Discovery of Antibiotics in Soil Microbes

Microbiology & Virology 1943

Discoverers: Selman Waksman, Albert Schatz

Overview

Systematic screening of soil actinomycetes leading to the discovery of streptomycin, the first effective treatment for tuberculosis.

Significance

Demonstrated that soil microorganisms are a rich source of antimicrobial compounds, establishing a paradigm for antibiotic discovery that persists today.

Methodology

Cultivation of thousands of soil actinomycete isolates and screening their culture filtrates against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Impact