Albert Coons

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Albert Hewett Coons
pathologist
InstitutionsHarvard University

Albert Hewett Coons (June 28, 1912 – September 30, 1978) was an American

immunologist. He was the first person to conceptualize and develop immunofluorescent techniques for labeling antibodies
in the early 1940s.

Early years

Coons was born in

Boston, Massachusetts. During the final years of his house-officership, Coons joined the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory and was given a fellowship position in bacteriology and immunology.[2] In that capacity, he came under the professional influence of 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 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."[1] 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.[2]

Military service

In 1942, Coons's research was interrupted by a call to serve in the Medical Corps of the

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal
.

  • Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon
  • World War II Victory Medal ribbon
    World War II Victory Medal ribbon

Career

Returning to Harvard Medical School, Coons continued his work on immunohistochemistry, in collaboration with Louis Fieser—an organic chemist—and his colleagues. Before the war, they had been successful in coupling anthracene isocyanate—a fluorophore—to antipneumococcus antibodies. The resulting product retained its immunological function, and was capable of agglutinating pneumococcal bacteria.

ultraviolet light source. This basic laboratory paradigm was later applied to many antigens and antibodies,[4][5][6][7][8] launching the clinical disciplines of diagnostic immunofluorescence microscopy for bacteriology and immunology, immunocytology, and immunohistochemistry in anatomic pathology.[9] These methods are widely used today, globally, in clinical medicine and cell biology.[citation needed
]

Many scientists spent time as fellows in Coons's 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 Harvard Medical School, and in 1953 was appointed Career Investigator for the

Sc.D. degrees from Williams College, Yale University, and Emory University.[13]
Despite those accolades, Coons remained a modest, affable, and quiet person who was devoted to his work, family, friends, and students.

Personal life

Coons died of

Boston Globe newspaper;[14] his son, Albert H., Jr. (1957–2003),[15] a Boston attorney; and four daughters: Elizabeth, a medical editor; Susan, an educator; Hilary, a clinical psychologist; and Wendy, a social worker.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b McDevitt, H. O. Albert Hewett Coons, Biographical memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences.
  2. ^ a b c d Karnovsky MJ: Obituary-- Dedication to Albert H. Coons, 1912-1978. J Histochem Cytochem 1979; 22: 1117-1118.
  3. ^ Coons AH, Creech HJ, Jones RN: Immunological properties of an antibody containing a fluorescent group. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1941; 47: 200-202.
  4. ^ Coons AH, Kaplan MH: Localization of antigen in tissue cells; improvements in a method for the detection of antigen by means of fluorescent antibody. J Exp Med 1950; 91: 1-13.
  5. ^ Coons AH, Snyder JC: Localization of antigen in tissue cells; antigens of rickettsiae and mumps virus. J Exp Med 1950; 91: 31-38.
  6. ^ Coons AH: Fluorescent antibodies as histochemical tools. Fed Proc 1951; 10: 558-559.
  7. ^ Coons AH: Fluorescent antibody methods. Gen Cytochem Methods 1958; 1: 399-422.
  8. ^ Coons AH: The diagnostic application of fluorescent antibodies. Schweiz Z Pathol Bakteriol 1959; 22: 700-723.
  9. ^ Anonymous: A tell-tale glow. LIFE Magazine, Feb. 18, 1966; pp. 66-67.
  10. ^ Coons AH: Some reactions of lymphoid tissues to stimulation by antigens. Harvey Lect 1957-59; 53: 113-129.
  11. ^ Sercarz EE, Coons AH: The absence of antibody-producing cells during unresponsiveness to BSA in the mouse. J Immunol 1963; 90: 478-491.
  12. ^ Albert Lasker Basic Research Award, 1959: Albert Coons. (http://www.laskerfoundation.org/awards/1959_b_description.htm), Accessed 7-25-2010.
  13. ^ "Biographical Memoirs Home".
  14. ^ "PHYLLIS COONS, WAS A GLOBE REPORTER FOR 55 YEARS; AT 84 - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA) | HighBeam Research". 10 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-06-10. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  15. ^ "In Memorium, Spring 2004 UVA Lawyer".
  16. ^ National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir nasonline.org
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