description Emil von Behring Overview
Emil von Behring was a German physiologist and physician who developed serum therapy, fundamentally establishing the field of passive immunization. He is best known for discovering a diphtheria antitoxin, which significantly reduced childhood mortality from the disease, alongside a tetanus antitoxin. For these contributions to immunology and public health, he was awarded the inaugural Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1901. His work provided the foundation for modern antibody-based treatments.
insights Ranking position
Emil von Behring ranks #14 of 150 in the Physician ranking, behind Ernst Chain, ahead of Georges Köhler.
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How did Emil von Behring's diphtheria serum work?
The treatment transferred antitoxin-containing serum from an immunized animal into a patient. Those ready-made antibodies neutralized diphtheria toxin, providing passive immunity rather than prompting the patient's body to build its own long-term response.
Did Emil von Behring develop serum therapy alone?
Behring worked closely with Japanese physician Shibasaburo Kitasato on the foundational experiments involving diphtheria and tetanus immunity. Paul Ehrlich later helped improve the measurement and standardization of diphtheria antitoxin.
Why did Behring receive the first Nobel Prize in Medicine?
He received the inaugural Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1901 for serum therapy, especially its use against diphtheria. The treatment gave physicians a practical way to reduce deaths from a major childhood infection.
Is diphtheria antitoxin the same as a diphtheria vaccine?
No. Antitoxin supplies antibodies for immediate but temporary protection or treatment, whereas vaccination trains the immune system to produce its own response. Modern diphtheria vaccines use an inactivated form of the toxin called a toxoid.
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