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Hepatitis B: The Hunt for a Killer Virus

by Baruch S. Blumberg
Paperback |English |0691116237 | 9780691116235

Hepatitis B: The Hunt for a Killer Virus

by Baruch S. Blumberg
Paperback |English |0691116237 | 9780691116235
Overview
Despite its title, this book is not the story of a deliberate hunt for a killer virus. It is the story of the almost accidental opening of new vistas in virology that led to a Nobel prize. It is the story of the boy from Brooklyn who became the persistent, gifted man who wandered into what he calls deep seas and blue waters -- but wandered with an open and perceptive mind. If poetry is a free-ranging, idealized representation of an idea, then this is poetry. In his book, Blumberg sets out some clues and describes some personal traits that could inspire others to go on similar wanderings. Blumberg was first interested in rheumatology, then physical biochemistry, and then inherited variations in susceptibility to disease. During the 1950s, his tool to study differences among human serum proteins was the basic immunologic agar-gel-diffusion technique. He joined the National Institutes of Health in 1957 and further tracked what he called the Ag system through Europe, the Pacific Islands, and South America. Then an unusual precipitin band present in serum from Australian aborigines was noted by his coworker Harvey Alter. The antibody to the precipitin was present in the serum of persons with poor hygiene and patients who had undergone multiple transfusions, some of whom had leukemia. The first clinical publication in 1965 named the band the Australia antigen and described it as a new marker for leukemia. Blumberg then moved to Philadelphia, marking the beginning of the hepatitis story. At the Fox Chase Cancer Center, where Blumberg remained for the next 35 years, a patient with a negative test for the antigen became positive after a mild case of hepatitis. The Australia antigen was soon recognized as a marker for hepatitis, and the hunt for what we now know as hepatitis B was nearly over. Blumberg's persistent work had revealed a new approach to understanding, preventing, and even treating viral diseases. Incidentally, it resulted in fantastic improvements in the safety of blood transfusion. Always remembering his early interest in genetics, Blumberg hypothesized that the Australia antigen traveled in populations in such a way that its controlling genes determined susceptibility to persistent infection with the hepatitis B virus. In later chapters, he expands on that theory in some musings on the human immunodeficiency virus and molecular biology that deserve to be mined by other open and observant minds. There is a chapter on the patenting of a hepatitis vaccine. Unlike the first U.S. patents, which required that working models be submitted for inspection, Blumberg's was a patent on an idea only. It was later proved by others to be an idea that worked. This book shows that it is not the orderly, directed research program that leads to the Nobel, but rather the workings of the orderly, observant mind. The neophyte can take heart from Blumberg's remarks about the system of support in the United States for young people who have ideas to pursue and who can defend their results in peer review; in this country, such young scientists are often encouraged to publish. In contrast, I can remember my surprise at seeing my first experimental work appear as a major part of a published paper with no mention of my contributions. The response of Herr Professor when he was queried was that no value would be accorded to work done by someone under the age of 25. Blumberg's book is easy to read, although it has evidently been cobbled together from writings done at different times. The author is generous in acknowledging the influence of others on his thinking and his work, but he uses the pronoun "we" to refer at times to himself alone and at other times to include his coworkers; the discriminating reader must sort out the author's meaning, which should have been done by an editor. As the author says, this book is less a scientific treatise than a human document. The scientist-reader will not find a report with the orderly format of abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion. The book is closer to poetry in terms of its free range, and poetry should be read regularly for relaxation, for inspiration, and for ideas.Paul J. Schmidt, M.D.Copyright © 2002 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
ISBN: 0691116237
ISBN13: 9780691116235
Author: Baruch S. Blumberg
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2003-11-16
Language: English
Edition: 0
PageCount: 264
Dimensions: 6.14 x 0.6 x 9.21 inches
Weight: 12.96 ounces
Despite its title, this book is not the story of a deliberate hunt for a killer virus. It is the story of the almost accidental opening of new vistas in virology that led to a Nobel prize. It is the story of the boy from Brooklyn who became the persistent, gifted man who wandered into what he calls deep seas and blue waters -- but wandered with an open and perceptive mind. If poetry is a free-ranging, idealized representation of an idea, then this is poetry. In his book, Blumberg sets out some clues and describes some personal traits that could inspire others to go on similar wanderings. Blumberg was first interested in rheumatology, then physical biochemistry, and then inherited variations in susceptibility to disease. During the 1950s, his tool to study differences among human serum proteins was the basic immunologic agar-gel-diffusion technique. He joined the National Institutes of Health in 1957 and further tracked what he called the Ag system through Europe, the Pacific Islands, and South America. Then an unusual precipitin band present in serum from Australian aborigines was noted by his coworker Harvey Alter. The antibody to the precipitin was present in the serum of persons with poor hygiene and patients who had undergone multiple transfusions, some of whom had leukemia. The first clinical publication in 1965 named the band the Australia antigen and described it as a new marker for leukemia. Blumberg then moved to Philadelphia, marking the beginning of the hepatitis story. At the Fox Chase Cancer Center, where Blumberg remained for the next 35 years, a patient with a negative test for the antigen became positive after a mild case of hepatitis. The Australia antigen was soon recognized as a marker for hepatitis, and the hunt for what we now know as hepatitis B was nearly over. Blumberg's persistent work had revealed a new approach to understanding, preventing, and even treating viral diseases. Incidentally, it resulted in fantastic improvements in the safety of blood transfusion. Always remembering his early interest in genetics, Blumberg hypothesized that the Australia antigen traveled in populations in such a way that its controlling genes determined susceptibility to persistent infection with the hepatitis B virus. In later chapters, he expands on that theory in some musings on the human immunodeficiency virus and molecular biology that deserve to be mined by other open and observant minds. There is a chapter on the patenting of a hepatitis vaccine. Unlike the first U.S. patents, which required that working models be submitted for inspection, Blumberg's was a patent on an idea only. It was later proved by others to be an idea that worked. This book shows that it is not the orderly, directed research program that leads to the Nobel, but rather the workings of the orderly, observant mind. The neophyte can take heart from Blumberg's remarks about the system of support in the United States for young people who have ideas to pursue and who can defend their results in peer review; in this country, such young scientists are often encouraged to publish. In contrast, I can remember my surprise at seeing my first experimental work appear as a major part of a published paper with no mention of my contributions. The response of Herr Professor when he was queried was that no value would be accorded to work done by someone under the age of 25. Blumberg's book is easy to read, although it has evidently been cobbled together from writings done at different times. The author is generous in acknowledging the influence of others on his thinking and his work, but he uses the pronoun "we" to refer at times to himself alone and at other times to include his coworkers; the discriminating reader must sort out the author's meaning, which should have been done by an editor. As the author says, this book is less a scientific treatise than a human document. The scientist-reader will not find a report with the orderly format of abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion. The book is closer to poetry in terms of its free range, and poetry should be read regularly for relaxation, for inspiration, and for ideas.Paul J. Schmidt, M.D.Copyright © 2002 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Books - New and Used

The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

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  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
  • No additional fees and charges.

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The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


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We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

$16.11
Out of Stock
Overview
Despite its title, this book is not the story of a deliberate hunt for a killer virus. It is the story of the almost accidental opening of new vistas in virology that led to a Nobel prize. It is the story of the boy from Brooklyn who became the persistent, gifted man who wandered into what he calls deep seas and blue waters -- but wandered with an open and perceptive mind. If poetry is a free-ranging, idealized representation of an idea, then this is poetry. In his book, Blumberg sets out some clues and describes some personal traits that could inspire others to go on similar wanderings. Blumberg was first interested in rheumatology, then physical biochemistry, and then inherited variations in susceptibility to disease. During the 1950s, his tool to study differences among human serum proteins was the basic immunologic agar-gel-diffusion technique. He joined the National Institutes of Health in 1957 and further tracked what he called the Ag system through Europe, the Pacific Islands, and South America. Then an unusual precipitin band present in serum from Australian aborigines was noted by his coworker Harvey Alter. The antibody to the precipitin was present in the serum of persons with poor hygiene and patients who had undergone multiple transfusions, some of whom had leukemia. The first clinical publication in 1965 named the band the Australia antigen and described it as a new marker for leukemia. Blumberg then moved to Philadelphia, marking the beginning of the hepatitis story. At the Fox Chase Cancer Center, where Blumberg remained for the next 35 years, a patient with a negative test for the antigen became positive after a mild case of hepatitis. The Australia antigen was soon recognized as a marker for hepatitis, and the hunt for what we now know as hepatitis B was nearly over. Blumberg's persistent work had revealed a new approach to understanding, preventing, and even treating viral diseases. Incidentally, it resulted in fantastic improvements in the safety of blood transfusion. Always remembering his early interest in genetics, Blumberg hypothesized that the Australia antigen traveled in populations in such a way that its controlling genes determined susceptibility to persistent infection with the hepatitis B virus. In later chapters, he expands on that theory in some musings on the human immunodeficiency virus and molecular biology that deserve to be mined by other open and observant minds. There is a chapter on the patenting of a hepatitis vaccine. Unlike the first U.S. patents, which required that working models be submitted for inspection, Blumberg's was a patent on an idea only. It was later proved by others to be an idea that worked. This book shows that it is not the orderly, directed research program that leads to the Nobel, but rather the workings of the orderly, observant mind. The neophyte can take heart from Blumberg's remarks about the system of support in the United States for young people who have ideas to pursue and who can defend their results in peer review; in this country, such young scientists are often encouraged to publish. In contrast, I can remember my surprise at seeing my first experimental work appear as a major part of a published paper with no mention of my contributions. The response of Herr Professor when he was queried was that no value would be accorded to work done by someone under the age of 25. Blumberg's book is easy to read, although it has evidently been cobbled together from writings done at different times. The author is generous in acknowledging the influence of others on his thinking and his work, but he uses the pronoun "we" to refer at times to himself alone and at other times to include his coworkers; the discriminating reader must sort out the author's meaning, which should have been done by an editor. As the author says, this book is less a scientific treatise than a human document. The scientist-reader will not find a report with the orderly format of abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion. The book is closer to poetry in terms of its free range, and poetry should be read regularly for relaxation, for inspiration, and for ideas.Paul J. Schmidt, M.D.Copyright © 2002 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
ISBN: 0691116237
ISBN13: 9780691116235
Author: Baruch S. Blumberg
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2003-11-16
Language: English
Edition: 0
PageCount: 264
Dimensions: 6.14 x 0.6 x 9.21 inches
Weight: 12.96 ounces
Despite its title, this book is not the story of a deliberate hunt for a killer virus. It is the story of the almost accidental opening of new vistas in virology that led to a Nobel prize. It is the story of the boy from Brooklyn who became the persistent, gifted man who wandered into what he calls deep seas and blue waters -- but wandered with an open and perceptive mind. If poetry is a free-ranging, idealized representation of an idea, then this is poetry. In his book, Blumberg sets out some clues and describes some personal traits that could inspire others to go on similar wanderings. Blumberg was first interested in rheumatology, then physical biochemistry, and then inherited variations in susceptibility to disease. During the 1950s, his tool to study differences among human serum proteins was the basic immunologic agar-gel-diffusion technique. He joined the National Institutes of Health in 1957 and further tracked what he called the Ag system through Europe, the Pacific Islands, and South America. Then an unusual precipitin band present in serum from Australian aborigines was noted by his coworker Harvey Alter. The antibody to the precipitin was present in the serum of persons with poor hygiene and patients who had undergone multiple transfusions, some of whom had leukemia. The first clinical publication in 1965 named the band the Australia antigen and described it as a new marker for leukemia. Blumberg then moved to Philadelphia, marking the beginning of the hepatitis story. At the Fox Chase Cancer Center, where Blumberg remained for the next 35 years, a patient with a negative test for the antigen became positive after a mild case of hepatitis. The Australia antigen was soon recognized as a marker for hepatitis, and the hunt for what we now know as hepatitis B was nearly over. Blumberg's persistent work had revealed a new approach to understanding, preventing, and even treating viral diseases. Incidentally, it resulted in fantastic improvements in the safety of blood transfusion. Always remembering his early interest in genetics, Blumberg hypothesized that the Australia antigen traveled in populations in such a way that its controlling genes determined susceptibility to persistent infection with the hepatitis B virus. In later chapters, he expands on that theory in some musings on the human immunodeficiency virus and molecular biology that deserve to be mined by other open and observant minds. There is a chapter on the patenting of a hepatitis vaccine. Unlike the first U.S. patents, which required that working models be submitted for inspection, Blumberg's was a patent on an idea only. It was later proved by others to be an idea that worked. This book shows that it is not the orderly, directed research program that leads to the Nobel, but rather the workings of the orderly, observant mind. The neophyte can take heart from Blumberg's remarks about the system of support in the United States for young people who have ideas to pursue and who can defend their results in peer review; in this country, such young scientists are often encouraged to publish. In contrast, I can remember my surprise at seeing my first experimental work appear as a major part of a published paper with no mention of my contributions. The response of Herr Professor when he was queried was that no value would be accorded to work done by someone under the age of 25. Blumberg's book is easy to read, although it has evidently been cobbled together from writings done at different times. The author is generous in acknowledging the influence of others on his thinking and his work, but he uses the pronoun "we" to refer at times to himself alone and at other times to include his coworkers; the discriminating reader must sort out the author's meaning, which should have been done by an editor. As the author says, this book is less a scientific treatise than a human document. The scientist-reader will not find a report with the orderly format of abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion. The book is closer to poetry in terms of its free range, and poetry should be read regularly for relaxation, for inspiration, and for ideas.Paul J. Schmidt, M.D.Copyright © 2002 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Books - New and Used

The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

Shipping Fees

  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
  • No additional fees and charges.

Delivery Times

The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


Shipping Cost


We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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