History of the Institute

History of the Institute Mechnikov Institute of Microbiology and Immunology AMS of Ukraine is one of the oldest scientific Institutes in the world of the antiepidemiological profile. The decision about foundation of the Institute and its task was stated for the first time in the Resolution of the open meeting of Kharkov Medical Society from 24 May 1886. The Institute began to function from 20 April 1887 as scientifically-practical institution of Kharkov Medical Society on the personal facilities of the donations from the people, members of medical society and banknotes of Gubernsky Zemsky Assemblies. The formation of the Institute passed in the fight with epidemic of the awesome infectious diseases. Near the source of the development of the microbiology, epydemiology, immunology of our country stood the known scientists V.K. Vysokovich, S.I. Zlatogorov, V.I. Nedrygaylov. S.V. Shulika, S.M. Kocevalov, Full Members of the Academy of Sciences M.M.Tsechnovitser, M.N. Solovjov, V.M. Zdanov, Corresponding Member of AMS SRSR В.С. Derkach and others were at the head of the Institute at different years and worked in it. During exceeding epidemic condition there were the practical researches with development of the measures of the fight with cholera, dysentery, spotted and typhoid fevers, on warning and treatment particularly dangerous infection in the Institute. There were created complexes of the social and medical measures, which were directed on the reduction of the level of diseases of tuberculosis. Since 1921 there were conducted studies with tuberculosis, was organized the production of tuberculine, for the first time in country was put right the output of the vaccine “ БЦЖ” for immunization of the children that initiated the systematic and purposeful carrying out of the inoculations against tuberculosis. Since the day of the foundation of the Institute there were studied diphtherial and scarlatinous infections, since 1925 were intensified the studies in the field of аnаerobs infections - tetanus, gas gangrene. In prewar period was started the production of the 12 types of the medicinal serum and the 10 types of the vaccines. Since 1943 till 1941 years The Mechnikov All-Ukrainian Institute of Bacteriology, Epidemiology and Serotherapy, so it was called at that time, concentrated the efforts on the work in the Donbas, on the working out of the vaccines for active immunization against typhoid fever, scarlet fevers; on the study of bacteriofagy, chemistry of bacterial antigen, on the creation of the complex vaccines. In that period was enlarged the amount of the production - before 1940 the amount of the names of vaccine-serum preparations reached 37. At the first postwar years the new perspective direction was developed of the activity of the Institute - a development of antimicrobial medicinal and preventive facilities, was received antibiotic sanazin and antitumour preparation neocid. There were created, studied and introduced in practice antimicrobal preparations: ectericid, chlorophilipt, decamethoxin, a diagnostic preparation lecitovitellen. There was created a new preparation, which had no analogue in the world, anathoxin of the bluefestering stick for treatment sick men, was offered and successfully used gipermunn antibluefestering antitoxic plasma. The new scientific developments are actively inculcated in medical practice and they give significant social and economic effect. There is enlarged the work on clinical microbiology in the Institute and developed the methods and facilities of the fight against inside hospital infections and sepsis. At the last years the scientists are received 15 patents for inventions; the preparations are decorated with medals, noted by diplomas, and honoured with deeds. There were published 4 volumes of annals, works and collections dedicated to the questions of the epidemiology and specific preventive measures of the infectious diseases, 5 monographs, more than 11 methodical and information sheets, prospectuses. Today, the scientists of the Institute work on creation of the new original antimicrobial preparations on the base of the chemically modifying biopolymers and different heterocyclic combinations. There were got new biologically active substances, which presented antimicrobial, antifungal, antivirus action and etc.