Professor Zaynab Khabibullovna Karimova — a bright representative of Kazan school of ­microbiologists (on the 110th anniversary)

The article was prepared for the 110th anniversary of the head of the department of microbiology at Kazan State Medical University, Professor Zaynab Khabibullovna Karimova. The article presents the main milestones of her biography, highlights the historical aspects of the formation of Kazan school of microbiologists, which she represented. The article was prepared using primary sources — scientific articles and monographs published during the period of her activity (20–70s of the 20th century), colleagues’ memories, archival materials of the department of microbiology named after V.M. Aristovskiy of Kazan State Medical University, as well as the family archive. The main scientific achievements of Z.H. Karimova and her scientific contribution to the development of microbiology are described, especially the study of spirochetosis. A description of experimental studies on the creation of nutrient media for the isolation of pure culture of Treponema pallidum and the search for diagnostic methods for syphilis is presented. Studies of searching for the etiological factor of jaundice of unknown origin in the Republic of Tatarstan in the 30–40s of the last century, of the detection of sources and factors of transmission of leptospirosis, the development of new methods for the diagnosis of leptospirosis and other aspects of the scientific activity of Z.H. Karimova are described.