Avian influenza H5N1 virus was first isolated from a farmed goose in China
In 1996, A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (H5N1), the precursor of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) was identified in…
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Researchers at Oxford University released a genetically engineered baculovirus, the world’s first release of a biotech-generated virus
In 1994, researchers at Oxford University conducted a field trial involving a genetically engineered baculovirus, specifically one modified…
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Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), a causative agent for Kaposi’s sarcoma, was identified
In 1994, human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), a causative agent for Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), was identified. HHV-8 is also…
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Infectious molecular clone of a human T-cell leukemia virus was developed at Washington University – St Louis
In 1994, Washington University – St. Louis reseacher Lee Ratern, MD and colleagues announced they had developed an…
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Biotechnology | Infectious Disease | Polio | Vaccine | WHO
The Global Polio Laboratory Network was established
In 1990, the Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN) was formally established by the World Health Organization (WHO), national…
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Lorne Tyrrell discovered the first antiviral drug to inhibit hepatitis B virus
In 1986, while teaching a graduate course at the University of Alberta, Dr. Tyrrell found clues that might…
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Dr. Robert C. Gallo reported the isolation of a new group of viruses found in the helper T-cells of patients with AIDS or pre-AIDS symptoms
On Apr. 23, 1984, a National Cancer Institute (NCI) scientist, Dr. Robert C. Gallo announced his team’s discovery of…
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Biotechnology | CDC | HIV
The CDC established the National AIDS Hotline to address the number of calls concerning the AIDS virus
In 1983, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the National AIDS Hotline (NAH) to…
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First human viral vaccine to prevent cancer (hepatitis B vaccine for liver cancer) was introduced
In 1981, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine for human use….
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NCI scientists isolated human T-cell lymphotrophic virus 1 (HTLV-1)
In 1980, National Cancer Institute (NCI) scientists from the Gallo group isolated human T-cell lymphotrophic virus 1 (HTLV-1)….
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McGill University researcher Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie developed Ganciclovir to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus infections
In 1980, McGill University researcher Dr. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie developed Ganciclovir to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections….
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Yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax by Connaught) was licensed in the U.S.
On Jan. 3, 1978, the Yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax by Connaught) was licensed in the U.S. The Yellow…
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Biology | CDC | Diagnostics | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | NIH | Plague | Therapeutics | Vaccine
The CDC opened an expanded maximum containment lab (hot lab) for highly dangerous viruses
In 1978, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) completed construction of a new hot lab…
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Virus particle structure was determined
In 1977, Harvard Medical School researcher Stephen C. Harrison first determined the structure of an intact virus particle,…
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Interleukin-2 was discovered
In 1976, interleukin-2 was discovered and purified which allowed researchers to grow T-cells and study their immunology, which…
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David Baltimore, Renato Dulbecco, and Howard Martin Temin awarded the 1975 Nobel Prize in Medicine
In 1975, Caltech President David Baltimore, former Caltech faculty member and Salk Institute researcher Renato Delbucco, and Caltech…
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Stanford Medicine researchers isolated the genome of a virus that causes hepatitis B and a common form of liver cancer
In 1974, Stanford Medicine researcher William S. Robinson successfully isolated the genome of the hepatitis B virus, which is…
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Measles and mumps virus vaccine, live (M-M-R II) was licensed to Merck
On Apr. 22, 1971, the measles, mumps, and rubella virus (M-M-R II) vaccine Live developed by Maurice Hilleman was…
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Testing of donated blood for Hepatitis B surface antigen began
In 1971, the testing of donated blood for Hepatitis B surface antigen began. The hepatitis B virus was…
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Paul Berg of Stanford University spliced the DNA of viruses into the first recombinant molecules
In 1971, Paul Berg of Stanford University spliced the DNA of viruses into the first recombinant molecules. Bergﾒs…
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The first oncogene termed src was discovered
In 1970, the first oncogene termed src was discovered in a chicken retrovirus. Dr. G. Steve Martin at…
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H3N2 viruses were first identified in swine
In 1970, influenza H3N2 viruses were first identified in swine during an influenza surveillance study in Taiwan. This…
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Three rubella virus strains were licensed in the U.S.
In 1969, three rubella virus strains were licensed in the U.S.: HPV-77 strain grown in dog-kidney culture (Rubelogen…
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Max Delbruck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine
In 1969, Max Delbruck of the California Institute of Technology was awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize in Physiology…
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The CDC opened its first biological containment lab
In 1969, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opened its first permanent high-containment laboratory (HCL)…
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A second live, further attenuated measles virus vaccine was licensed
On Nov. 26, 1968, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed a second live, further attenuated measles…
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The “Hong Kong” influenza pandemic resulted in roughly 34,000 deaths in the U.S.
The 1968 pandemic, also known as the Hong Kong flu, was caused by an influenza A (H3N2) virus…
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Pandemic caused by an influenza A (H3N2) first noted in the U.S.
In 1968, a pandemic was caused by an influenza A (H3N2) virus comprised of two genes from an…
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Mumps virus vaccine live (MumpsVax by Merck) was licensed
On Dec. 28, 1967, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mercks mumps virus vaccine live (MumpsVax)….
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Study showed relationship between human and avian flu viruses
In 1967, Dr. H.G. Pereira and colleagues propose a relationship between human and avian flu viruses after a…
