MILESTONES IN THE HISTORY OF THE MENINGOCOCCUS

Abstract

This paper cites the most significant findings in the development of present day knowledge of the meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis). It is pointed out that advances have occurred stepwise, each step involving approximately a decade. These decades are discussed in turn: the period of classification, the development of serum therapy, epidemiology and biology, chemotherapy and resistance, and finally transduction and genetic recombination. Future trends in research on the meningococcus are pointed out.