20 Facts About Kiyoshi Shiga

Kiyoshi Shiga was a Japanese physician and bacteriologist.

Kiyoshi Shiga had a well-rounded education and career that led to many scientific discoveries.

In 1897, Shiga was credited with the discovery and identification of the Shigella dysenteriae microorganism which causes dysentery, and the Shiga toxin which is produced by the bacteria.

Kiyoshi Shiga conducted research on other diseases such as tuberculosis and trypanosomiasis, and made many advancements in bacteriology and immunology.

In 1900, Kiyoshi Shiga married Ichiko Shiga and in the following years had eight children.

Kiyoshi Shiga lost his wife in 1944 to stomach cancer, his eldest son to turbulent seas during a voyage, and another son to tuberculosis.

Kiyoshi Shiga attended the Medical School of Tokyo Imperial University in 1896, after his high school studies.

From 1929 to 1931, Kiyoshi Shiga was the president of Keijo Imperial University in Keijo and was senior medical advisor to the Japanese Governor-General of Korea.

Kiyoshi Shiga was a recipient of the Order of Culture in 1944.

Kiyoshi Shiga was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st class, on his death in 1957.

In 1898, Kiyoshi Shiga was able to isolate and identify the microorganism causing the infectious disease by studying patients who had dysentery and following Koch's Postulates.

Kiyoshi Shiga initially called the bacteria Bacillus dysenteriae, but the name was later changed to Shigella dysenteriae as a tribute to Kiyoshi Shiga.

Kiyoshi Shiga tested his first attempt, a heat-killed S dysenteriae strain vaccine, on himself which proved to be ineffective and caused severe complications.

Kiyoshi Shiga continued his efforts and created a passive immunization vaccine that was based on horse serum.

Kiyoshi Shiga had done research on other topics aside from Shigella dysenteriae including tuberculosis, leprosy, and beriberi throughout his career and grew an interest in chemotherapy and immunology.

In 1905, after the discovery of trypan red, Kiyoshi Shiga returned to Japan with an international reputation and continued his work at Kitasato's laboratory.

Kiyoshi Shiga played a role in the development of the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis.

In 1924, Kiyoshi Shiga delivered a strain of tuberculosis called BCG Tokyo 172 strain from Paris, France to Japan.

Kiyoshi Shiga was a supporter of vaccines, but an advocate for public health prevention and awareness.

Kiyoshi Shiga participated in many Chinese writings about the education and prevention of diseases such as tuberculosis.