Pittman, Margaret Evans
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Margaret Pittman was born on January 20, 1901 to James Pittman (an Arkansas country doctor) and Virginia Alice McCormick. She received her B.A. from Hendrix College (Arkansas) in mathematics and biology in 1923, her M.S. from the University of Chicago in 1926, and her Ph.D. in bacteriology from the University of Chicago in 1929. The 1918-19 influenza pandemic geared her studies toward respiratory infections. She went on to work as an assistant scientist at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research for six years (1928-1934). Here she made her first note-worthy contribution to bacteriology as she discovered that some strains of H. influenzae were capsulated, this led to the conclusion that H. influenzae type b was the most pathogenic and the production of an effective type-specific antiserum for treating meningitis. From 1936 until forced retirement at age 70 in 1971 Pittman worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), first as a bacteriologist and later as the first female lab Chief of an NIH laboratory, the Laboratory of Bacteriological Products within the Division of Biologics Standards (1958-1971). Starting at the NIH, Pittman first worked with University of Chicago mentor Sara Branham on the potency assay of antimeningococcus serum, but when NIH moved from Washington, D.C. to Bethesda, MD in 1941 Pittman re-focused her research on H. influenzae again. In the war years Pittman was primarily interested in immunization and products for the armed services. During World War II she was concerned with the pyrogenicity of plasma and blood contamination and developing standards for the sterility of biological products. Pittman is perhaps most noted for her contributions to understanding the whooping cough. In 1943 she was tasked with developing a potency assay for pertussis vaccine, an elusive challenge up until that point. Pittman experimented with the intracerebral route of challenge, and with the assistance of her colleague, Dr. Pearl Kendrick of the Michigan State Laboratories, developed a mouse protection test that became official in 1949. Pittman and Kendrick were also responsible for developing the opacity standard used in estimating the bacterial count of a vaccine which later became the International Opacity Reference Preparation. Her work on whooping cough did not cease after retirement for while working as a guest scientist at the University of Glasgow in 1977 Pittman developed the stunning hypothesis that Bordetella pertussis was a toxin-mediated disease. The pertussis toxin was identified as the cause of the persistent harmful effects of the vaccine, which has led to the development of new, safer vaccines.
From the description of Margaret Pittman papers, 1921-1993. (National Library of Medicine). WorldCat record id: 759563419
Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
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creatorOf | Kendrick, Pearl L., 1890-1980. Pearl L. Kendrick papers, 1888-1979 (bulk 1930-1970). | Bentley Historical Library | |
referencedIn | Pearl L. Kendrick Papers, 1888-1979, 1930-1970 | Bentley Historical Library | |
creatorOf | Pittman, Margaret. Margaret Pittman papers, 1921-1993. | National Library of Medicine |
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associatedWith | Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (U.S.) |
associatedWith | Kendrick, Pearl |
associatedWith | Kendrick, Pearl L., 1890-1980. |
associatedWith | National Institutes of Health (U.S.). Division of Biologics Standards. National Microbiological Institute. Biologics Control Laboratory |
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Active 1993
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Pittman, Margaret Evans
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