Innovators, deep fermentation and antibiotics: promoting applied science before and after the Second World War

Area of Science:

• Microbiology and Industrial Biotechnology
• History of Science and Technology

Background:

• Historiography of penicillin often neglects the critical role of fermentation technology know-how.
• Pre-war networks in the US and Europe focused on organic acid production, laying groundwork for penicillin development.

Observation:

• Konrad Bernhauer, a German-Czech scientist, was central to a network involved in organic acid fermentation.
• US Department of Agriculture chemists identified penicillin's production potential within this network.
• Pfizer Corporation, integrating key scientists, became a significant center for penicillin development and production.

Findings:

• Konrad Bernhauer's wartime SS affiliation and subsequent lack of commemoration impacted historical recognition.
• Post-war fermentation process dissemination by pioneers like Jackson Foster and Ernst Chain was overshadowed by commercial contexts.
• The historical significance of know-how development in penicillin's history has been submerged due to commercial factors and Bernhauer's Nazi associations.

Implications:

• Re-evaluating penicillin's history requires acknowledging the contributions of fermentation technology and the individuals involved.
• Understanding the interplay between scientific innovation, commercialization, and political contexts is crucial for accurate historical narratives.
• Future research should explore the broader impact of industrial networks and the challenges of recognizing contributions obscured by controversial associations or commercial secrecy.