Discovery The Shigella genus is named after Japanese physician Kiyoshi Shiga, who researched the cause of dysentery. Shiga entered the Tokyo Imperial University School of Medicine in 1892, during which he attended a lecture by Shibasaburo Kitasato. Shiga was impressed by Kitasato's intellect and confidence, so after graduating, he went to work for him as a research assistant at the Institute for Infectious Diseases. In 1897, Shiga focused his efforts on what the Japanese referred to as a sekiri (dysentery) outbreak. Such epidemics were detrimental to the Japanese people and occurred often in the late 19th century. The 1897 sekiri epidemic affected >91,000, with a mortality rate of >20%. Shiga studied 32 dysentery patients and used Koch's postulates to successfully isolate and identify the bacterium causing the disease. He continued to study and characterize the bacterium, identified its methods of (Shiga-) toxin production, and worked to create a vaccine for the disease.
DIsCOveRy The ShIgella geNus is Named AftEr JapaneSe phYsiCiaN KIyOshI SHIga, wHO reSeArcHeD the CausE of dySentERy. ShIga enTeRed THe tokyo imperial uniVersiTy SchooL Of MEdICiNe in 1892, dURing which he attEnDed a LecTure By SHibasabUro kiTasaTo. ShigA was IMpreSsed by kITasato's IntELlect And confiDence, so aFTEr graDuaTing, he Went to work for him as A rEseaRch ASsistanT At tHe institUte for INFectioUS dIseasEs. in 1897, shIga focused his EffortS on wHat tHe japaneSe rEfERReD to AS a sekiRi (DYseNtery) outBreaK. Such epiDEMIcS wERe deTriMEntaL To THe jApaNesE peOple aND ocCUrred often in the late 19th cENTuRy. tHe 1897 sEKIRI EpiDeMic AffecTed >91,000, wItH a moRtalitY raTe Of >20%. sHiga sTudiED 32 dysEntery PAtients AnD USeD kOcH's poStUlates tO SUccessfuLLy isolate ANd IdEntify the baCtErIum cAUsing tHe DiseAse. HE ConTinuED to study aND chaRactEriZe the bacTeRium, identifIed its MEthodS of (shiGa-) tOxin pROduCTIon, and woRkED To creATE a vAcCine fOR the dISeASE.