title: The Australia antigen and role of the late Philadelphia General Hospital in reducing post-transfusion hepatitis and sequelae.
abstract: Baruch Blumberg, who received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of the Australia antigen, died on April 5, 2011. Arguably, that discovery has been the most important advance in the field of Hepatology. It led to the virtual elimination of transfusion related hepatitis B in most parts of the world and was essential to the identification of hepatitis A, C, D and E viruses. Credit for this is due Dr. Blumberg and teams in Philadelphia and Tokyo. In lieu of an Associate Editor commentary, Drs. Senior, London, and Sutnick, who were members of that remarkable team, tell us their inspiring story.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Senior
authors.forename: W Thomas
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: London
authors.forename: Alton I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Sutnick
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase