Spiral shaped bacteria were first associated with the stomach lining in the late 1800s, but scientists were unable to culture these organisms. In the late 1970s, Robin Warren, a pathologist, visualized these bacteria in the stomachs of patients with gastric ulcers. Conventional wisdom at the time, however, dictated that ulcers resulted from stress and/or spicy food consumption. Barry Marshall was capable of culturing these bacteria in the lab. While there was skepticism of a causative nature between the bacterium Helicobacter pylori with gastritis and ulcers, other researchers were capable of verifying this association.
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These observations from multiple sources began to accommodate Koch’s postulates #1 (associated with disease) and #2 (isolated and cultured). To satisfy Koch’s 3rd postulate, introduction of the isolated bacteria to animal models were performed but failed to re-iterate the disease. Not to be deterred by this, Marshall drank a culture of the bacteria himself. Using endoscopy, Marshall was able to show that he had healthy stomach lining prior to ingestion and illustrated the progression of gastritis following consumption of the broth. Koch’s 4th postulate was also satisfied by being able to re-isolate the causative pathogen. After suffering from gastritis, Marshal was capable of recovering through the use of antibiotics. In 2005, Marshall and Warren were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this contribution.
