Rudolf Weigel, scientist who saved lives while researching the Titus vaccine | Community

Polish scientist Rudolf Weigel specializes in heroes who dedicated themselves to saving and saving the lives of thousands of people during the Nazi occupation. Microbiology And Parasite. He knew how to use his knowledge to employ the intellectuals and Jews persecuted by the Gestapo, and the respect he had gained under the dictatorial regime to use it. In this way he protected them from arrest and saved their lives because no one wanted to come in contact with those they thought were vulnerable to participate in the trials, vaccinating them with viruses.

Critical but tolerant, Rudolf Weigel was gifted with extraordinary imagination and experimental ability. Scientists from other countries were always pleased with his wonderful ideas when they met him. However, despite this investigation being clear, he was no ordinary scientist because some of his aides considered him a bad teacher. Although you can learn a lot from him, Weigel did not teach others. He did not train his assistants or oversee their investigations; But those who took the initiative in the trial were successful.

His greatest achievement was the discovery of a vaccine against typhoid fever, which caused many deaths at the beginning of the last century. However, the process was lengthy because Weigel was very cautious because he was not a medical doctor, so he considered the need for long initial laboratory tests before humans could begin immunization.

The Polish scientist belongs to the category of researchers who want to work in laboratories to publish their research and findings. 90% of his works were published or reported only orally, including his experimental research with arthropods, and Rudolf Weigel’s documentation was so confusing that, according to those who knew him, his notes were incomprehensible.

His work was recognized by two recommendations Nobel Prize, From a small lice study, to saving the lives of more than 5,000 people, his discoveries and his legacy stand beyond the invention of the typhus vaccine today.

Rudolf Stephen Weigel was born on this day, September 2, 138 years ago, in 1883, in the Austro-Hungarian city of Frasero (now Czech Republic). His father’s second marriage to a Polish teacher without a father from his childhood allowed him to grow up in Poland and learned to love his adopted country with his language, culture and customs.

In 1907 he graduated in natural sciences from the University of Louvre, where he became an assistant to the famous scientist and professor Nusbam-Hilorovich. He graduated in zoology, comparative anatomy and histology in 1913, and his early work on cell structure and transplant surgery brought him great acclaim during his time.

His mastery of histological technique and his interest in cytology influenced Weigel’s entire scientific career and inspired his research. In 1914 he was commissioned as a parasite expert in the Polish army, while millions of people in Eastern Europe were affected Typhoid, Weigel insisted on stopping its spread and dedicated his life to it.

During World War I, Rudolph Weigel discovered the world’s first effective vaccine against spot fever. He continued his research to find a vaccine at the General Biological Institute at the University of Typhoid and Louvre, later called the Weigel Institute. He was the director of the company during the Soviet occupation and after the German invasion of the city. Despite refusing to sign the Nazi decrees he always retained his position and was not removed from his post because the vaccine produced by the company was used most effectively for the needs of the German army.

For this reason, Weigl realized that being a worker at the company was the best chance of survival for those at risk. Identifying any employee is a surefire way to protect against Gestapo’s arbitrary arrests, avoiding contact with persons at risk for typhus. For this reason, the professor began to employ those at risk in the company, mainly members of the underground movement, intellectuals and Jews. Feeders Lice for your experiments.

During the vaccine development process, Weigel discovered a system that allows bacteria to grow. Rickettsia Provaseki Responsible for Typhoid- In the gut of lice, a new method takes into account that at that time this type of research was carried out only on animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits. This method involves vaccinating the bacteria in the insect’s seat using a needle smaller than a microscope.

Because these insects reproduce so easily and quickly, Rudolf Weigel developed a lice farm. In a closed enclosure, the researcher fed the insects with human blood to test his vaccine for the growth of bacteria in the fungus.

Since the Nazis had already sent Jews to concentration camps, Weil was able to capture thousands of Jews Feeders From your lice farm. The function of these Feeders It involves sitting for an hour and placing a belt containing several lice cages around the thighs to snatch them up. That is, the insects were allowed to eat their blood. The cages are designed so that the insects can stick to the head without escaping, and there is no direct risk of infection due to the spread of bacteria through the lice feces that are scattered when bitten.

Today, it is estimated that Weil saved about 5,000 people from Louisville education circles, Jews and the underground movement. Once the vaccine was manufactured at the company, it reached civilians, residents, city ghettos and Warsaw, as well as concentration camps and Gestapo prisons through underground connections.

After the war, Professor Rudolph Weigel settled in Krakow, where he continued his scientific research at the University of Zagelion, where he was appointed president, and then – until his retirement in 1995 – served as dean at the University of Bosna. He was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize, first in 1942, but his appointment was blocked by the Germans in retaliation for his refusal to comply with German rules. The second recommendation was in 1948, but Communist officials blocked its award. For many years, Professor Weigel was falsely accused by his colleagues of collaborating with the Germans.

Rudolf Weigel died on August 11, 1957, at the age of 73 in the Polish mountain town of Jakoban. Half a century after his death, many recognized Weigel’s research, work and service not only for science but also for humanity. For that reason, in 2003 he was awarded the title of Justice among the nations of the world. This recognition was given by Israel and commemorated their mission to save countless Jewish lives during World War II.