Etienne de Harven
Encyclopedia
Etienne de Harven, MD is a Belgian-born pathologist
and electron microscopist. Born in Brussels
, he did most of his work in New York City
, Paris
and Toronto
. He did pioneering research on viruses, mostly related to murine
leukemia
. He is former President of the Electron Microscopy Society of America (now Microscopy Society of America
).
s.
He was subsequently hired by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
, where he worked alongside Charlotte Friend
and studied viruses, mostly in mice
systems and the causation and incidence of leukemia and other malignant diseases related to those viruses. Later, he provided the first description of a viral
budding
. While at Sloan-Kettering, de Harven was part of a team which discovered "virus-like particles" in cells taken from patients suffering from Hodgkin's disease. He became professor of cell biology
at the University of Cornell and later of pathology
at the University of Toronto
, where he researched the marking of antigens on the surface of lymphocytes.
As former President of the Microscopy Society of America, he published several papers, mostly related to Cancer Pathologies and electron microscopy procedures for viral explorations.
De Harven is also a prominent AIDS denialist, one of a group invited in 2000 to South Africa
by president Thabo Mbeki
to serve on a presidential panel on AIDS. He published a book in 2005 entitled Les Dix Plus Gros Mensonges sur le SIDA (Ten Lies About AIDS), in which he denies a connection between the HIV virus and AIDS
, instead attributing the disease to lifestyle and environmental factors.
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
and electron microscopist. Born in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, he did most of his work in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He did pioneering research on viruses, mostly related to murine
MICE
-Fiction:*Mice , alien species in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*The Mice -Acronyms:* "Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions", facilities terminology for events...
leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. He is former President of the Electron Microscopy Society of America (now Microscopy Society of America
Microscopy Society of America
The Microscopy Society of America was founded in 1942 as The Electron Microscope Society of America and is a non-profit organization that provides microanalytical facilities for studies within the sciences. Currently, there are approximately 3000 members. The society holds an annual meeting, which...
).
Work
De Harven obtained his medical degree from the University of Brussels. He later worked at the Institute of Cancer of Villejuif under Charles Oberling and Wilhelm Bernhard, where he made pioneering obvervations of the structure of centrioleCentriole
A Centriole is a barrel-shaped cell structure found in most animal eukaryotic cells, though it is absent in higher plants and most fungi. The walls of each centriole are usually composed of nine triplets of microtubules...
s.
He was subsequently hired by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center is a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital...
, where he worked alongside Charlotte Friend
Charlotte Friend
Charlotte Friend was an American virologist. She is best known for her discovery of the Friend Leukemia Virus and Friend erythroleukemia cells alongside Etienne de Harven. Charlotte Friend was a leading virologist who discovered viral leukemia...
and studied viruses, mostly in mice
MICE
-Fiction:*Mice , alien species in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*The Mice -Acronyms:* "Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions", facilities terminology for events...
systems and the causation and incidence of leukemia and other malignant diseases related to those viruses. Later, he provided the first description of a viral
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
budding
Budding
Budding is a form of asexual reproduction in which a new organism grows on another one. The new organism remains attached as it grows, separating from the parent organism only when it is mature. Since the reproduction is asexual, the newly created organism is a clone and is genetically identical...
. While at Sloan-Kettering, de Harven was part of a team which discovered "virus-like particles" in cells taken from patients suffering from Hodgkin's disease. He became professor of cell biology
Cell biology
Cell biology is a scientific discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level...
at the University of Cornell and later of pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, where he researched the marking of antigens on the surface of lymphocytes.
As former President of the Microscopy Society of America, he published several papers, mostly related to Cancer Pathologies and electron microscopy procedures for viral explorations.
De Harven is also a prominent AIDS denialist, one of a group invited in 2000 to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
by president Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
to serve on a presidential panel on AIDS. He published a book in 2005 entitled Les Dix Plus Gros Mensonges sur le SIDA (Ten Lies About AIDS), in which he denies a connection between the HIV virus and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, instead attributing the disease to lifestyle and environmental factors.