David Taylor-Robinson: Medical Microbiologist and Research Pioneer of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Abstract

David Taylor-Robinson has been an inspiration to many investigators in the field of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as, arguably, the father of modern mycoplasmology. Born in 1931, his career as a physician-scientist was initially in virology, researching chickenpox and the common cold, for both of which he made key discoveries at a time when little was known about these conditions. Soon, however, David's attention turned to bacteriology, developing a passionate interest in mycoplasmas and chlamydia. This gave rise to research collaborations all around the world in marginalized and regional communities, stretching from Tristan da Cunha and Antarctica to the South Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa. He was the discoverer of Mycoplasma genitalium, which today is a commonly diagnosed and increasingly antibiotic-resistant pathogen of the genitourinary tract and a significant cause of female infertility. His problem-solving mindset led to research on associations between mycoplasmas with rheumatological conditions and chlamydia with coronary artery plaque formation late into his working life. Throughout his distinguished career, David Taylor-Robinson, affectionately truncated to "DTR" to all who knew him professionally, has been a beloved mentor to hundreds of aspiring scientists, some of whom are now leaders in their field. His open-door policy meant that there was rarely a time when there was no visiting researcher from each of the six inhabited continents under his expert tutelage. A strong work ethic and drive for scientific excellence, allied to his unstinting kindness and jovial demeanor, has provided a source of inspiration to a wide diaspora of research colleagues over more than six decades. This is as much David's legacy to medical science as the undoubted public health impact of his own pioneering research on STIs.

Keywords: genitourinary infection; gonorrhea and chlamydia; historical vignette; medical microbiology; mycoplasma genitalium; mycoplasmology; non-gonococcal urethritis; passionate teacher and mentor; sexually transmitted infection (sti); ureaplasma urealyticum.

Figure 1. David Taylor-Robinson at the laboratory bench at the MRC Common Cold Research Unit in Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK, in January 1966.

PA Images/Alamy, published with permission.

Figure 2. David Taylor-Robinson preparing to speak at the Second International Conference on AIDS held in Paris, France, in June 1986.

D. Taylor-Robinson, published with permission.

Figure 3. Electron micrograph of Mycoplasma genitalium (bar: 200 nm), showing a classic flask-like appearance.

Reproduced from [8]: UK Government Crown copyright 2020, published with permission.