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.
Who received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1939? Prontosil is in what drug class? Who is responsible for creating Prontosil? What causes Streptococci? Many deaths occurred before World War II due to what? What was the name of the first sulfonamine antibiotic? What award did Domagk receive in 1939? Anti-infective drugs became more prominent after what war? Were sulfonamides more or less toxic than arsphenamine? Streptococci and other pathogens could be treated by what type of antibiotics?