Albert Coons
Encyclopedia
Albert Hewett Coons, M.D. (June 28, 1912 – September 30, 1978) was an American physician
, pathologist, and immunologist. He was the first person to conceptualize and develop immunofluorescent techniques for labeling antibodies
in the early 1940s.
(Williamstown, MA) in 1933, and received his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School
(Boston, MA) in 1937. Thereafter, Albert pursued residency training in Internal Medicine
at the Massachusetts General Hospital
in Boston, MA. During the final years of his house-officership, Coons joined the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory and was given a fellowship position in bacteriology
and immunology
. In that capacity, he came under the professional influence of Dr. Hans Zinsser
, a pioneering and dynamic immunologist and microbiologist.
Coons took a vacation trip to Berlin, Germany in 1939, where he had a scientific epiphany. Having discussed with colleagues the immunological nature of the "Aschoff nodule" (an intracardiac, endomyocardial collection of myocytes and inflammatory cells) in rheumatic fever
, Albert had mulled over the nature of the antigens and antibodies that were involved in its formation. He later wrote: "In strange cities, visitors have many hours alone. It struck me that this theory [of immunological hypersensitivity as the etiology of the Aschoff nodule] had never been tested and indeed could not be tested without the demonstration of antibody
or antigen
, preferably both, in the local lesions. I considered that it might be easier to find the antigen than the antibody... The notion of labeling an antibody molecule with a visible label was perfectly obvious in such a context." When Coons shared these thoughts with German scientific colleagues, they were highly skeptical that such a task could be accomplished. Knowledge of antibody structure was rudimentary, a method for attaching a fluorescent molecule to antibodies did not exist, and even the very synthesis of such chemical tags was in its scientific infancy. Nonetheless, undeterred, Albert returned to Boston to tackle the project.
with the 105th General U.S. Army Hospital, as its chief laboratory officer. The 105th saw action in New Guinea
, the Solomon Islands
, and the Philippines
. Dr. Coons was discharged from the Army at the end of 1945 with the rank of Major (O4).
in anatomic pathology. These methods are widely used today, globally, in clinical medicine and cell biology
.
Many other scientists spent time as fellows in Coons' Harvard laboratory. They, in turn, further developed the technique of immunohistology, as applied to electron microscopy and light microscopy. Coons progressed through the academic ranks at the Harvard Medical School, and was appointed, in 1953, as a Career Investigator of the American Heart Association
. He completed additional work on in vitro antibody production and the condition of immunological "tolerance". In recognition of his achievements, Dr. Coons was given the prestigious Albert Lasker Award
in Basic Research in 1959. Coons was admitted as a member of the National Academy of Sciences
in 1962. In 1970, he was given a named Harvard University Chair in the Department of Bacteriology & Immunology, and, later, in the Department of Pathology
as well. He was a Councillor and President of the Histochemistry Society, and was given several honorary academic degrees on an international scale. Despite those accolades, Coons remained a modest and quiet person who was devoted to his work, family, friends, and students.
. He is buried there.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, pathologist, and immunologist. He was the first person to conceptualize and develop immunofluorescent techniques for labeling antibodies
Antibody
An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...
in the early 1940s.
Early Years & Education
Coons was born in Gloversville, New York, on June 28, 1912, the son of Albert S. and Marion (née Hewett) Coons. He was educated in Gloversville public schools, graduated with a B.S. from Williams CollegeWilliams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
(Williamstown, MA) in 1933, and received his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
(Boston, MA) in 1937. Thereafter, Albert pursued residency training in Internal Medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
at the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
in Boston, MA. During the final years of his house-officership, Coons joined the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory and was given a fellowship position in bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
and immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
. In that capacity, he came under the professional influence of Dr. Hans Zinsser
Hans Zinsser
Hans Zinsser was an American bacteriologist and a prolific author. The son of German immigrants, Zinsser was born in New York City in 1878. Zinsser received his undergraduate degree from Columbia University in 1899 and completed both a masters degree and a doctorate in medicine there in 1903...
, a pioneering and dynamic immunologist and microbiologist.
Coons took a vacation trip to Berlin, Germany in 1939, where he had a scientific epiphany. Having discussed with colleagues the immunological nature of the "Aschoff nodule" (an intracardiac, endomyocardial collection of myocytes and inflammatory cells) in rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs following a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, the illness typically develops two to three weeks after...
, Albert had mulled over the nature of the antigens and antibodies that were involved in its formation. He later wrote: "In strange cities, visitors have many hours alone. It struck me that this theory [of immunological hypersensitivity as the etiology of the Aschoff nodule] had never been tested and indeed could not be tested without the demonstration of antibody
Antibody
An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...
or antigen
Antigen
An antigen is a foreign molecule that, when introduced into the body, triggers the production of an antibody by the immune system. The immune system will then kill or neutralize the antigen that is recognized as a foreign and potentially harmful invader. These invaders can be molecules such as...
, preferably both, in the local lesions. I considered that it might be easier to find the antigen than the antibody... The notion of labeling an antibody molecule with a visible label was perfectly obvious in such a context." When Coons shared these thoughts with German scientific colleagues, they were highly skeptical that such a task could be accomplished. Knowledge of antibody structure was rudimentary, a method for attaching a fluorescent molecule to antibodies did not exist, and even the very synthesis of such chemical tags was in its scientific infancy. Nonetheless, undeterred, Albert returned to Boston to tackle the project.
Military Service in World War II
In 1942, Coons' research was interrupted by a call to serve in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army. He shipped out to the southwest Pacific TheaterPacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
with the 105th General U.S. Army Hospital, as its chief laboratory officer. The 105th saw action in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Dr. Coons was discharged from the Army at the end of 1945 with the rank of Major (O4).
Career at Harvard Medical School
Returning to Boston, Coons continued his work on immunohistochemistry, in collaboration with Dr. Louis Fieser—an organic chemist—and his colleagues. Before the war, they had been successful in coupling anthracene isocyanate—a fluophore—to antipneumococcus antibodies. The resulting product retained its immunological function, and was capable of agglutinating pneumococcal bacteria. In addition, the organisms were brightly fluorescent and could be seen easily with a microscope that was fitted with an excitational ultraviolet light source. This basic laboratory paradigm was later applied to many antigens and antibodies, launching the clinical disciplines of diagnostic immunofluorescence microscopy for bacteriology and immunology, immunocytology, and immunohistochemistryImmunohistochemistry
Immunohistochemistry or IHC refers to the process of detecting antigens in cells of a tissue section by exploiting the principle of antibodies binding specifically to antigens in biological tissues. IHC takes its name from the roots "immuno," in reference to antibodies used in the procedure, and...
in anatomic pathology. These methods are widely used today, globally, in clinical medicine and cell biology
Cell biology
Cell biology is a scientific discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level...
.
Many other scientists spent time as fellows in Coons' Harvard laboratory. They, in turn, further developed the technique of immunohistology, as applied to electron microscopy and light microscopy. Coons progressed through the academic ranks at the Harvard Medical School, and was appointed, in 1953, as a Career Investigator of the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
. He completed additional work on in vitro antibody production and the condition of immunological "tolerance". In recognition of his achievements, Dr. Coons was given the prestigious Albert Lasker Award
Lasker Award
The Lasker Awards have been awarded annually since 1946 to living persons who have made major contributions to medical science or who have performed public service on behalf of medicine. They are administered by the Lasker Foundation, founded by advertising pioneer Albert Lasker and his wife Mary...
in Basic Research in 1959. Coons was admitted as a member of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1962. In 1970, he was given a named Harvard University Chair in the Department of Bacteriology & Immunology, and, later, in the Department of Pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
as well. He was a Councillor and President of the Histochemistry Society, and was given several honorary academic degrees on an international scale. Despite those accolades, Coons remained a modest and quiet person who was devoted to his work, family, friends, and students.
Death
Albert Coons died in September, 1978, in Brookline, MassachusettsBrookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
. He is buried there.