First to isolate Clostridium tetani and Yersinia pestis and pioneer of serology

King-Thom Chung, Department of Biology, The University of Memphis

Shibasaburo Kitasato was well known for his work on the isolation of Clostridium tetani and its antitoxin effect. He was also the first to isolate Yersinia pestis, the causative pathogen of bubonic plaque. His work with Emil von Behring on the serotherapy of diphtheria was a thrilling breakthrough for preventive medicine. Further, his numerous administrative positions also significantly contributed to the public health of humankind, particularly in Japan.

Kitasato was born on December 20, 1856 into a humble family in a mountain village called Ogunigo in Kiusiu, southern Japan. As a bright student in high school, he was admitted to the newly established Medical School in Komamoto, then, later admitted to the Government Medical School in Tokyo, which is the forerunner of the School of Medicine of Tokyo Imperial University (Today called the National Tokyo University). After graduation in 1883, he worked in the Central Bureau of Public Health for several years.

In 1885, he was sent to Germany to work at the Robert Koch Laboratory by the Japanese government. This began his life long association with the giants of microbiology that had a significant influence on his scientific career. During this period, he isolated pure culture of Clostridium tetani in1889, the causative agent of tetanus, and also noticed that the attenuated Clostridium tetani would induce immunity in experimental animals. For instance, the rabbit, he found, survived the Clostridium tetani infection contain antiserum that would induce protection of animal upon subsequent injection into new animals. He and Emil von Behring worked closely together, and demonstrated that a similar phenomenon occurred with the diphtheria bacillus. Kitasato's work on tetanus was published conjointly with that of von Behring on diphtheria under the title of Production of immunity to diphtheria and to tetanus in animals in 1890. This was the foundation of serotherapy. Von Behring was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1901 because of this work, but Kitasato was not.

After spending 7 years in Germany working with Koch, particularly in study of tuberculosis, Kitasato returned to Japan in 1892. Before his returned to Japan, the German government conferred upon him the title of honorary Professor of Berlin in 1891, the first honor given to a foreign scientist by the German government.

In Japan, Kitasato established a laboratory to study bacteriology; this was greatly assisted by Mr, Yukichi Fukusawa, the well-known premier who brought Japan into modern society by the so-called "Meije Revelation." This was also the first modern scientific institution ever established in Japan. This institute was under the supervision of Hygiene Society of Japan. With enlargement and new services, this institution had added new buildings and then moved under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior in 1899. With the continued growth of the institution and expansion of its functions, this institute was finally incorporated with the Imperial Institute of Infectious Disease in1905 when a new modern facility was built at Shirokane-daimachi. Both were under the directorship of Kitasato. This new institute contributed greatly to the eradication of many infectious diseases in Japan and helped establish public health management for the Japanese society.

In the meantime, Kitasato continued his studies of microbiology and infectious diseases. Numerous research papers were published from his institutes under his direction. He was frequently sent on various missions by the Japanese to help prevent infectious diseases. For example, he was sent to Hong Kong to study the bubonic plague that had been epidemic in 1894. He isolated Yersinia pestis as the causative pathogen. Kitasato also isolated the causative organism of dysentery in 1898 and studied the method of infection in tuberculosis. In 1911, he was sent to Manchuria to study pneumonia plague during the most violent epidemic in recent years. He also helped establish preventive measures there.

In 1914, the Imperial Institute for Infectious Disease was transferred to the Minister of Education and later was amalgamated with the Tokyo Imperial University by the Japanese government. Since Kitasato was not informed or consulted before this action, he resigned his position as a director.

In order to continue his research work, Kitasato established a private laboratory known as Kitasato Institute. This institute, located at the corner of Shirokane Sankocho, grew gradually into its present large establishment. In 1910, Kitasato was invited by Yukichi Fukusawa (former primier) to establish a medical college in Keio-Kijiku University. Kitasato accepted this offer and became the dean of the medical college. With Kitasato's leadership, this medical college gradually became one of the most prominent centers of medical education in Japan today.

In 1917, Kitasato was appointed a member of the House of Peers by the Japanese Emperor. He also obtained approval of the Diet (Japanese Congress) for a bill to organize the Medical Practitioners Association of Japan and served as the first President. He did everything possible to improve Japanese national health. For his work, he was elevated to the peerage and made a baron in 1924.

Kitasato established many institutions in Japan, which were dedicated to the study of microbiology and public health. He had a firm belief that his mission in life was to devote himself to the scientific investigations and advancement of public health. He traveled broadly and obtained many honors. He was a member of the Imperial Academy of Japan, foreign member of the Royal Society of London, Ehrenmitglied der Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften of Berlin, and Associe' Etranger de l'Academie de Medecine de France. He was awarded the Harben Gold Medal of the Royal Sanitary Institute of London. He was elected President of the International Plague Conference held at Mukden.

Kitasato was not only a hard-working scientist, he was extremely devoted in his affections toward his parents and his teachers. He respected one teacher, Robert Koch, profoundly. When Robert Koch died, Kitasato built a shrine in the inner court of the Institute in remembrance of his master. Each year, Kitasato commemorated the day of Koch's death with a ceremony in his memory. On June 13, 1931, Kitasato died in Nakanocho also at the age of seventy-five. Kitasato surely appreciated and respected seniors such as teachers and parents, a tradition still practiced by high intellectuals in Oriental societies.

For those who appreciate what others have done for them as most microbiologists do, we must surely learn to live and work for the better lives of others. As exemplified by Kitasato, who considered the improvement of public health as his mission in life, we know that he not only could contribute greatly to the modernization of his country, but also the welfare of all human beings. Kitasato was certainly a human treasure whom we all are proud to venerate.