Jane Goodall's HIV Research Legacy Lives On Through Hahn Collaboration
Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, who passed away last week at 91, was celebrated for her charisma and ability to educate about crucial issues. Her collaboration with Penn virologist Beatrice Hahn, spanning two decades, significantly advanced HIV origin research.
Goodall's partnership with Hahn began controversially, as collaborations between virologists and primatologists were once contentious, particularly regarding chimpanzee use in HIV vaccine research. The team's first connection was with an unnamed primatologist who provided samples from habituated chimps in Gombe National Park, Tanzania.
Together, they identified variant viruses and studied the effects of SIV on chimpanzee populations. Notably, they discovered the first SIV-infected chimp in Gombe using a 'Western blot' test. Goodall's support was instrumental in Hahn's development of noninvasive methods to diagnose SIV infection in chimpanzees.
Goodall's contributions to HIV origin research, through her collaboration with Hahn, have left a lasting impact. Her legacy as an excellent scholar and educator continues to inspire. Hahn's ongoing work, building on their partnership, aims to further understand and combat HIV.
