| Who is it? | Immunologist |
| Birth Day | January 06, 1944 |
| Birth Place | Riehen, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland, Swiss |
| Age | 79 YEARS OLD |
| Birth Sign | Aquarius |
| Alma mater | Australian National University (PhD, 1975) University of Basel (MD, 1970) |
| Known for | Cytotoxic T cells |
| Awards | Ernst Jung Prize (1982) Mack-Forster Prize (1985) Gairdner Foundation International Award (1986) Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine (1988) Christoforo Colombo Award (1992) Albert Lasker Medical Research Award (1995) Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1996) ForMemRS (1998) AC (1999) FAA |
| Fields | Immunology |
| Institutions | University of Zurich |
| Thesis | The role of the H-2 gene complex in cell-mediated immunity to viral and bacterial infections in mice (1975) |
| Website | www.immunology.uzh.ch/aboutus/emeriti/zinkernagel.html |
Rolf M. Zinkernagel is a renowned immunologist based in Switzerland, recognized for his significant contributions to the field of immune defense against viral infections. As of 2024, his net worth is estimated to be between $100,000 and $1 million, reflecting his successful career and research endeavors. Rolf M. Zinkernagel's invaluable work has not only advanced the understanding of the immune system but also paved the way for the development of novel strategies to combat viral diseases. Through his dedication and expertise, Zinkernagel has earned a prominent place in the scientific community and continues to inspire future generations of researchers.
Zinkernagel received his MD degree from the University of Basel in 1970 and his PhD from the Australian National University in 1975.
In addition to the Nobel Prize, he also won the Cloëtta Prize in 1981, the Cancer Research Institute william B. Coley Award in 1987 and the Albert Lasker Medical Research Award in 1995. Zinkernagel was elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society (ForMeRS) in 1998.
Together with the Australian Peter C. Doherty he received the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of how the immune system recognizes virus-infected cells. With this he became the 24th Swiss Nobel laureate. In 1999 he was awarded an honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), Australia's highest civilian honour, for his scientific work with Doherty.
Viruses infect host cells and reproduce inside them. Killer T-cells destroy those infected cells so that the viruses can't reproduce. Zinkernagel and Doherty discovered that, in order for killer T-cells to recognize infected cells, they had to recognize two molecules on the surface of the cell—not only the virus antigen, but also a molecule of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). This recognition was done by a T-cell receptor on the surface of the T-cell. The MHC was previously identified as being responsible for the rejection of incompatible tissues during transplantation. Zinkernagel and Doherty discovered that the MHC was responsible for the body fighting meningitis viruses too.
