KOCH'S POSTULATES

KOCH'S POSTULATES - By Shaikha Al Shehhi – 2006M001


Koch's postulates are four criteria for proving the infectious diseases are caused by microorganism isolated from it. The postulates were formulated by Robert Koch.

Koch's postulates are:

1. The microorganism must be found in all organisms suffering from the same disease.
2. The microorganism must be isolated from a diseased organism and grown in pure culture.
3. The cultured microorganism should cause disease when introduced into experimental host.
4. The microorganism must be reisolated from the diseased experimental host and identified s being identical to the original specific causative agent.

Additional postulate was added later –

5. Antibody to the specific antigen of the causative agent must be demonstrated in the sera of the patients suffering from the infection.