Virus interference. I. The interferon

Isaacs, Alick (1921-1967) & Lindemann, Jean (1924- ). Virus interference. I. The interferon. In: Proc. Roy. Soc., series B, 147 (1957): 258-67. Whole number, 8vo. 145-273pp. 3 plates, fold. table. 254 x 172 mm. Original printed wrappers. Fine copy. First Edition. Garrison-Morton 2578.22. Isaacs and Lindemann discovered interferon in 1956 while investigating the influenza virus: they found that chick embryos injected with the virus produce minute amounts of a protein that destroys the invading virus and increases resistance to other viral infections. Interferon was at first hailed as a major breakthrough in the treatment of viral infections, but the difficulty and expense of its production at the time discouraged further research until the late 1960s, when interferon's value as a weapon against cancer and certain viral diseases was discovered, and ways were found to manufacture it more economically. Porter, Biographical Dictionary of Scientists, pp. 362-63. .