Don Craig Wiley

Don Craig Wiley

Don Craig Wiley (October 21, 1944 – November 15, 2001) was an American structural biologist known for his research on the immune system and viral pathogenesis. He made significant contributions to the understanding of how the immune system recognizes and responds to pathogens.

Early Life and Education

Wiley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Tufts University where he earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1966. He then pursued his Ph.D. in biophysics at Harvard University, which he completed in 1971 under the supervision of William N. Lipscomb, Jr..

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Wiley joined the faculty at Harvard University where he became a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology. His research focused on the structural biology of viruses and the immune system. Wiley's work was instrumental in elucidating the structures of several key proteins involved in the immune response, including the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and hemagglutinin, a protein found on the surface of the influenza virus.

Research Contributions

Wiley's research provided critical insights into how the immune system detects and responds to viral infections. His work on the structure of the MHC molecules helped to explain how these proteins present antigens to T cells, a key step in the immune response. Additionally, his studies on hemagglutinin revealed how the influenza virus binds to and enters host cells, which has implications for the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Wiley received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to structural biology and immunology. These include the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize in 1990, the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 1995, and election to the National Academy of Sciences.

Death

Wiley tragically passed away in 2001 under mysterious circumstances. His body was found in the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee. The cause of his death was ruled as an accidental fall from a bridge.

Legacy

Don Craig Wiley's pioneering work continues to influence the fields of structural biology and immunology. His research has laid the groundwork for the development of new therapeutics and vaccines to combat infectious diseases.

See Also

• Structural biology
• Immune system
• Viral pathogenesis
• Major histocompatibility complex
• Hemagglutinin
• Influenza virus