Emil R. Unanue
Encyclopedia
Dr. Emil Raphael Unanue(born September 13, 1934) is an immunologist and the current Paul & Ellen Lacy Professor at Washington University School of Medicine
. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences
, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
and the Institute of Medicine
. He previously served as chair of the National Academy of Sciences Section of Microbiology and Immunology.
. His work initiated a field of study known as antigen presentation
; it is critical to the development of vaccines and underlies an understanding of microbial immunity and autoimmune diseases.
In the late 1970s, it was recognized that T lymphocytes could not recognize antigen
directly and instead required an interaction with another specialized cell known as the antigen presenting cell. Nobel Prize
winners, Rolf Zinkernagel and Peter C. Doherty showed that this recognition also required the antigen-presenting cell to be from the same genetic background as the T-cell. That observation, called MHC restriction
, led to a conundrum; namely, that the ability of a T cell to recognize foreign antigen also required that it recognize "self." With Paul M. Allen
, Ph.D., the Robert L. Kroc Professor at Washington University School of Medicine
, Unanue discovered that peptides from foreign antigens were bound to a group of molecules known as the major histocompatibility complex
(MHC). This peptide-MHC complex was shown to be recognized by T cells. Although the latter hypothesis was initially greeted with intense skepticism, a large body of work, generated over the last two decades, has confirmed its validity.
(Cuba
) in 1960. He then immigrated to the United States and studied briefly at the University of Pittsburgh
. Following that experience, Unanue was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, now The Scripps Research Institute
in La Jolla, California. With his mentor, Dr. Frank J. Dixon, he made a series of contributions to the field of renal pathophysiology by examining the immune basis of glomerulonephritis
. Unanue then joined the group headed by Dr. Brigitte Askonas
at the National Institute for Medical Research
at Mill Hill
in London. Together, Unanue & Askonas made the seminal observation that macrophages did not completely catabolize antigens, foreshadowing development of the field of antigen processing
and presentation. In 1970, Unanue was given an appointment in the Department of Pathology at Harvard Medical School
, where he quickly rose through the academic ranks to become the Mallinckrodt Professor of Immunopathology in 1974. While at Harvard University
, he and his colleagues made observations in the areas of immunoglobulin capping on B cells and host defenses to bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes. That work culminated in the conclusion that MHC molecules mediate the display of processed peptides to T cells.
. He was preceded in that position by Dr. Paul Eston Lacy
, and succeeded by the current chairperson, Dr. Herbert "Skip" Virgin, an experimentalist in the area of viral pathogenesis. Unanue's current research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of antigen processing, the immunological basis of autoimmune diabetes, and immune responses to intracellular bacteria.
Washington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine , located in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the graduate schools of Washington University in St. Louis. One of the top medical schools in the United States, it is currently ranked 4th for research according to U.S. News and World Report and has been listed...
. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
and the Institute of Medicine
Institute of Medicine
The Institute of Medicine is a not-for-profit, non-governmental American organization founded in 1970, under the congressional charter of the National Academy of Sciences...
. He previously served as chair of the National Academy of Sciences Section of Microbiology and Immunology.
Area of expertise
Unanue is internationally recognized as an expert on immunological function, vis-a-vis the identification and T-cell response to foreign material, known to scientists as antigenAntigen
An antigen is a foreign molecule that, when introduced into the body, triggers the production of an antibody by the immune system. The immune system will then kill or neutralize the antigen that is recognized as a foreign and potentially harmful invader. These invaders can be molecules such as...
. His work initiated a field of study known as antigen presentation
Antigen presentation
Antigen presentation is a process in the body's immune system by which macrophages, dendritic cells and other cell types capture antigens and then enable their recognition by T-cells....
; it is critical to the development of vaccines and underlies an understanding of microbial immunity and autoimmune diseases.
In the late 1970s, it was recognized that T lymphocytes could not recognize antigen
Antigen
An antigen is a foreign molecule that, when introduced into the body, triggers the production of an antibody by the immune system. The immune system will then kill or neutralize the antigen that is recognized as a foreign and potentially harmful invader. These invaders can be molecules such as...
directly and instead required an interaction with another specialized cell known as the antigen presenting cell. Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winners, Rolf Zinkernagel and Peter C. Doherty showed that this recognition also required the antigen-presenting cell to be from the same genetic background as the T-cell. That observation, called MHC restriction
MHC restriction
MHC-restricted antigen recognition, or MHC restriction, refers to the fact that a given T cell will recognize a peptide antigen only when it is bound to a host bodies' own MHC molecule...
, led to a conundrum; namely, that the ability of a T cell to recognize foreign antigen also required that it recognize "self." With Paul M. Allen
Paul M. Allen
Paul M. Allen is an American cellular immunologist and current Robert L. Kroc Professor of Pathology and Immunology at Washington University School of Medicine....
, Ph.D., the Robert L. Kroc Professor at Washington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine , located in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the graduate schools of Washington University in St. Louis. One of the top medical schools in the United States, it is currently ranked 4th for research according to U.S. News and World Report and has been listed...
, Unanue discovered that peptides from foreign antigens were bound to a group of molecules known as the major histocompatibility complex
Major histocompatibility complex
Major histocompatibility complex is a cell surface molecule encoded by a large gene family in all vertebrates. MHC molecules mediate interactions of leukocytes, also called white blood cells , which are immune cells, with other leukocytes or body cells...
(MHC). This peptide-MHC complex was shown to be recognized by T cells. Although the latter hypothesis was initially greeted with intense skepticism, a large body of work, generated over the last two decades, has confirmed its validity.
Education & early career
Emil Unanue received his doctorate from the University of HavanaUniversity of Havana
The University of Havana or UH is a university located in the Vedado district of Havana, Cuba. Founded in 1728, the University of Havana is the oldest university in Cuba, and one of the first to be founded in the Americas...
(Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
) in 1960. He then immigrated to the United States and studied briefly at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. Following that experience, Unanue was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, now The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute is an American medical research facility that focuses on research in the basic biomedical sciences. Headquartered in La Jolla, California, with a sister facility in Jupiter, Florida, the institute is home to 3,000 scientists, technicians, graduate students, and...
in La Jolla, California. With his mentor, Dr. Frank J. Dixon, he made a series of contributions to the field of renal pathophysiology by examining the immune basis of glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis, also known as glomerular nephritis, abbreviated GN, is a renal disease characterized by inflammation of the glomeruli, or small blood vessels in the kidneys...
. Unanue then joined the group headed by Dr. Brigitte Askonas
Brigitte Askonas
Brigitte A. Askonas, FRS, is a British immunologist. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society and as of 2008 a visiting professor at Imperial College London since 1995....
at the National Institute for Medical Research
National Institute for Medical Research
The National Institute for Medical Research, commonly abbreviated to NIMR, is a medical research facility situated in Mill Hill, on the outskirts of London, England. It is mainly funded by the Medical Research Council, or MRC, and is its largest establishment and the only one designated as an...
at Mill Hill
Mill Hill
Mill Hill is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a suburb situated 9 miles north west of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until it was absorbed by London...
in London. Together, Unanue & Askonas made the seminal observation that macrophages did not completely catabolize antigens, foreshadowing development of the field of antigen processing
Antigen processing
Antigen processing is a biological process that prepares antigens for presentation to special cells of the immune system called T lymphocytes. This process involves two distinct pathways for processing of antigens from an organism's own proteins or intracellular pathogens , or from phagocytosed...
and presentation. In 1970, Unanue was given an appointment in the Department of Pathology at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, where he quickly rose through the academic ranks to become the Mallinckrodt Professor of Immunopathology in 1974. While at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, he and his colleagues made observations in the areas of immunoglobulin capping on B cells and host defenses to bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes. That work culminated in the conclusion that MHC molecules mediate the display of processed peptides to T cells.
Work at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
From 1985 to 2006, Unanue was the Chairman of Immunology and Mallinckrodt Professor at Washington University School of MedicineWashington University School of Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine , located in St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the graduate schools of Washington University in St. Louis. One of the top medical schools in the United States, it is currently ranked 4th for research according to U.S. News and World Report and has been listed...
. He was preceded in that position by Dr. Paul Eston Lacy
Paul Eston Lacy
Paul Eston Lacy, M.D., Ph.D. was an anatomist & experimentalist and one of the world’s leading diabetes mellitus researchers. He is often credited as the originator of islet transplantation.- Education :...
, and succeeded by the current chairperson, Dr. Herbert "Skip" Virgin, an experimentalist in the area of viral pathogenesis. Unanue's current research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of antigen processing, the immunological basis of autoimmune diabetes, and immune responses to intracellular bacteria.
Awards
- 1989 Cancer Research Institute William B. Coley AwardWilliam B. Coley AwardThe William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology is presented annually by the Cancer Research Institute, Inc., to scientists who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of basic and tumor immunology and whose work has deepened our understanding of the...
- 1995 Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical ResearchAlbert Lasker Award for Basic Medical ResearchThe Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research is one of the prizes awarded by the Lasker Foundation for the understanding, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and cure of disease...
- 2000 Gairdner Foundation International AwardGairdner Foundation International AwardThe Gairdner Foundation International Award is given annually at a special dinner to three to six people for outstanding discoveries or contributions to medical science. Receipt of the Gairdner is traditionally considered a precursor to winning the Nobel Prize in Medicine; as of 2007, 69 Nobel...
- 2005 Robert KochRobert KochHeinrich Hermann Robert Koch was a German physician. He became famous for isolating Bacillus anthracis , the Tuberculosis bacillus and the Vibrio cholerae and for his development of Koch's postulates....
Gold Medal