Ehrlich’s approach of systematically varying the chemical structure of synthetic compounds and measuring the effects of these changes on biological activity was pursued broadly by industrial scientists, including Bayer scientists Josef Klarer, Fritz Mietzsch, and Gerhard Domagk. This work, also based in the testing of compounds available from the German dye industry, led to the development of Prontosil, the first representative of the sulfonamide class of antibiotics. Compared to arsphenamine, the sulfonamides had a broader spectrum of activity and were far less toxic, rendering them useful for infections caused by pathogens such as streptococci. In 1939, Domagk received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for this discovery. Nonetheless, the dramatic decrease in deaths from infectious diseases that occurred prior to World War II was primarily the result of improved public health measures such as clean water and less crowded housing, and the impact of anti-infective drugs and vaccines was significant mainly after World War II. COUNT 10
QSN1 Who received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1939? ANS1 Gerhard Domagk QSN2 Prontosil is in what drug class? ANS2 antibiotics QSN3 Who is responsible for creating Prontosil? ANS3 Josef Klarer, Fritz Mietzsch, and Gerhard Domagk QSN4 What causes Streptococci? ANS4 pathogens QSN5 Many deaths occurred before World War II due to what? ANS5 infectious diseases QSN6 What was the name of the first sulfonamine antibiotic? ANS6 Prontosil QSN7 What award did Domagk receive in 1939? ANS7 Nobel Prize in Medicine QSN8 Anti-infective drugs became more prominent after what war? ANS8 World War II QSN9 Were sulfonamides more or less toxic than arsphenamine? ANS9 less QSN10 Streptococci and other pathogens could be treated by what type of antibiotics? ANS10 sulfonamides