Anthony Epstein

British virologist (1921–2024)

This article is about the scientist. For the American judge, see Anthony C. Epstein.

Sir

Anthony Epstein

CBE FRS FMedSci

Born|

Michael Anthony Epstein

(1921-05-18)18 May 1921

London, England

Died| 6 February 2024(2024-02-06) (aged 102)

London, England

Education| St Paul's School, London
Alma mater|

* Trinity College, Cambridge
* Middlesex Hospital Medical School

Known for| Epstein–Barr virus
Spouse|

Lisbeth Knight

(m. 1950; sep. 1965)​

Children| 3
Awards|

* Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize (1973)
* Knight Bachelor (1991)
* Royal Medal (1992)

Scientific career
Fields| Virology
Institutions|

* University of Bristol

Doctoral students| Yvonne Barr

Sir Michael Anthony Epstein CBE FRS FMedSci (18 May 1921 – 6 February 2024) was a British pathologist and academic. He was one of the discoverers of the Epstein–Barr virus, along with Yvonne Barr and Bert Achong.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

## Early life

[edit]

Epstein was born in London on 18 May 1921,[9][10][11] and educated at St Paul's School, London;[12] Trinity College, Cambridge; and Middlesex Hospital Medical School.

## Career

[edit]

Epstein was Professor of Pathology (1968–1985) and head of department (1968–1982)[13] at the University of Bristol.[14] He was a fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford, from 1986 until 2001, and was an honorary fellow from 2001 until his death.[15]

In 1979 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and was its vice-president from 1986 to 1991.[9] He was awarded its Royal Medal in 1992.[16] Epstein was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1985 Birthday Honours,[17] and knighted in the 1991 New Year Honours.[9][18] Epstein was also a founding Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 1998.[19] In 2006, Epstein was awarded a Doctor of Science (DSc) degree by Bristol.[20][21]

## Burkitt lymphoma studies

[edit]

Epstein was the first person to propose that Burkitt's lymphoma was a cancer caused by a virus. Upon hearing a lecture given by surgeon Denis Parsons Burkitt in 1961 about this newly described cancer, Epstein changed his research focus from cancer-causing viruses in chickens to searching for a viral origin of Burkitt's lymphoma.[22] After more than two years of working with tumour cells from Burkitt's patients and subsequently working to isolate a virus from them, the Epstein–Barr virus was finally discovered in February 1964.[23]

In a tribute to Epstein in his 100th year, the European Association for Haematopathology noted that his "perseverance, rigorous scientific observations and a bit of serendipity" resulted in the first cell culture in suspension from human lymphocytes. In 1963, a flight from Uganda was supposed to deliver fresh tumour samples into a foggy London. The flight was diverted to Manchester causing a delay in delivery. When the samples finally arrived into London, they seemed useless, containing a cloudy fluid. However, under the microscope the cloudiness was not due to bacteria, as originally thought, but to huge numbers of viable, free-floating lymphoma cells. Thus, the first cell culture of Burkitt lymphoma was achieved, designated EB cells. In 1964, using electron microscopy, Anthony Epstein and his research assistant Bert Achong discovered viral particles in EB cells, resulting in the seminal paper published in 1964, "Virus particles in cultured lymphoblasts from Burkitt's lymphoma" by Epstein, Achong and Barr. This was the first demonstration of viral particles in a human tumour.[24]

## Personal life and death

[edit]

In 1950, Epstein married Lisbeth Knight. Together they had three children: a daughter and two sons. They separated in 1965. In later life, his long-term partner was the virologist Kate Ward.[25]

Epstein turned 100 in May 2021. He died on 6 February 2024 at his home in London, at the age of 102.[26][27]

He was a Patron of Humanists UK.[10]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Bornkamm, G. W.; Delius, H.; Zimber, U.; Hudewentz, J.; Epstein, M. A. (1980). "Comparison of Epstein–Barr virus strains of different origin by analysis of the viral DNAs". Journal of Virology. 35 (3): 603–618\. doi:10.1128/JVI.35.3.603-618.1980. PMC 288854. PMID 6252328.
2. ^ North, J. R.; Morgan, A. J.; Thompson, J. L.; Epstein, M. A. (1982). "Purified Epstein-Barr virus Mr 340,000 glycoprotein induces potent virus-neutralizing antibodies when incorporated in liposomes". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 79 (23): 7504–7508\. Bibcode:1982PNAS...79.7504N. doi:10.1073/pnas.79.23.7504. PMC 347368. PMID 6296836.
3. ^ Gaston, J. S.; Rickinson, A. B.; Yao, Q. Y.; Epstein, M. A. (1986). "The abnormal cytotoxic T cell response to Epstein–Barr virus in rheumatoid arthritis was correlated with disease activity and occurs in other arthropathies". Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 45 (11): 932–936\. doi:10.1136/ard.45.11.932. PMC 1002022. PMID 2878645.
4. ^ Epstein, M. A.; Morgan, A. J. (1983). "Clinical consequences of Epstein–Barr virus infection and possible control by an anti-viral vaccine". Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 53 (2): 257–271\. PMC 1535689. PMID 6309441.
5. ^ Rickinson, A. B.; Finerty, S.; Epstein, M. A. (1982). "Interaction of Epstein–Barr virus with leukaemic B cells in vitro. I. Abortive infection and rare cell line establishment from chronic lymphocytic leukaemic cells". Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 50 (2): 347–354\. PMC 1536694. PMID 6295671.
6. ^ Rickinson, A. B.; Crawford, D.; Epstein, M. A. (1977). "Inhibition of the in vitro outgrowth of Epstein–Barr virus-transformed lymphocytes by thymus-dependent lymphocytes from infectious mononucleosis patients". Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 28 (1): 72–79\. PMC 1540876. PMID 193663.
7. ^ Yao, Q. Y.; Rickinson, A. B.; Gaston, J. S.; Epstein, M. A. (1986). "Disturbance of the Epstein-Barr virus-host balance in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A quantitative study". Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 64 (2): 302–310\. PMC 1542331. PMID 3017620.
8. ^ Epstein, M. A.; Randle, B. J.; Finerty, S.; Kirkwood, J. K. (1986). "Not all potently neutralizing, vaccine-induced antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus ensure protection of susceptible experimental animals". Clinical and Experimental Immunology. 63 (3): 485–490\. PMC 1577551. PMID 3011324.
9. ^ a b c "Anthony Epstein". Royal Society. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
10. ^ a b "Professor Sir Anthony Epstein CBE FRS". Humanists UK. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
11. ^ "Sir Anthony Epstein". Wolfson College, Oxford. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
12. ^ London, Medical Society of (2000). Transactions of the Medical Society of London. Harrison and Sons. p. 66.
13. ^ Who's Who: Epstein, Sir (Michael) Anthony Archived 25 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
14. ^ "Sir Michael Anthony Epstein". Oxford Reference.
15. ^ "Obituary: Sir Anthony Epstein 1921-2024". Wolfson College. University of Oxford. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
16. ^ "Royal Medal – Award winners". Royal Society. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2021 - via Google Drive.
17. ^ United Kingdom list: "No. 50154". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 1985. p. 8.
18. ^ United Kingdom list:"No. 52382". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1990. p. 1.
19. ^ "Epstein, Anthony". Academy of Europe. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
20. ^ EBV Association: Sir Antony Epstein Archived 25 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
21. ^ "The 100th birthday of Prof. Sir Anthony Epstein". EAHP. 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
22. ^ McGrath, Paula (6 April 2014). "Cancer virus discovery helped by delayed flight". BBC News, Health. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
23. ^ Epstein, A. (2012). "Burkitt Lymphoma and the discovery of Epstein–Barr virus". British Journal of Haematology. 156 (6): 777–779\. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2011.09008.x. PMID 22233499. S2CID 27417152.
24. ^ "Anthony Epstein 100th Anniversary." https://www.european-association-for-haematopathology.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Anthony-Epstein-100th-anniversary.pdf Archived 17 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine
25. ^ "Sir Anthony Epstein, pathologist who discovered the first virus known to cause cancer – obituary". The Telegraph. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
26. ^ "Professor Sir Anthony Epstein". The Times. 10 February 2024. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
27. ^ Murphy, Brian (15 February 2024). "Anthony Epstein, pathologist behind Epstein-Barr virus find, dies at 102". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 February 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Epstein-Barr virus, Sir Anthony Epstein FRS

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
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* Australia
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Academics|

* CiNii
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People|

* Trove

Other|

* IdRef
* Yale LUX

*[m.]: married
*[sep.]: separated