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Mc Farlane BernetNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1960, jointly with Peter B. Medawar
Date of Birth: 03.09.1899
Country:  Australia |
Content:
- Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet
- Pioneering Work in Immunology
- Development of Viral Culture Techniques
- Challenging Immune Theories
- Nobel Prize and Legacy
Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet
Early Life and EducationFrank Macfarlane Burnet was born in Traralgon, Victoria, Australia, on September 3, 1899. He was the second of six children born to Frank Burnet, a bank manager, and Hadassah Pollock Burnet (née Mackay). From an early age, Burnet exhibited a keen interest in natural sciences, particularly in collecting beetles.
After graduating from Geelong College, Burnet enrolled in the medical faculty of Ormond College, University of Melbourne, in 1917. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1922 and his medical diploma in 1923. Following this, he pursued postgraduate training in pathology at the Melbourne Hospital, where he would spend the majority of his career, although he also held appointments at the University of Melbourne and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.
Pioneering Work in Immunology
Around the time Burnet joined the institute in 1924, he encountered Felix d'Hérelle's seminal work on bacteriophages. This sparked his interest in the ecological and genetic relationships between these viruses and their bacterial hosts. In 1926, he received a Medical Research Scholarship, enabling him to work at the Lister Institute in London. In 1927, he obtained his Doctor of Science degree from the University of London.
Burnet's return to Melbourne in 1928 was marked by a tragedy that would significantly influence his future research. The deaths of 12 children following diphtheria vaccination prompted an investigation that led Burnet to identify Staphylococcus contamination as the cause. This incident ignited his interest in how the body defends itself against such infections.
Development of Viral Culture Techniques
With a special grant for the study of virus diseases, Burnet continued his research on animal viruses at the National Institute for Medical Research in Hampstead, England, from 1932 to 1933. During this time, he refined methods for growing viruses in chick embryos. Viruses, being obligate intracellular parasites, were difficult to cultivate in mammalian cells in vitro. Burnet's techniques, which exploited the lack of antibody production in chick embryos, proved critical to advancing virology until John Enders and colleagues developed more sophisticated cell culture methods in 1947.
Challenging Immune Theories
Burnet's success in cultivating viruses in chick embryos brought him to the forefront of immunology research. He recognized the limitations of existing theories on antibody formation, leading him to propose a new model based on "clonal selection." According to this theory, each individual possesses a "master template" of antibody-producing cells, and exposure to a foreign antigen selects and stimulates the appropriate clone. This theory revolutionized the understanding of immune response and laid the groundwork for modern immunology.
Nobel Prize and Legacy
In 1960, Burnet and Peter Medawar were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for the discovery of acquired immunological tolerance." Their work shattered the dogma of instructive theories and opened the door to new approaches to understanding immune system function.
Following his retirement in 1965, Burnet continued his groundbreaking research in immunology, exploring aging, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. He also authored several acclaimed popular science books and an autobiography, "Changing Patterns" (1968).
Burnet passed away in Melbourne on August 31, 1985, leaving behind a legacy of scientific brilliance and contributions that continue to shape our understanding of the immune system. Throughout his life, he received numerous accolades, including the Royal Medal (1947) and the Copley Medal (1959) from the Royal Society of London, as well as a knighthood in 1951.
