A Short History of the Discovery of Viruses
Charles Chamberland (1851 - 1908)
was a French microbiologist who
worked with Louis Pasteur. In 1884 he
developed a type of filtration known
today as the Chamberland filter or
Chamberland-Pasteur filter, a device
that consisted of unglazed porcelain
“candles”, with pore sizes of 0.1 - 1
micron. This filter could be used to
completely remove all bacteria or
other cells known at the time from a
liquid suspension. This invention
essentially enabled the establishment
of a whole new science - virology.
Not only was it useful for sterilising
techniques in the laboratory, it also
filtered and purified water for drinking.
Pasteur later modified the filter, which
is why the design carries his name
too.
