Eugene O. Major
Encyclopedia
Eugene O. "Gene" Major, PhD, is a senior investigator at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(NINDS), a part of the United States National Institutes of Health
(NIH). Major conducts research into the neurological diseases including progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
(PML), caused by JC virus
and often found in immunosuppressed patients such as those with HIV/AIDS. Major has published over 140 scientific articles and reviews in the peer-reviewed literature and has contributed to Fields Virology, a standard virology textbook.
in Notre Dame
, Indiana
. He earned MS
and PhD
degrees at the University of Illinois College of Medicine
, where he researched papovavirus
es such as BK virus
with Giampiero Di Mayorca. (The papovaviruses have since been split into two categories: papillomavirus
es and polyomavirus
es.)
In his first faculty position, Major was an associate professor at the University of Illinois Medical School. He later moved to the Loyola University Medical School in Chicago
, where he also served as Associate Dean of Graduate Programs.
In 1981, Major became an investigator with the Neurology Institute of the National Institutes of Health. He currently leads a molecular medicine and neuroscience laboratory as a senior investigator in the Division of Intramural Research at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the NIH.
, adenoviruses, JC virus
, simian virus 40 (SV40), HIV-1
, HIV-2, HHV-6, and HPV-16.
(Tysabri) and related monoclonal antibody-based therapies increase the risk of a rare brain disease caused by JC virus
. A 2001 Medscape column named Major as a leading expert in white matter brain disease.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is a part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health . It conducts and funds research on brain and nervous system disorders and has a budget of just over US$1.5 billion...
(NINDS), a part of the United States National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
(NIH). Major conducts research into the neurological diseases including progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy , also known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalitis, is a rare and usually fatal viral disease that is characterized by progressive damage or inflammation of the white matter of the brain at multiple locations .It occurs almost exclusively in...
(PML), caused by JC virus
JC virus
The JC virus or John Cunningham virus is a type of human polyomavirus and is genetically similar to BK virus and SV40. It was discovered in 1971 and named using the two initials of a patient with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy...
and often found in immunosuppressed patients such as those with HIV/AIDS. Major has published over 140 scientific articles and reviews in the peer-reviewed literature and has contributed to Fields Virology, a standard virology textbook.
Training and career
As an undergraduate, Major attended Holy Cross CollegeHoly Cross College (Indiana)
Holy Cross College is a Roman Catholic, co-educational, residential institution of higher education in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community northeast of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States — as are Saint Mary's College and the University of Notre Dame...
in Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana
Notre Dame is a census-designated place north of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States; it includes the campuses of three colleges: the University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College. Notre Dame is split between Clay and Portage Townships...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He earned MS
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degrees at the University of Illinois College of Medicine
University of Illinois College of Medicine
The University of Illinois College of Medicine offers a four-year program leading to the MD degree at four different sites in Illinois: Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, and Urbana–Champaign....
, where he researched papovavirus
Papovavirus
A Papovavirus is any member of the former virus family of Papovaviridae. They are mainly associated with various neoplasms in mammals. The family of Papovaviridae is not longer used in recent taxonomy, but is split into the Papillomaviridae and the Polyomaviridae.The name derives from three...
es such as BK virus
BK virus
The BK virus is a member of the polyomavirus family. Past infection with the BK virus is widespread, but significant consequences of infection are uncommon, with the exception of the immunocompromised and the immunosuppressed.-History:...
with Giampiero Di Mayorca. (The papovaviruses have since been split into two categories: papillomavirus
Papillomavirus
Papillomaviridae is an ancient taxonomic family of non-enveloped DNA viruses, collectively known as papillomaviruses. Several hundred species of papillomaviruses, traditionally referred to as "types", have been identified infecting all carefully inspected birds and mammals, but also a small number...
es and polyomavirus
Polyomavirus
Polyomavirus is the sole genus of viruses within the family Polyomaviridæ. Murine polyomavirus was the first polyomavirus discovered by Ludwik Gross in 1953. Subsequently, many polyomaviruses have been found to infect birds and mammals...
es.)
In his first faculty position, Major was an associate professor at the University of Illinois Medical School. He later moved to the Loyola University Medical School in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where he also served as Associate Dean of Graduate Programs.
In 1981, Major became an investigator with the Neurology Institute of the National Institutes of Health. He currently leads a molecular medicine and neuroscience laboratory as a senior investigator in the Division of Intramural Research at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the NIH.
Research
Throughout his career, Major has conducted research on viruses including BK virusBK virus
The BK virus is a member of the polyomavirus family. Past infection with the BK virus is widespread, but significant consequences of infection are uncommon, with the exception of the immunocompromised and the immunosuppressed.-History:...
, adenoviruses, JC virus
JC virus
The JC virus or John Cunningham virus is a type of human polyomavirus and is genetically similar to BK virus and SV40. It was discovered in 1971 and named using the two initials of a patient with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy...
, simian virus 40 (SV40), HIV-1
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
, HIV-2, HHV-6, and HPV-16.
Coverage
Major has been quoted extensively in news coverage of the finding that natalizumabNatalizumab
Natalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against the cellular adhesion molecule α4-integrin. Natalizumab is used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease. It is co-marketed by Biogen Idec and Élan as Tysabri, and was previously named Antegren. Natalizumab is administered by...
(Tysabri) and related monoclonal antibody-based therapies increase the risk of a rare brain disease caused by JC virus
JC virus
The JC virus or John Cunningham virus is a type of human polyomavirus and is genetically similar to BK virus and SV40. It was discovered in 1971 and named using the two initials of a patient with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy...
. A 2001 Medscape column named Major as a leading expert in white matter brain disease.