They fought deadly viruses; other researchers are continuing the fight

The world of virology lost two notables in recent weeks, offering an opportunity to reflect on the differences they made -- and to look ahead at advances yet to come.

The names may be unfamiliar; what they wrought isn’t.

Dr. Robert M. Chanock not only isolated the respiratory syncytial virus, which kills 200,000 infants worldwide each year, but he also found the cause, and a treatment, for “walking pneumonia”; paved the way for vaccines against hepatitis A and C; created a vaccine against adenoviruses, which can cause respiratory illnesses; and spurred development of a nasal spray vaccine against influenza.

That’s for starters. Read the full story: Dr. Robert M. Chanock dies at 86; virologist broke ground in respiratory virus research

Dr. Thomas C. Peebles isolated the measles virus, a killer once responsible for 450 deaths each year in the United States alone. And that too is just for staraters.

Read the full story: Thomas C. Peebles dies at 89; doctor isolated measles virus

If such accomplishments prove curiousity-piquing, check out some of the current research into viral infections. AIDS, colds, flu, HPV infections -- all are caused by viruses.

(Here’s a quick Mayo Clinic explainer of the difference between bacterial infections and viral infections.)

-- Tami Dennis / Los Angeles Times