Letter from Richard Willstatter to Michael Heidelberger

Letter from Richard Willstatter to Michael Heidelberger

Contributor(s):
Willstatter, Richard
Heidelberger, Michael
Publication:
Produced: 25 October 1932
Language(s):
German
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Polysaccharides
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Genre(s):
Archival Materials
Letters (correspondence)
Abstract:
In this letter Heidelberger's former mentor, the organic chemist and Nobel Laureate Richard Willstatter, acknowledged initial doubts regarding Heidelberger's and Oswald Avery's findings in 1923 and 1924 that powerful antigens of type-specific pneumococcus bacteria are polysaccharides. Willstatter had instead thought that "adsorbed traces of a highly reactive unknown substance" might determine the bacteria's pathogenicity. Since then, however, he admitted that it had become clearer that Heidelberger's work "created a great new advance in the field and that you have prevailed completely."
Copyright:
This item may be under copyright protection; contact the copyright owner for permission before re-use.
Extent:
1 pages
NLM Unique ID:
101584940X157 (See in Profiles in Science)
Profiles in Science ID:
DHBBKS
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101584940X157
Archival Collection:
The Michael Heidelberger Papers (Profiles in Science)