Peyton Rous

Francis Peyton Rous (October 5, 1879 – February 16, 1970) was an American pathologist who discovered the role of viruses in the transmission of certain types of cancer. His work led to the identification of the Rous sarcoma virus, an oncogenic virus that causes sarcoma in chickens.

Early Life and Education

Peyton Rous was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and he attended Johns Hopkins University, where he earned his B.A. in 1900 and his M.D. in 1905. He developed an interest in pathology during his studies.

Career and Research

Rous joined the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (now Rockefeller University) in 1909. In 1911, he made the groundbreaking discovery that a sarcoma in chickens could be transmitted by a cell-free filtrate, indicating that the causative agent was a virus. This was the first demonstration of a virus causing cancer, and it laid the foundation for the field of tumor virology.

Rous's work was initially met with skepticism, as the prevailing belief at the time was that cancer was caused by chemical or physical agents. However, his findings were eventually validated and led to a greater understanding of the role of viruses in oncogenesis.

Nobel Prize

In 1966, Rous was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of tumor-inducing viruses. His work has had a profound impact on cancer research and the development of vaccines against oncogenic viruses.

Legacy

Peyton Rous's discovery of the Rous sarcoma virus paved the way for the identification of other oncogenic viruses, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). His research has been instrumental in the development of cancer vaccines and therapies.

See Also

• Oncogenic virus
• Tumor virology
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

External Links

• Nobel Prize Biography of Peyton Rous