Julius S. Youngner, ScD
Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus

Contact
Education
ScD, University of Michigan
Research Summary
Dr. Youngner’s contributions to virology began shortly after his arrival
at the University of Pittsburgh in 1949 as an Assistant Professor. At
that time, Dr. Youngner started working with Dr. Jonas Salk on the
development of a vaccine for poliomyelitis. A number of significant
advances toward the realization of this vaccine, which came to be called
the Salk vaccine, followed in a remarkably brief time. In particular,
Dr. Youngner’s efforts were responsible for establishment of techniques
for the production of poliovirus on a large scale, and he developed the
process for the inactivation of the infectivity of the virus without
destroying its activity as a vaccine. He also devised methodology for
safety testing of vaccine batches, including those used in the first
field trial. A simple color test for anti-polio antibodies, used to
determine the efficacy of immunization in human subjects was also the
fruit of Dr. Youngner’s efforts.
It was during the course of his work on the polio vaccine that Dr.
Youngner exploited a new and effective technique for culturing cells
from animal tissues. This involved the simple expedient of treating
tissues with proteolytic enzymes to obtain cell suspensions used to
establish primary cell cultures. This method, now commonly referred to
as trypsinization is the basis for modern cell culture, and the
publication describing this advance, has been cited so often that it
has achieved the status of a so-called citation classic according to the
criteria of the Informational Sciences Institute.
Since his initial early work on the polio vaccine and related topics,
Dr. Youngner has continued to make major advances in the field of
virology and immunology. In the area of interferon research, Dr.
Youngner was the first to demonstrate that non-viral agents could
trigger interferon induction in animals. In addition, Dr. Youngner and
his colleague, Dr. Samuel Salvin, identified a second variety of
interferon that was acid-sensitive and termed it Type II interferon,
which is now known as gamma-interferon. Dr. Youngner also made several
significant contributions to the understanding of the antiviral-effect
of interferon and was the first to demonstrate the anti-interferon
effect of some viruses, particularly poxviruses, a research area that is
currently under active investigation in many laboratories.
Persistent viral infection has been another field in which Dr. Youngner
has made a seminal contribution. Working with RNA viruses, his
laboratory developed insights into the factors involved in the
establishment and maintenance of persistent infections by virulent
viruses in cell culture model systems. The role of selection and
amplification of defective viral mutants in the evolution of persistence
led to the understanding that many of these mutants were
dominant-negative viruses that were able to interfere with the
replication of their wildtype parental viruses.
Dr. Youngner’s productivity has continued to the present day. As an
outgrowth of studies of dominant-negative mutants, Dr. Youngner has
devised a novel approach to antiviral therapy. He and his colleagues
have demonstrated that the live, attenuated virus vaccine for influenza A
is a dominant mutant virus that is able to directly interfere with
wild-type influenza virus in animals and protect them from disease. This
characteristic is distinct from the ability of the live virus vaccine
to induce a protective immune response. This strategy for influenza
antiviral therapy may have the potential for a significant impact on the
morbidity and mortality associated with influenza infections and may be
applicable to other systems.
Dr. Youngner and his colleague, Dr. Patricia Dowling
developed a live, attenuated equine influenza vaccine that was licensed
by the USDA on November 17, 1999. The Heska Corporation of Ft. Collins,
CO supported the development of the vaccine and will be responsible for
its production and distribution. The vaccine “FluAvert IN” is
administered intranasally and is considered by equine veterinarians to
be the first effective influenza vaccine to prevent a serious
respiratory disease of horses.
On April 27, 2017, Dr. Youngner passed away at the age of 96. Dr. Youngner was an iconic figure at the University of Pittsburgh and internationally renowned for his work on the first successful polio vaccine. He also served as Chairman of our Department for more than 20 years (1966-1989), and was a beloved teacher, mentor and friend to us all. He will be greatly missed.
Publications
Chen, D; Endres, R; Maa, Y. F; Kensil, C. R; Whitaker-Dowling, P; Trichel, A; Youngner, J. S; and Payne, L. G. (2003) Epidermal powder immunization of mice and monkeys with an influenza vaccine. Vaccine. 21: 2830-2836. | View Abstract
Youngner, J. S. (2003) Promoting research integrity at the American Society for Microbiology. Sci Eng Ethics. 9: 215-220. | View Abstract
Townsend, H. G; Penner, S. J; Watts, T. C; Cook, A; Bogdan, J; Haines, D. M; Griffin, S; Chambers, T; Holland, R. E; Whitaker-Dowling, P; Youngner, J. S; and Sebring, R. W. (2001) Efficacy of a cold-adapted, intranasal, equine influenza vaccine: challenge trials. Equine Vet J. 33: 637-643. | View Abstract
Chambers, T. M; Holland, R. E; Tudor, L. R; Townsend, H. G; Cook, A; Bogdan, J; Lunn, D. P; Hussey, S; Whitaker-Dowling, P; Youngner, J. S; Sebring, R. W; Penner, S. J; and Stiegler, G. L. (2001) A new modified live equine influenza virus vaccine: phenotypic stability, restricted spread and efficacy against heterologous virus challenge. Equine Vet J. 33: 630-636. | View Abstract
Youngner, J. S; Whitaker-Dowling, P; Chambers, T. M; Rushlow, K. E; and Sebring, R. (2001) Derivation and characterization of a live attenuated equine influenza vaccine virus. Am J Vet Res. 62: 1290-1294. | View Abstract
Lunn, D. P; Hussey, S; Sebing, R; Rushlow, K. E; Radecki, S. V; Whitaker-Dowling, P; Youngner, J. S; Chambers, T. M; Holland, R. E., Jr; and Horohov, D. W. (2001) Safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of a modified-live equine influenza virus vaccine in ponies after induction of exercise-induced immunosuppression. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 218: 900-906. | View Abstract
Youngner, J. S. (1998) The scientific misconduct process: a scientist's view from the inside. JAMA. 279: 62-64. | View Abstract