Robert Koch

Heinrich Hermann Robert Koch (German: [ˈʁoːbɛʁt kɔx]; December 11, 1843 – May 27, 1910) was a German physician and microbiologist, known as the "Father of Microbiology" along with Louis Pasteur and Ferdinand Cohen. Koch discovered Bacillus anthracis in 1876 and established the germ theory of disease, which laid the scientific foundation for the birth of bacteriology and the popularization of public health, and indirectly saved thousands of lives. In addition, Koch also discovered the phenomenon of acquired immunity, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Vibrio cholerae; invented solid culture media, and pioneered techniques such as hanging drop specimen examination, microphotography, and bacterial staining. Based on his studies in bacteriology, he derived Koch's law, which was of great significance to pathology and influenced epidemiological laws such as the Bradford-Hill criterion.