Biography

Alfredo Sordelli Anette, Argentine microbiologist (Buenos Aires 28 January 1891 – 15 December 1967)

From Lombardian father

ACHIEVEMENTS

Demonstrated that agar and other carbohydrates can be antigens and stimulate precipitins

Demonstrated existence of a specific lipoid that fixates antibodies on heterogenetic antigen

His preparation and titration methods of bacterial toxins were adopted worldwide 

Established titration methods of anti-diphtheria, anti-dysentery, anti-gangrene, anti-ophidic and other sera  

Elaborated and perfected economic and rapid immunization for obtaining sera of high efficiency  

Developed a technique for obtaining anti-diphtheria serum was later adopted by J. Bordet  and perfected by Ramon  

With A. Manzullo developed a method for diagnose of diphtheria

Imagined a method for isolating psittacosis virus

With Soriano, Ferrari & Torino described Clostridium saprotoxicum 1934 

Discovered  Clostridium sordellii, causative agent of gas gangrene  (1922)

A new method for the preparation of serums on a large scale

Demonstrated that heteroantigen is composed of two parts (lipid and protein), a concept later retrieved by Landsteiner  (1918-25)

With J. Espinel Bavio. Dosage du cholesterol de la bile et des liquides de sondage duodenale. C.R. Soc. Biol. 110:830, 1932

Created a method for measuring minute tensions

With R. Wernicke. Um metodo de medida de pequeñas tensiones. Anal. Asoc. Quim. Arg. 1:8, 1913

With Deulofeu & Wernicke characterized Forssman antigen as a lipidic complex associated to a carrier protein

Naturaleza del antigeno heterogenetico. Rev. Asoc. Med. Arg. 37:570, 1924

Sur la nature de l’antigéne hétérogénétique. C.R. Soc. Biol. Paris 92:898, 1925

Developed methods for the preparation of insulin and other hormones such as estrogens and adrenaline

Precipitation of alcoholic extract with picric acid for preparation of insulin

With V. Deulofeu. Preparation de l’insuline. Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol. 89:743-4, 1923 & Chem. Zentr. 1:1234, 1924

Preparación de insulina (1927)

EPONYMY

Sordelli antitoxin (used against gas gangrene)

Sordelli technique for production of sera and vaccines anti gas gangrene

Sordelli method for preservation of microbial cultures by desiccation in vacuum

Sordelli-Miravent-Negroni culture medium (1926)

Sordelli-Deulofeu technique for preparation of insulin (1923)

Sordelli toxoid preparation technique

Sordelli-Miravent reaction for diagnosis of syphilis (1930)

Sordelli tubes