributions to bacteriology have had a lasting impact on public health. The Bordet-Gengou agar, a medium used for the isolation of Bordetella pertussis, is named in honor of his and Bordet's work. Gengou's research continues to influence the field of microbiology and the development of vaccines.

Also see

• Jules Bordet
• Bordetella pertussis
• Whooping cough
• Bacteriology
• Vaccine development