H. R. Cox
Encyclopedia
Herald Rea Cox was an American
bacteriologist. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana
, he graduated from Indiana State Normal School, now Indiana State University
, in 1928 before obtaining his doctorate from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
In the 1930s, Cox joined the U.S. Public Health Service as Principal Bacteriologist at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton, Montana
. While there, he studied rickettsia
, a group of organisms that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever
and typhus
. In 1938, he discovered that rickettsia could be grown in fertile egg membranes, which led to the development of vaccines to combat Rocky Mountain spotted fever and vaccines for several strains of typhus.
The family Coxiellaceae
and the genus Coxiella
, which contain the organism that causes Q fever
, are named for Cox.
In 1942, Cox became head of the Virus and Rickettsial Research Department at Lederle Laboratories in New York. At that time, public health attention focused on finding a vaccine for polio. Cox was one of many researchers competing to find a breakthrough, which is generally credited to Jonas Salk
(1952). Although Cox's egg technique was in widespread use by 1943, it had not been successful for polio. In 1947, John Franklin Enders
and others demonstrated that monkey tissue provided a suitable medium to grow the virus in the lab. Salk employed the Enders method, incubating the virus using rhesus monkey kidneys and testicles. Cox eschewed the technique because of the danger monkey virus represented. In October, 1952, Cox reported that he had grown the Lansing strain of polio virus in fertile hens' eggs, and in 1961, he announced an oral polio vaccine http://pubmed-central.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=441121. Meanwhile, human trials of Albert Sabin
's successful oral vaccine had begun in 1957, and it would be licensed for general use in 1961.
Within Lederle Laboratories, Cox competed with co-worker Hilary Koprowski
, as each had developed a successful polio vaccine.
Cox retired from Lederle in 1972. He was later director of cancer research at Roswell Park Memorial Institute
, where he concentrated on cancer immunology http://commprojects.jhsph.edu/sphheros/default.cfm?detail=2.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bacteriologist. Born in Terre Haute, 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 graduated from Indiana State Normal School, now Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
, in 1928 before obtaining his doctorate from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
In the 1930s, Cox joined the U.S. Public Health Service as Principal Bacteriologist at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton, Montana
Hamilton, Montana
Hamilton is a city in and the county seat of Ravalli County, Montana, United States. The population was 3,705 at the 2000 census. Significant outlying population growth is shown in the area; the ZIP Code Tabulation Area for Hamilton's ZIP Code, 59840, had a population of 12,327at the 2000 census.-...
. While there, he studied rickettsia
Rickettsia
Rickettsia is a genus of non-motile, Gram-negative, non-sporeforming, highly pleomorphic bacteria that can present as cocci , rods or thread-like . Being obligate intracellular parasites, the Rickettsia survival depends on entry, growth, and replication within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic host cells...
, a group of organisms that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the most lethal and most frequently reported rickettsial illness in the United States. It has been diagnosed throughout the Americas. Some synonyms for Rocky Mountain spotted fever in other countries include “tick typhus,” “Tobia fever” , “São Paulo fever” or “febre...
and typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
. In 1938, he discovered that rickettsia could be grown in fertile egg membranes, which led to the development of vaccines to combat Rocky Mountain spotted fever and vaccines for several strains of typhus.
The family Coxiellaceae
Coxiellaceae
Coxiellaceae is a family in the order Legionellales.Coxiella burnetii is a species in this order.Another is Rickettsiella melolonthae....
and the genus Coxiella
Coxiella burnetii
Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen, and is the causative agent of Q fever. The genus Coxiella is morphologically similar to Rickettsia, but with a variety of genetic and physiological differences. C...
, which contain the organism that causes Q fever
Q fever
Q fever is a disease caused by infection with Coxiella burnetii, a bacterium that affects humans and other animals. This organism is uncommon but may be found in cattle, sheep, goats and other domestic mammals, including cats and dogs...
, are named for Cox.
In 1942, Cox became head of the Virus and Rickettsial Research Department at Lederle Laboratories in New York. At that time, public health attention focused on finding a vaccine for polio. Cox was one of many researchers competing to find a breakthrough, which is generally credited to Jonas Salk
Jonas Salk
Jonas Edward Salk was an American medical researcher and virologist, best known for his discovery and development of the first safe and effective polio vaccine. He was born in New York City to parents from Ashkenazi Jewish Russian immigrant families...
(1952). Although Cox's egg technique was in widespread use by 1943, it had not been successful for polio. In 1947, John Franklin Enders
John Franklin Enders
John Franklin Enders was an American medical scientist and Nobel laureate. Enders had been called "The Father of Modern Vaccines."-Life:...
and others demonstrated that monkey tissue provided a suitable medium to grow the virus in the lab. Salk employed the Enders method, incubating the virus using rhesus monkey kidneys and testicles. Cox eschewed the technique because of the danger monkey virus represented. In October, 1952, Cox reported that he had grown the Lansing strain of polio virus in fertile hens' eggs, and in 1961, he announced an oral polio vaccine http://pubmed-central.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=441121. Meanwhile, human trials of Albert Sabin
Albert Sabin
Albert Bruce Sabin was an American medical researcher best known for having developed an oral polio vaccine.-Life:...
's successful oral vaccine had begun in 1957, and it would be licensed for general use in 1961.
Within Lederle Laboratories, Cox competed with co-worker Hilary Koprowski
Hilary Koprowski
Hilary Koprowski is a Polish virologist and immunologist, and inventor of the world's first effective live polio vaccine.-Life:...
, as each had developed a successful polio vaccine.
Cox retired from Lederle in 1972. He was later director of cancer research at Roswell Park Memorial Institute
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
The Roswell Park Cancer Institute is a comprehensive cancer research and treatment center located in Buffalo, New York. Founded in 1898 by Dr. Roswell Park, it was the first dedicated medical facility for cancer treatment and research in the United States. The facility is involved in drug...
, where he concentrated on cancer immunology http://commprojects.jhsph.edu/sphheros/default.cfm?detail=2.
Honors
- 1961: President, American Society for Microbiology
- 1940: Theobald Smith Award, American Association for the Advancement of Science (for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever vaccine)
- 1942: Doctor of Science, University of Montana
- 1946: Typhus Commission Medal
- 1951: Ricketts Award
- 1958: Distinguished Alumni Award, Indiana State University
- 1971: Honorary Member, Society of American Bacteriologists, American Society for Microbiology