Louis Pasteur (, French: [lwi pastoeR]; December 27, 1822 - September 28, 1895) was a French biologist, microbiologist and chemist renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization. He is remembered for his remarkable breakthroughs in the causes and prevention of diseases, and his discoveries have saved many lives ever since. He reduced mortality from puerperal fever, and created the first vaccines for rabies and anthrax. His medical discoveries provided direct support for the germ theory of disease and its application in clinical medicine.
Scientists before Pasteur had studied fermentation. In the 1830s, Charles Cagniard-Latour, Friedrich Traugott Kutzing and Theodor Schwann used microscopes to study yeasts and concluded that yeasts were living organisms. In 1839, Justus von Liebig, Friedrich Wohler and Jons Jacob Berzelius stated that yeast was not an organism and was produced when air acted on plant juice. In 1855, Antoine Bechamp, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Montpellier, conducted experiments with sucrose solutions and concluded that water was the factor for fermentation. He changed his conclusion in 1858, stating that fermentation was directly related to the growth of moulds, which required air for growth. He regarded himself as the first to show the role of microorganisms in fermentation. Pasteur started his experiments in 1857 and published his findings in 1858 (April issue of Comptes Rendus Chimie, Bechamp's paper appeared in January issue). Bechamp noted that Pasteur did not bring any novel idea or experiments. On the other hand, Bechamp was probably aware of Pasteur's 1857 preliminary works. With both scientists claiming priority on the discovery, a dispute, extending to several areas, lasted throughout their lives. However, Bechamp was on the losing side, as the BMJ obituary remarked: His name was "associated with bygone controversies as to priority which it would be unprofitable to recall". Bechamp proposed the incorrect theory of microzymes. According to K. L. Manchester, anti-vivisectionists and proponents of alternative medicine promoted Bechamp and microzymes, unjustifiably claiming that Pasteur plagiarized Bechamp. Pasteur thought that succinic acid inverted sucrose. In 1860, Marcellin Berthelot isolated invertase and showed that succinic acid did not invert sucrose. Pasteur believed that fermentation was only due to living cells. Hans Buchner discovered that zymase catalyzed fermentation, showing that fermentation was catalyzed by enzymes within cells. Eduard Buchner also discovered that fermentation could take place outside living cells.

Q: What is fermentation?
A: fermentation was directly related to the growth of moulds, which required air for growth.

Q: How do Pasteur and fermentation go together?
A: Pasteur believed that fermentation was only due to living cells.

Q: Did he prove his theory?
A: Hans Buchner discovered that zymase catalyzed fermentation, showing that fermentation was catalyzed by enzymes within cells.
Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?
Pasteur started his experiments in 1857 and published his findings in 1858 ( With both scientists claiming priority on the discovery, a dispute, extending to several areas, lasted throughout their lives. Pasteur thought that succinic acid inverted sucrose. In 1860, Marcellin Berthelot isolated invertase and showed that succinic acid did not invert sucrose. Pasteur started his experiments in 1857 and published his findings in 1858 (April issue of Comptes Rendus Chimie, Bechamp's paper appeared in January issue). In the 1830s, Charles Cagniard-Latour, Friedrich Traugott Kutzing and Theodor Schwann used microscopes to study yeasts and concluded that yeasts were living organisms.
In the 1830s, Charles Cagniard-Latour, Friedrich Traugott Kutzing and Theodor Schwann used microscopes to study yeasts and concluded that yeasts were living organisms.