John Forssman

Magnus John Karl August Forssman (22 November 1868 – 12 March 1947) was a Swedish pathologist and bacteriologist born in Kalmar.

[1] He received his education at the University of Lund, where he later served as a professor of general pathology, bacteriology and public health science.

[2] He is known for discovery of the "Forssman antigen",[1] defined as a glycolipid heterophile antigen found on tissue cells of many animal species.

It is not present in human, rat, rabbit, porcine or bovine cells.

His name is also associated with the following two terms: "Forssman antibody" (heterophile antibody) and "Forssman reaction", also referred to as a "Forssman antigen-antibody reaction".