In the wake of the celebration events that mark the 115 years of the first issue of Memórias, we sought to view in retrospect what happened to the subject matters presented in eight articles published in the April 1909 issue and invited expert researchers in to present an update view on those “contributions to tropical medicine knowledge”.

The articles of the first issue described some aspects and technical challenges on tuberculosis, diphtheria, plague, malaria parasites, amoeba, and haematophagous insects such as anopheline vectors and horseflies. The discovery of the malaria causative agents (1880), serum therapy against diphtheria (1893) and plague (1895) and anopheline mosquitoes as the vectors of human malaria (1898) were still fresh and scientific production on these pulsating topics was growing in geometric proportions in international literature. Interestingly, these themes were among the most relevant public health problems and the most throbbing subjects in the so called tropical medicine in the first decade of 20th century in Brazil and worldwide. Not surprisingly, at the closing of the first quarter of 21st century tuberculosis, malaria, amoebiasis and vector control are still demanding responses from both researchers and public health officials in developing countries.

This article series about the first issue of Memórias is not only a “looking back” to 20th century challenges in tropical medicine but an opportunity to reflect on what lessons have we learnt and the mistakes we should not repeat 115 years later.