[Homologous interference by heat-inactivated influenza-B-virus absorbed on erythrocytes]

A tribute to Jean Lindenmann, co-discoverer of interferon (1924-2015)

In 1957, the discovery of interferon was reported by Isaacs and Lindenmann in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the Royal Society (1957) [1,2]. This discovery was definitely one of the scientific landmarks in cell biology of the past century. It was the result of an initially unplanned and amazingly creative collaboration with Alick Isaacs that lasted from July 1956 to June 1957 at Mill Hill in London. Jean Lindenmann died in Zürich on January 15, 2015, at the age of 90, after having survived Alick Isaacs (1921-1967) for almost five decades.

50 years ago: How prepared were our minds?

In 1956, when we started our collaboration, both Alick Isaacs and myself had done previous work on interference between inactive and active influenza viruses. We were aware of the state interference research had reached and of the two alternative explanations that had been envisaged.

From interference to interferon: a brief historical introduction

The idea that a substance mediating interference was released from cells upon contact with inactivated influenza A virus emerged from an abortive attempt at showing that interference was initiated by passage of only part of the virus into the cell, from previous knowledge about interference, and from the use of a simple technique allowing easy separation of fluid and tissue.