Microbe Hunters: Then and Now

From the beginning of recorded time until the last fifty years, many diseases whose cause proved to be viral continuously produced suffering in the form of acute and chronic diseases and death. By the onset of the late 1950s and into the early 1960s, a biomedical and economic revolution occurred during which many of these epidemics came under control through the administration of vaccines.

Microbe Huntersthen and now provides an overview of discoveries in animal and plant viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other issues, including prion diseases and mucosal immunity. Moreover, it points to the direction of further research, as exemplified by Kilbourne's comments: "The somewhat untidy packages of RNA that we call influenza viruses may have been hunted down, but they dissemble even as we study them. Today's hunters find that the chase is still on as they pursue the protean proteins of an ephemeral quarry," and by Weller's view: "It is clear that the age of discovery of new viruses of pediatric importance persists as it did half a century ago. What is different is the vast spectrum of molecular tools available to the modern microbe hunter."

Hilary Koprowski, M.D., conducts research in the fields of virology, immunology, cancer and chronic disease of the central nervous system. His achievements encompass the development of an oral polio vaccine, rabies vaccine for man and animals, and monoclonal antibodies for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Currently, Dr. Koprowski is Professor of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Director of the Center for Neurovirology and Director of the Biotechnology Foundation Laboratory at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Michael B.A. Oldstone, M.D., is a leader in the field of viral pathogenesis. Currently, Dr. Oldstone is a member (professor) at the Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California. He is Head of the Division of Virology in the Department of Neuropharmacology and directs a research laboratory studying viral pathogenesis. He is currently a Scientific Counselor for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, a member of the World Health Organization Scientific Advisory Group of Experts (for infectious diseases), and Editor of Virology.