Jump to content

Anthony Epstein

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected fromMichael A. Epstein)
This article is about the scientist. For the American judge, seeAnthony C. Epstein.

Sir
Anthony Epstein
CBEFRSFMedSci
Born
Michael Anthony Epstein

(1921-05-18)18 May 1921
London, England
Died6 February 2024(2024-02-06)(aged 102)
London, England
EducationSt Paul's School, London
Alma mater
Known forEpstein–Barr virus
Spouse
Lisbeth Knight
​
​
(m.1950;sep.1965)​
Children3
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsVirology
Institutions
Doctoral studentsYvonne Barr

Sir Michael Anthony EpsteinCBEFRSFMedSci(18 May 1921 – 6 February 2024) was a Britishpathologistand academic. He was one of the discoverers of theEpstein–Barr virus,along withYvonne BarrandBert Achong.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

Early life[edit]

Epstein was born in London on 18 May 1921,[9][10][11]and educated atSt Paul's School, London;[12]Trinity College, Cambridge;andMiddlesex Hospital Medical School.

Career[edit]

Epstein was Professor ofPathology(1968–1985) and head of department (1968–1982)[13]at theUniversity of Bristol.[14]He was afellowofWolfson College, Oxford,from 1986 until 2001, and was an honorary fellow from 2001 until his death.[15]

In 1979 he was elected aFellow of the Royal Society(FRS) and was its vice-president from 1986 to 1991.[9]He was awarded itsRoyal Medalin 1992.[16]Epstein was appointedCommander of the Order of the British Empire(CBE) in the1985 Birthday Honours,[17][18]andknightedin the1991 New Year Honours.[9][19]Epstein was also a founding Fellow of theAcademy of Medical Sciencesin 1998.[20]In 2006, Epstein was awarded aDoctor of Science(DSc) degree by Bristol.[21][22]

Burkitt lymphoma studies[edit]

Epstein was the first person to propose thatBurkitt's lymphomawas a cancer caused by a virus. Upon hearing a lecture given by surgeonDenis Parsons Burkittin 1961 about this newly described cancer, Epstein changed his research focus from cancer-causing viruses in chickens to searching for a viral origin of Burkitt's lymphoma.[23]After more than two years of working with tumour cells from Burkitt's patients and subsequently working to isolate a virus from them, the Epstein–Barr virus was finally discovered in February 1964.[24]

In a tribute to Epstein in his 100th year, the European Association for Haematopathology noted that his "perseverance, rigorous scientific observations and a bit of serendipity" resulted in the first cell culture in suspension from human lymphocytes. In 1963, a flight from Uganda was supposed to deliver fresh tumour samples into a foggy London. The flight was diverted to Manchester causing a delay in delivery. When the samples finally arrived into London, they seemed useless, containing a cloudy fluid. However, under the microscope the cloudiness was not due to bacteria, as originally thought, but to huge numbers of viable, free-floating lymphoma cells. Thus, the first cell culture of Burkitt lymphoma was achieved, designated EB cells. In 1964, using electron microscopy, Anthony Epstein and his research assistantBert Achongdiscovered viral particles in EB cells, resulting in the seminal paper published in 1964, "Virus particles in cultured lymphoblasts from Burkitt's lymphoma" by Epstein, Achong and Barr. This was the first demonstration of viral particles in a human tumour.[25]

Personal life and death[edit]

In 1950, Epstein married Lisbeth Knight. Together they had three children: a daughter and two sons. They separated in 1965. In later life, his long-term partner was the virologist Kate Ward.[26]

Epsteinturned 100in May 2021. He died on 6 February 2024 at his home in London, at the age of 102.[27][28]

He was a Patron ofHumanists UK.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^Bornkamm, G. W.; Delius, H.; Zimber, U.; Hudewentz, J.; Epstein, M. A. (1980)."Comparison of Epstein–Barr virus strains of different origin by analysis of the viral DNAs".Journal of Virology.35(3): 603–618.doi:10.1128/JVI.35.3.603-618.1980.PMC288854.PMID6252328.
  2. ^North, J. R.; Morgan, A. J.; Thompson, J. L.; Epstein, M. A. (1982)."Purified Epstein-Barr virus Mr 340,000 glycoprotein induces potent virus-neutralizing antibodies when incorporated in liposomes".Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.79(23): 7504–7508.Bibcode:1982PNAS...79.7504N.doi:10.1073/pnas.79.23.7504.PMC347368.PMID6296836.
  3. ^Gaston, J. S.; Rickinson, A. B.; Yao, Q. Y.; Epstein, M. A. (1986)."The abnormal cytotoxic T cell response to Epstein–Barr virus in rheumatoid arthritis was correlated with disease activity and occurs in other arthropathies".Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.45(11): 932–936.doi:10.1136/ard.45.11.932.PMC1002022.PMID2878645.
  4. ^Epstein, M. A.; Morgan, A. J. (1983)."Clinical consequences of Epstein–Barr virus infection and possible control by an anti-viral vaccine".Clinical and Experimental Immunology.53(2): 257–271.PMC1535689.PMID6309441.
  5. ^Rickinson, A. B.; Finerty, S.; Epstein, M. A. (1982)."Interaction of Epstein–Barr virus with leukaemic B cells in vitro. I. Abortive infection and rare cell line establishment from chronic lymphocytic leukaemic cells".Clinical and Experimental Immunology.50(2): 347–354.PMC1536694.PMID6295671.
  6. ^Rickinson, A. B.; Crawford, D.; Epstein, M. A. (1977)."Inhibition of the in vitro outgrowth of Epstein–Barr virus-transformed lymphocytes by thymus-dependent lymphocytes from infectious mononucleosis patients".Clinical and Experimental Immunology.28(1): 72–79.PMC1540876.PMID193663.
  7. ^Yao, Q. Y.; Rickinson, A. B.; Gaston, J. S.; Epstein, M. A. (1986)."Disturbance of the Epstein-Barr virus-host balance in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A quantitative study".Clinical and Experimental Immunology.64(2): 302–310.PMC1542331.PMID3017620.
  8. ^Epstein, M. A.; Randle, B. J.; Finerty, S.; Kirkwood, J. K. (1986)."Not all potently neutralizing, vaccine-induced antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus ensure protection of susceptible experimental animals".Clinical and Experimental Immunology.63(3): 485–490.PMC1577551.PMID3011324.
  9. ^abc"Anthony Epstein".Royal Society.Archivedfrom the original on 17 November 2015.Retrieved25 October2021.
  10. ^ab"Professor Sir Anthony Epstein CBE FRS".Humanists UK.Archivedfrom the original on 25 October 2021.Retrieved25 October2021.
  11. ^"Sir Anthony Epstein".Wolfson College, Oxford.Archivedfrom the original on 13 October 2020.Retrieved25 October2021.
  12. ^London, Medical Society of (2000).Transactions of the Medical Society of London.Harrison and Sons. p. 66.
  13. ^Who's Who: Epstein, Sir (Michael) AnthonyArchived25 October 2021 at theWayback Machine.
  14. ^"Sir Michael Anthony Epstein".Oxford Reference.
  15. ^"Obituary: Sir Anthony Epstein 1921-2024".Wolfson College.University of Oxford. 12 February 2024.Retrieved19 February2024.
  16. ^"Royal Medal – Award winners".Royal Society.Archivedfrom the original on 22 December 2015.Retrieved25 October2021– via Google Drive.
  17. ^The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History (2011), p. 258[permanent dead link].
  18. ^United Kingdom list:"No. 50154".The London Gazette(Supplement). 14 June 1985. p. 8.
  19. ^United Kingdom list:"No. 52382".The London Gazette(Supplement). 28 December 1990. p. 1.
  20. ^"Epstein, Anthony".Academy of Europe.Archivedfrom the original on 7 November 2017.Retrieved25 October2021.
  21. ^EBV Association: Sir Antony EpsteinArchived25 October 2021 at theWayback Machine.
  22. ^"The 100th birthday of Prof. Sir Anthony Epstein".EAHP.11 May 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 31 October 2021.Retrieved31 October2021.
  23. ^McGrath, Paula (6 April 2014)."Cancer virus discovery helped by delayed flight".BBC News, Health.Archivedfrom the original on 8 October 2015.Retrieved4 November2015.
  24. ^Epstein, A. (2012). "Burkitt Lymphoma and the discovery of Epstein–Barr virus".British Journal of Haematology.156(6): 777–779.doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2011.09008.x.PMID22233499.S2CID27417152.
  25. ^"Anthony Epstein 100th Anniversary."https:// european-association-for-haematopathology.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Anthony-Epstein-100th-anniversary.pdfArchived17 May 2022 at theWayback Machine
  26. ^"Sir Anthony Epstein, pathologist who discovered the first virus known to cause cancer – obituary".The Telegraph.11 February 2024.Retrieved19 February2024.
  27. ^"Professor Sir Anthony Epstein".The Times.10 February 2024.Archivedfrom the original on 10 February 2024.Retrieved10 February2024.
  28. ^Murphy, Brian(15 February 2024)."Anthony Epstein, pathologist behind Epstein-Barr virus find, dies at 102".The Washington Post.Retrieved16 February2024.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anthony_Epstein&oldid=1233307607"