Jack Levin (hematologist)

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Jack Levin (born October 11, 1932) is an American physician-scientist and hematologist who, with Fred Bang, developed the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test for bacterial endotoxins.

Contents

Biography

Jack Levin attended Yale School of Medicine (M.D.,1957). [1] Levin joined the faculty of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1965, [2] transitioning to University of California School of Medicine in 1982. [3]

His studies of blood coagulation in Limulus, the horseshoe crab, performed at the Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole, MA), identified the key role of amebocytes, the only type of circulating blood cell in the horseshoe crab, in blood coagulation. His recognition of the sensitivity of amebocytes and subsequently of lysates prepared from washed amebocytes to bacterial endotoxins led to his original description of the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test for the detection of bacterial endotoxins in 1964. His studies of the biological effects of bacterial endotoxins and utilization of the Limulus Test for detection of endotoxin in the blood of patients with various clinical disorders led to his receiving the Bang Award for research in bacterial endotoxins [4] and to election as an honorary life member of the International Endotoxin and Innate Immunity Society. [5] In 2014, Dr. Levin received a special award from the Parenteral Drug Association in recognition of the 50th anniversary of his initial description of the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test. [6] In 2019, he received a Golden Goose Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), [7] which recognizes researchers whose seemingly obscure, federally funded research has led to major breakthroughs in biomedical research, medical treatments, and computing and communications technologies. [8]

Accomplishments and honors

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic horseshoe crab</span> Species of arthropod

The Atlantic horseshoe crab, also known as the American horseshoe crab, is a species of horseshoe crab, a kind of marine and brackish chelicerate arthropod. It is found in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic coast of North America. The main area of annual migration is Delaware Bay along the South Jersey Delaware Bayshore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Biological Laboratory</span> Research institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States

The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is an international center for research and education in biological and environmental science. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution that was independent for most of its history, but became officially affiliated with the University of Chicago on July 1, 2013. It also collaborates with numerous other institutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lipopolysaccharide</span> Class of molecules found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are large molecules consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide that are bacterial toxins. They are composed of an O-antigen, an outer core, and an inner core all joined by covalent bonds, and are found in the bacterial capsule, the outermost membrane of cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella. Today, the term endotoxin is often used synonymously with LPS, although there are a few endotoxins that are not related to LPS, such as the so-called delta endotoxin proteins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Septic shock</span> Dangerously low blood pressure due to damage from an organ infection

Septic shock is a potentially fatal medical condition that occurs when sepsis, which is organ injury or damage in response to infection, leads to dangerously low blood pressure and abnormalities in cellular metabolism. The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3) defines septic shock as a subset of sepsis in which particularly profound circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities are associated with a greater risk of mortality than with sepsis alone. Patients with septic shock can be clinically identified by requiring a vasopressor to maintain a mean arterial pressure of 65 mm Hg or greater and having serum lactate level greater than 2 mmol/L (>18 mg/dL) in the absence of hypovolemia. This combination is associated with hospital mortality rates greater than 40%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horseshoe crab</span> Order of arthropods

Horseshoe crabs are marine and brackish water arthropods of the family Limulidae and the only living members of the order Xiphosura. Despite their name, they are not true crabs or crustaceans: they are chelicerates, most closely related to arachnids such as spiders, ticks, and scorpions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Partial thromboplastin time</span> Test for coagulation of blood

The partial thromboplastin time (PTT), also known as the activated partial thromboplastin time, is a blood test that characterizes coagulation of the blood. A historical name for this measure is the kaolin-cephalin clotting time (KCCT), reflecting kaolin and cephalin as materials historically used in the test. Apart from detecting abnormalities in blood clotting, partial thromboplastin time is also used to monitor the treatment effect of heparin, a widely prescribed drug that reduces blood's tendency to clot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrombotic microangiopathy</span> Medical condition

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a pathology that results in thrombosis in capillaries and arterioles, due to an endothelial injury. It may be seen in association with thrombocytopenia, anemia, purpura and kidney failure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limulus amebocyte lysate</span> Chemical used for the detection and quantification of bacterial endotoxins

Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) is an aqueous extract of motile blood cells (amebocytes) from the Atlantic horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus. LAL reacts with bacterial endotoxins such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which are components of the bacterial capsule, the outermost membrane of cell envelope of gram-negative bacteria. This reaction is the basis of the LAL test, which is widely used for the detection and quantification of bacterial endotoxins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polymyxin B</span> Antibiotic medication

Polymyxin B, sold under the brand name Poly-Rx among others, is an antibiotic used to treat meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis, and urinary tract infections. While it is useful for many Gram negative infections, it is not useful for Gram positive infections. It can be given by injection into a vein, muscle, or cerebrospinal fluid or inhaled. The injectable form is generally only used if other options are not available. It is also available as the combinations bacitracin/polymyxin B and neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin for use on the skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentraxins</span> Protein family

Pentraxins (PTX), also known as pentaxins, are an evolutionary conserved family of proteins characterised by containing a pentraxin protein domain. Proteins of the pentraxin family are involved in acute immunological responses. They are a class of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). They are a superfamily of multifunctional conserved proteins, some of which are components of the humoral arm of innate immunity and behave as functional ancestors of antibodies (Abs). They are known as classical acute phase proteins (APP), known for over a century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stool guaiac test</span> Test for the presence for occult blood

The stool guaiac test or guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) is one of several methods that detects the presence of fecal occult blood. The test involves placing a fecal sample on guaiac paper and applying hydrogen peroxide which, in the presence of blood, yields a blue reaction product within seconds.


Depyrogenation refers to the removal of pyrogens from solutions, most commonly from injectable pharmaceuticals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LOCAD</span>

The Lab-on-a-Chip Applications Development (LOCAD) element is a set of related lab-on-a-chip projects at NASA. The projects develop integrated lab-on-a-chip products in three areas related to space exploration: Environmental Control and Life Systems Support (ECLSS), Medical Systems, and Remote Exploration. NASA conducts activities related to these projects both at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amebocyte</span>

An amebocyte or amoebocyte is a motile cell in the bodies of invertebrates including cnidaria, echinoderms, molluscs, tunicates, sponges, and some chelicerates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coagulin</span>

Coagulin is a gel-forming protein of hemolymph that hinders the spread of bacterial and fungal invaders by immobilizing them. It is produced in the coagulogen form before being cleaved into the active form through a serine proteinase cascade. It has been most extensively studied in horseshoe crabs. It has also been produced by other organisms, such as Bacillus coagulans I4 in a plasmid location. In human medicine, coagulation of coagulin is the basis of detection of bacterial endotoxin through the Limulus amebocyte lysate test for parenteral medications.

Limulus clotting factor overbar C is an enzyme. This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction

Limulus clotting factor B is an enzyme. This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction

Limulus clotting enzyme is an enzyme. This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Bang</span> Medical researcher

Frederik Barry Bang (1916–1981) was an American medical researcher who developed the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test for bacterial endotoxins. He was influential in applying marine biology to medical research, especially immunology.

H. Jane Brockmann is an emeritus professor at the University of Florida known for her research on animal behavior, especially in the mating and nesting behavior of horseshoe crabs. In 2008, she was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

References

  1. ↑ https://medicine.yale.edu/histmed/news-article/reunion-2017-class-of-1957-60th-reunion-note/
  2. ↑ "Jack Levin, MD Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Jack Levin, MDJack Levin, MD". UCSF Pathology. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  4. ↑ "Frederik B. Bang Award". ieiis.org. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  5. ↑ "Honorary Life Membership". ieiis.org. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  6. ↑ "2019: The Blood of the Horseshoe Crab". The Golden Goose Award. 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  7. ↑ "2019: The Blood of the Horseshoe Crab". The Golden Goose Award. 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  8. ↑ "History". The Golden Goose Award. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  9. ↑ "Frederik B. Bang Award". ieiis.org. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  10. ↑ Levin, Jack (1999). "Editorial: From the Editor". Journal of Endotoxin Research. 5 (1–2): 102–102. doi: 10.1177/09680519990050011101 . ISSN   0968-0519.
  11. ↑ Seydel, Ulrich (2004). "Editorial". Journal of Endotoxin Research. 10 (6): 392–392. doi: 10.1177/09680519040100060201 . ISSN   0968-0519.
  12. ↑ "Sage Journals: Innate Immunity" . Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  13. ↑ "Honorary Life Membership". ieiis.org. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  14. ↑ "Distinguished Service Awards for three alumni". medicine.yale.edu. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  15. ↑ "2019: The Blood of the Horseshoe Crab". The Golden Goose Award. 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  16. ↑ "Awardees". The Golden Goose Award. 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
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