Ehrlich, Hata and Domagk

Question 1

Significance of magic bullets

Answer 1

• Hata discovered Salvarsan 606, a dye based medicine that killed syphilis - tested by Ehrlich and successful.
• Domagk discovered sulphonamides like Prontosil that cured blood poisoning - tried in daughter and worked.
• Led to hunt of more effective antibiotic medicines.

Question 2

Insignificance of magic bullets

Answer 2

• Had limitations (e.g. Salvarsan 606 hard to administer; sulphonamides ineffective against strong diseases)
• Had adverse effects on patients (e.g. sulphonamides cause liver damage; Salvarsan 606 had side effects).

Question 3

Time of magic bullet’s impact

Answer 3

Salvarsan 606 - 1909 and Domagk - 1932-35; or early 1900s.

Question 4

Doings of Ehrlic, Hata and Domagk

Answer 4

• Ehrlic became part of Koch’s research team, studied diphtheria and wanted to find a chemical that helped antibodies attack specific germs.
• Hata tested several magic bullets mixtures, saw the 6th chemical of the 6th group killed syphilis and it was tested by Ehrlich.
• Domagk was inspired by Ehrlich and found a solution for blood poisoning - a sulphonamide called Protosil.