Giuseppe Brotzu (Cagliari, 24 January 1895 – Cagliari, 8 April 1976)[1][2] was an Italian pharmacologist and politician.
Giuseppe Brotzu | |
---|---|
Born | Ghilarza, Italy | 24 January 1895
Died | 8 April 1976 Cagliari, Italy | (aged 81)
Citizenship | Italian |
Alma mater | |
Known for | Discovery of cephalosporin C |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Hygiene, epidemiology |
Doctoral advisor | Donato Ottolenghi[1] |
Biography
editGiuseppe Brotzu was born in Ghilarza, a town of the Province of Oristano, Sardinia. He graduated from the University of Cagliari, Sardinia in (1919) and later completed the specialization in Hygiene at University of Siena in 1922. He graduated in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Bologna in 1925.
He became a professor at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in 1932, and between 1939 and 1943 he was the director of University of Cagliari.
Scientific research
editBrotzu is recognized as the discoverer of the cephalosporin-based antibiotics, that were first isolated from cultures of Cephalosporium (now known as Acremonium) in 1948.[3] He noticed that these cultures produced substances that were effective against Salmonella typhi, the cause of typhoid fever,[1] which had beta-lactamase. He was awarded the Laurea ad honorem at the University of Oxford in 1971, and was a candidate also for the Nobel Prize.
Political career
editGiuseppe Brotzu was elected President of Sardinia in 1955, and Mayor of Cagliari in 1960.
Bibliography
edit- G. Bo, «BROTZU, Giuseppe». In: Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, Vol. XXXIV, Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, 1987 (on-line)
- Roberto Paracchini (2002). Il signore delle Cefalosporine (Demos). ISBN 88-8467-082-9.
- Bo G (Jan-Feb 1999). Un ricordo del prof. Giuseppe Brotzu. Ann Ig 11 (1): 3-9. PMID 10208039.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Bo G (2000). "Giuseppe Brotzu and the discovery of cephalosporins". Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 6 (Supplement 3): 6–8. doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.2000.tb02032.x. PMID 11449655.
- ^ "BROTZU, Giuseppe". Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana fondata da Giovanni Treccani S.p.A. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ Tilli Tansey; Lois Reynolds, eds. (2000). Post Penicillin Antibiotics: From acceptance to resistance?. Wellcome Witnesses to Contemporary Medicine. History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group. ISBN 978-1-84129-012-6. OL 12568269M. Wikidata Q29581637.