ABSTRACT
Retroviruses have been found in many bird and animal species where they often cause various types of cancer. Dr. Robert Gallo's contribution to the field of retrovirology and the link he established between RNA viruses and cancer has been significant. Historical aspects of his discoveries in the area of human retroviruses are presented and an attempt is made to focus attention on his outstanding role.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms/history , Retroviridae Infections/history , Retroviridae , Tumor Virus Infections/history , Animals , Cell Line, Tumor , HIV/isolation & purification , HIV Infections/history , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Humans , Interleukin-2/history , Neoplasms/virology , Retroviridae/isolation & purification , Retroviridae Infections/virology , Tumor Virus Infections/virologySubject(s)
Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/history , Isoantigens/history , Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated/immunology , Killer Cells, Natural/immunology , Receptors, Immunologic/history , Tetrahydronaphthalenes/history , Animals , Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/immunology , History, 20th Century , Interleukin-2/history , Interleukin-2/pharmacology , Isoantigens/immunology , Killer Cells, Natural/drug effects , Mice , Receptors, Immunologic/physiology , Tetrahydronaphthalenes/analysisABSTRACT
Abstract In the mid-1970s, Ivan Lefkovits and co-workers introduced limiting dilution analysis of T and B cells as a method to quantify antigen-specific T and B cells. In this study, I describe how my co-operation with Ivan on the subject led not only to heated discussions on the validity of the approach but also to the identification of interleukin-2 as T-cell-derived factor, capable of replacing T-cell help required for the activation of B cells.
