Bert Achong
Encyclopedia
Bert Geoffrey Achong is best known for co-discovering the Epstein-Barr virus
through use of electron microscopy. After excelling in school in Trinidad, Achong enrolled at University College Dublin
, where he received his medical degree. He performed his post graduate studes at University of Bristol
and worked at Lambeth Hospital in London in Clinical Pathology, while continuing as popular lecturer at the University of Bristol.
samples by electron microscopy http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T1B-49SY6Y3-16W&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=b2c4e0ee476f545e327074dff0697dcfhttp://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=14278230. Viral particles identified in these cell lines belong to a member of the herpesvirus family of viruses, subsequently christened the Epstein-Barr virus
or HHV-4. Notably, the virus lacks the name of Acong. It was the first human tumor virus to be discovered and causes multiple cancers in addition to Burkitt's lymphoma, particularly among immunosuppressed persons.
which belongs to the retrovirus
family.
Epstein-Barr virus
The Epstein–Barr virus , also called human herpesvirus 4 , is a virus of the herpes family and is one of the most common viruses in humans. It is best known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis...
through use of electron microscopy. After excelling in school in Trinidad, Achong enrolled at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
, where he received his medical degree. He performed his post graduate studes at University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
and worked at Lambeth Hospital in London in Clinical Pathology, while continuing as popular lecturer at the University of Bristol.
Epstein-Barr virus
Achong's role in the discovery of Epstein-Barr virus was to prepare and examine cultured cells prepared from Burkitt's lymphomaBurkitt's lymphoma
Burkitt's lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system...
samples by electron microscopy http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T1B-49SY6Y3-16W&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=b2c4e0ee476f545e327074dff0697dcfhttp://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=14278230. Viral particles identified in these cell lines belong to a member of the herpesvirus family of viruses, subsequently christened the Epstein-Barr virus
Epstein-Barr virus
The Epstein–Barr virus , also called human herpesvirus 4 , is a virus of the herpes family and is one of the most common viruses in humans. It is best known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis...
or HHV-4. Notably, the virus lacks the name of Acong. It was the first human tumor virus to be discovered and causes multiple cancers in addition to Burkitt's lymphoma, particularly among immunosuppressed persons.
Foamy Virus
In 1971 he made another major discovery, the Human foamy virusHuman foamy virus
Human Foamy Virus is a retrovirus and specifically belongs to the genera Spumavirus. The spumaviruses are complex and significantly different from the other six genera or retroviruses in several ways...
which belongs to the retrovirus
Retrovirus
A retrovirus is an RNA virus that is duplicated in a host cell using the reverse transcriptase enzyme to produce DNA from its RNA genome. The DNA is then incorporated into the host's genome by an integrase enzyme. The virus thereafter replicates as part of the host cell's DNA...
family.