Viktor Nedrigailov

NEDRIGAILOV, Viktor Ivanovich (1865–1923), an eminent Russian bacteriologist. Nedrigailov was one of the founders of the Bacteriological Institute of the Kharkov Medical Society. This institute soon became one of the most powerful producers of sera and vaccines. With the funds generated from these preparations, an exemplary building for the institute was constructed, followed by the creation of the Women's Medical Institute. Nedrigailov's scientific works relate almost exclusively to the field of immunology. He investigated the conditions of susceptibility and resistance of bee moth caterpillars to various pathogenic and saprophytic microbes (Dissertation, Kharkov, 1907; also Kharkovskiy meditsinskiy zhurnal, 1907, no. 9). He proposed a method for diagnosing cholera by

means of the complement fixation test using the stool of suspected patients. Together with his co-workers, Nedrigailov developed a

method for preparing potent diphtheria antitoxin (Russkiy vrach, 1903, no. 18). He presented one of the possible explanations for the occurrence of paralysis following Pasteur vaccinations (ibid.). He also developed a new and now widely used method of intestinal sensitization through vaccination per os (jointly with Linnikova, Vrachebnaya gazeta, 1921). Nedrigailov was an excellent educator and popularizer. His lectures, brochures, and literary works enjoyed great success. During the war, Nedrigailov worked on organizing a network of small laboratories and one large central laboratory (Leningrad). Nedrigailov left more than 60 scientific works.