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Jonas E. Salk—Discoverer of a Vaccine Against Poliomyelitis
Stamp Vignette on Medical Science
Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he began research on poliomyelitis and classified the various strains of poliovirus. In 1949, future Nobel laureate microbiologist John F. Enders (1897-1985) and his colleagues at Harvard University cultured poliovirus in embryonic tissue. This process allowed the poliovirus to be produced in quantity for more intensive study. Thus, Salk and his group at the University of Pittsburgh were able to begin preparing an inactivated poliovirus that could serve as an immunologic agent against the disease . Salk grew the poliovirus in kidney tissue from monkeys and killed the virus with formaldehyde. He proved that the vaccine, although incapable of producing the disease, could induce antibody formation in monkeys. By 1952, Salk and his group had prepared and successfully tested such a vaccine. The following year, they reported the results of vaccinations in more than 100 adults and children, and in 1954, Francis successfully conducted massive field trials. In 1957, Salk was named professor of experimental medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1963, he became director of the Institute of Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, which was subsequently renamed the Salk Institute. In later years, he initiated research aimed at developing a vaccine against multiple sclerosis and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although the Salk polio vaccine was superseded in the United States by the oral livevirus vaccine developed by American virologist Albert B. Sabin (1906-1993), the Salk vaccine was still used in many countries of the world for a number of years. Salk died at La Jolla on Jun. 23, 1995, at the age of 80 years. He has been honored on stamps issued by several countries: Cape Verde Islands in 1990, Dominica in 1997, Guyana in 1993, Liberia in 1973, Tanzania in 1996, and Transkei (South Africa) in 1991. The stamp issued by Liberia shows Dr. Salk's autograph and is one of a set of six stamps issued on the 25th anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations. The other stamps in the set show Sigmund Freud (18561939), Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) , Emil von Behring (18541917), Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) , and Edward Jenner (1749-1823).
Jonas E. Salk-Discoverer of a Vaccine Against Poliomyelitis Marc A. Shampo, Ph.D., and Robert A. Kyle, M.D.
J
onas Edward Salk is credited with creating the first effective vaccine against poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis). Epidemics of poliomyelitis had intensified, and in 1952, about 58,000 cases and more than 3,000 deaths were reported in the United States alone. After the vaccine was released for use in the United States on Apr. 12, 1955, the incidence of polio decreased markedly , and by 1995, polio had been eliminated in the entire Western Hemisphere. Salk, the son of a garment worker, was born on Oct. 28, 1914, in New York City, where he grew up and attended a high school for exceptional students. In 1934, he received a B.S. degree from the City College of New York. Subsequently, he attended New York University School of Medicine and obtained his M.D. degree in 1939. While in medical school, Salk worked with virologist-epidemiologist Thomas Francis, Jr. (1900-1969) , who was conducting immunologic studies on killed viruses. After Salk obtained his medical degree, he was a fellow in bacteriology for a short time at his medical alma mater and then was an intern at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City for 2 years. In 1942, a National Research Council Fellowship allowed Salk to join Francis , who had moved to the University of Michigan School of Public Health and was developing a vaccine against influenza. With Francis, Salk developed vaccines against influenza that were needed to protect military personnel during World WarII (1939-1945). After the war (1947), Salk became the director of the Virus Research
Mayo Clin Proc 1998;73:1176
1176
© 1998 Mayo Foundati on/or Medical Education and Research
For personal use. Mass reproduce only with permission from Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he began research on poliomyelitis and classified the various strains of poliovirus. In 1949, future Nobel laureate microbiologist John F. Enders (1897-1985) and his colleagues at Harvard University cultured poliovirus in embryonic tissue. This process allowed the poliovirus to be produced in quantity for more intensive study. Thus, Salk and his group at the University of Pittsburgh were able to begin preparing an inactivated poliovirus that could serve as an immunologic agent against the disease . Salk grew the poliovirus in kidney tissue from monkeys and killed the virus with formaldehyde. He proved that the vaccine, although incapable of producing the disease, could induce antibody formation in monkeys. By 1952, Salk and his group had prepared and successfully tested such a vaccine. The following year, they reported the results of vaccinations in more than 100 adults and children, and in 1954, Francis successfully conducted massive field trials. In 1957, Salk was named professor of experimental medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1963, he became director of the Institute of Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, which was subsequently renamed the Salk Institute. In later years, he initiated research aimed at developing a vaccine against multiple sclerosis and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although the Salk polio vaccine was superseded in the United States by the oral livevirus vaccine developed by American virologist Albert B. Sabin (1906-1993), the Salk vaccine was still used in many countries of the world for a number of years. Salk died at La Jolla on Jun. 23, 1995, at the age of 80 years. He has been honored on stamps issued by several countries: Cape Verde Islands in 1990, Dominica in 1997, Guyana in 1993, Liberia in 1973, Tanzania in 1996, and Transkei (South Africa) in 1991. The stamp issued by Liberia shows Dr. Salk's autograph and is one of a set of six stamps issued on the 25th anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations. The other stamps in the set show Sigmund Freud (18561939), Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) , Emil von Behring (18541917), Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) , and Edward Jenner (1749-1823).
Jonas E. Salk-Discoverer of a Vaccine Against Poliomyelitis Marc A. Shampo, Ph.D., and Robert A. Kyle, M.D.
J
onas Edward Salk is credited with creating the first effective vaccine against poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis). Epidemics of poliomyelitis had intensified, and in 1952, about 58,000 cases and more than 3,000 deaths were reported in the United States alone. After the vaccine was released for use in the United States on Apr. 12, 1955, the incidence of polio decreased markedly , and by 1995, polio had been eliminated in the entire Western Hemisphere. Salk, the son of a garment worker, was born on Oct. 28, 1914, in New York City, where he grew up and attended a high school for exceptional students. In 1934, he received a B.S. degree from the City College of New York. Subsequently, he attended New York University School of Medicine and obtained his M.D. degree in 1939. While in medical school, Salk worked with virologist-epidemiologist Thomas Francis, Jr. (1900-1969) , who was conducting immunologic studies on killed viruses. After Salk obtained his medical degree, he was a fellow in bacteriology for a short time at his medical alma mater and then was an intern at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City for 2 years. In 1942, a National Research Council Fellowship allowed Salk to join Francis , who had moved to the University of Michigan School of Public Health and was developing a vaccine against influenza. With Francis, Salk developed vaccines against influenza that were needed to protect military personnel during World WarII (1939-1945). After the war (1947), Salk became the director of the Virus Research
Mayo Clin Proc 1998;73:1176
1176
© 1998 Mayo Foundati on/or Medical Education and Research
For personal use. Mass reproduce only with permission from Mayo Clinic Proceedings.