Charles Weissmann

Charles Weissmann (born October 14, 1931) is a Swiss molecular biologist and biochemist known for his pioneering work in the field of molecular biology and prion research. He has made significant contributions to the understanding of genetic engineering, interferon, and the mechanisms of prion diseases.

Early Life and Education

Charles Weissmann was born in Zürich, Switzerland. He studied medicine at the University of Zürich and received his M.D. in 1956. He then pursued a Ph.D. in organic chemistry at the University of Zurich, which he completed in 1961.

Career

Weissmann's early research focused on the replication of RNA viruses. In the 1960s, he worked at the University of Zurich and later at the University of Geneva, where he conducted groundbreaking research on the replication of bacteriophage RNA.

Interferon Research

In the 1970s, Weissmann shifted his focus to the study of interferon, a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses. He was instrumental in the cloning and expression of human interferon genes, which led to the development of recombinant interferon for therapeutic use.

Prion Research

In the 1980s and 1990s, Weissmann made significant contributions to the field of prion research. He collaborated with Stanley B. Prusiner, who discovered prions, to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying prion diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Weissmann's work helped to elucidate the role of the prion protein (PrP) in these diseases and the process of prion propagation.

Awards and Honors

Charles Weissmann has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to science, including:

• The Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research
• The Robert Koch Prize
• The Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize

Personal Life

Weissmann is married and has children. He continues to be active in the scientific community and has held various academic and advisory positions throughout his career.

See Also

• Molecular biology
• Genetic engineering
• Interferon
• Prion
• Stanley B. Prusiner
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• Bovine spongiform encephalopathy