James Corson Niederman

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James Corson Niederman
Born(1924-11-27)November 27, 1924
DiedMarch 2, 2024(2024-03-02) (aged 99)
Alma materKenyon College, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Known forEpstein–Barr virus, infectious mononucleosis
SpouseMimi (Miriam) Camp Niederman
Scientific career
FieldsVirology, epidemiology
InstitutionsYale School of Medicine, Yale School of Public Health

James Corson Niederman (November 27, 1924 – March 2, 2024) was an American epidemiologist whose research identified the Epstein–Barr virus as the cause of infectious mononucleosis in a study published in 1968.[1][2]

Early life and education[edit]

James Corson Niederman was born on November 27, 1924, in Hamilton, Ohio. He graduated from Kenyon College in 1946,[3] and received his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1949. For many years he was a residential college associate at the Yale School of Public Health.[4]

Medical research[edit]

Beginning in the late 1950s, Dr. Niederman and Robert W. McCollum collected sera from Yale University freshmen.[5] Students who tested positive for EBV antibodies never developed infectious mononucleosis (IM). The pre-illness samples of students, who later developed infectious mononucleosis tested negative for EBV antibodies. Therefore, the presence of EBV antibodies indicated immunity from infectious mononucleosis.[6] The study demonstrated that EBV is not simply a passenger virus, it is the etiologic agent of infectious mononucleosis. This was a remarkable discovery, since at the time the cause of IM was a mystery.

Death[edit]

Niederman died at his home in Bethany, Connecticut, on March 2, 2024, at the age of 99.[7]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Niederman, James C. (1968). "Infectious Mononucleosis: Clinical Manifestations in Relation to EB Virus Antibodies". JAMA. 203 (3): 205–9. doi:10.1001/jama.1968.03140030037009. PMID 4864269.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Paul, John (1968). "A New Lead in Infectious Mononucleosis". JAMA. 203 (3): 219–20. doi:10.1001/jama.1968.03140030051012. PMID 5694046.
  3. ^ "Board of Trustees". Kenyon.edu. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. ^ "James Corson Niederman, MD > Yale School of Public Health - Yale School of Public Health". Publichealth.yale.edu. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  5. ^ "This Week's Citation Classic" (PDF). Garfield.library.upenn.edu. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Facts (for a change) on mononucleosis". Kiplinger's Personal Finance. 24: 31. April 1970.
  7. ^ "James C. Niederman M.D." Legacy. Retrieved 10 March 2024.