Bert Achong

Bertrand Achong

Life

Born in Trinidad on Dec 6th, 1928. Betrand Geoffery Achong is best known for co-discovering the Epstein-Barr virus. Achong is very accomplished studying at University College Dublin. He received his post grad at University of Bristol and worked at Lambeth Hospital in London in Clinical Pathology. He was also a very popular lecturer at the University of Bristol.

Epstein-Barr virus

Achong's role in the discover of Epstein-Barr virus was to examine the electron microscopy of the virus. Originally called Burkitt's lymphoma thanks to identification of particles unknown to members unknown to the herpes family of viruses, the virus was christened the Epstein-Barr virus. Notable the virus lacks the name of Achong as well. It was the first Oncovirus to be present and is believed to be a causal factor in many cancers.

Foamy Virus

In 1971 he made another famous discover, the Human foamy virus which belong to a the retroviruses family.

References

Bastien, Elliot: World Class Trinidad & Tobago Profiles of Performance 2006http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/314/7074/150