Sir Alexander Fleming Nobel Prize Speech Dissertation Example

Abstract

Back in 1945, Sir Alexander alongside his fellow scientists Sir Howard Florey and Ernst Chain received Nobel Prize award in Medicine for the discovery of Penicillin that had therapeutic effects on various contagious diseases. Throughout the Nobel speech, Sir Alexander Fleming used Charles Darwin’s theory of Natural selection to explain how they discovered the drug. However, Alexander predicted that the drug (Penicillin) would become less useful to its target bacteria if used in an extended period. The phenomenon s referred as antibiotic resistance. As Alexander (1945), pointed out, the human ignorance creates a huge danger as they may overdose themselves exposing their microbes to non-lethal capabilities of developing a resistant. Notably, some bacteria can produce enzymes that wipe out the antibiotics and other produce proteins that pump out the antibiotics from the cell. Therefore, misuse of penicillin creates a resistant that allows the bacteria to stay alive, reproduce and even develop resistance for the future generation.

In 1928, Sir Alexander Fleming made observations that led to the discovery of penicillin which is considered as the most classical discovery so far. During his experiments with the polygenic bacteria, Alexander noted significant changes which contaminated his culture (Brown, 2005). The colonies of the bacteria had been killed and dissolved away. Previously, Fleming had already studied the substances which prevent the growth of bacteria and developed a lacrimal fluid and salvia which is commonly known as lysozyme. Notably, he was always after new substances which could keep a check on the bacteria. However, he became interested in his current observation and made significant investigations.

The pyogenic mold was after that cultivated where it was planted on the surface to form a green mass. Alexander continued with his experiments and discovered that the mold had a strong effect on the bacteria even after being diluted 500-800 times. In fact, the mold prevented the growth of the bacteria completely proving to be in the Penicillium group and later named the substance penicillin. Noteworthy, Alexander alongside his co-scientist realized that the Penicillium did not only for by itself, but a closer investigation showed that Penicillium notatum polluted the Fleming culture (Bentley, 2005). Fleming also demonstrated that penicillin was tremendously effective in other culture of different types of bacteria especially the coccus group which known to be the cause of cerebral meningitis, pneumonia. Nonetheless, Penicillin is non-effective of various bacteria that gave rise to anthrax, diphtheria, and gas gangrene bacteria. In fact, some species that influence common diseases such as tuberculosis bacilli, coli and typhoid were less affected when exposed to penicillin.

Importantly, Fleming was able to separate the bacteria which were insensitive to penicillin. During this time, he found that the white blood cells were typically sensitive concerning human defense mechanism are primarily affected by penicillin as they cause no harm when injected into a mouse. Penicillin showed a great difference with other micro-organisms which had been produced earlier as they were effective to the bacteria but harmful to the animal cells. This way, penicillin could be used to cure the respective disease.

Apparently, Oxford University conducted venerable research which promoted the effectiveness of penicillin. Professor Howard Florey devoted his attention to protecting the human against the infectious diseases alongside his co-workers. Additionally, Dr. Ernst Boris Chain a chemist took part in the final stage of the research by conducting a significant on antibacterial substances which are primarily formed by micro-organisms treated penicillin. Remarkably, the preparation of penicillin was practically difficult, but its powerful effect on the bacteria promised treatment on various diseases. Afterward, the penicillin research content reached its highest value which followed its extraction.

The penicillin formed in a solution form after the degree of acidity was reduced to almost neutral. This way, more impurities were removed from the solution since the solution could be evaporated into low temperatures to form a stable solution. The penicillin strength rose to 40 units per mg that were capable of preventing the growth of the bacteria (Brown, 2005). Many researchers thought to have produced a pure substance, but further experiments proved not to be similar to Alexander’s case. In reality, their products only contained a small percentage of penicillin which was unable to stop the bacteria. In fact, many patients reported suffering the mentioned diseases in an extended time of period regardless of the penicillin treatment. Consequently, in-deep research should be conducted with a comparison of other cases to ensure that the medicine is effective.

The significant effects of penicillin have been established to be effectual on various infectious diseases such as pneumonia, blood poisoning, gonorrhea, cerebral meningitis, syphilis and gas gangrene among other diseases. Worth mentioning, even sick individuals who are not favorable infected by the modern sort of bacteria can be treated with penicillin. However, it depends with the remedy imposed to the patient and a sufficient dosage. According to Bentley, (2005), it has been noted the reason why penicillin is not effective to various diseases such as poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, typhoid fever among other infectious diseases. Nonetheless, penicillin isn’t the universe remedy of curing diseases but holds a significant value of treating numerous diseases.
Alexander alongside his co-founder used four years to discover penicillin which is considered a short time to conclude the remedy of curing numerous diseases. However, penicillin has been established to effective in more than 40 years a condition which could have required decades to verify. In fact, there is no doubt at present that Alexander’s discovery of penicillin and its curative properties received the Medicine Nobel Prize.

Several studies have confirmed that pronged usage of antibiotic affects the possibility of organism resistance. Overuse of antibiotics such penicillin hastens the development of methicillin resistance that prevents the effectiveness of the drug. Other factors that contribute to the resistance to penicillin include incorrect diagnosis, improper use of antibiotics by patients and unnecessary prescriptions. According to Brown (2005), bacterial protein plays a vital role in the acquisition of bacterial mutations. For instance, resistance pathogen such as Staphylococcus is one of the major resistant pathogens.

Penicillin resistance establishment was four years after its establishment. Methicillin was then the antibiotic of choice but has since been replaced by oxacillin due to significant kidney toxicity. A new class of antibiotics that include oxazolidinones was available in the 1990s and became commercially available in respect treating the bacteria. Apparently, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most frequently identified antimicrobial drug-resistant pathogen in US hospitals. However, the epidemiology of infectious diseases is changing rapidly. Outbreaks of community-associated contagious diseases are common among athletic teams, correctional facilities, military recruits and in the newborn nurseries. Noteworthy, infections especially CA-S aureus appear to be endemic in many urban regions.

In summary, Sir Alexander Fleming discovery of penicillin highlights one of the most classical discoveries in medicine. During his research, he was always after new substances which could keep a check on the bacteria. Penicillin effectiveness was of great importance as it showed no harm the human blood cells contrast to other micro-organisms which were harmful to the animal cells. Alexander alongside his co-founder discovered penicillin in a short time to conclude the remedy of curing numerous diseases. Studies from numerous researchers confirm that pronged usage of antibiotic affects the possibility of organism resistance (Bentley, 2005). Streptococcus pyogenes infections are treated with the help of different antibiotics though early treatment reduces the risk of death from the streptococcal disease. Conversely, even the best medical care does not prevent death in every case. Some of the penicillin pathogens include penicillin-Resistant Enterococcus, Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus, and Linezolid-Resistant Enterococcus discovered in the late 1990s. Strains of Streptococcus pyogenes resistant to the antibiotics have emerged though not all strains are uniformly sensitive to penicillin.

Reference

• Brown, K. (2005). Penicillin man: Alexander Fleming and the antibiotic revolution. The History Press.
• Bentley, R. (2005). The development of penicillin: genesis of a famous antibiotic. Perspectives in biology and medicine, 48(3), 444-452.