Marguerite Lwoff facts for kids

Marguerite Lwoff, born Bourdaleix (1905–1979), was a French scientist. She was a microbiologist and virologist, meaning she studied very tiny living things like bacteria and viruses. She was known for her important studies on metabolism, which is how living things use energy and nutrients. Marguerite worked closely with her husband, André Lwoff, for many years. Even though they worked together, she did not receive the Nobel Prize when he won it in 1965.

Her Scientific Journey

Marguerite Bourdaleix was born in France. She earned her Ph.D. degree at the University of Paris. She became well-known for her work in biology. She focused on the way tiny, one-celled organisms (called protozoa) live and grow. She also studied "growth factors," which are things living cells need to grow.

In 1929, Marguerite and her husband were given a laboratory. This was at the famous Pasteur Institute in Paris. Her early work involved studying tiny organisms called ciliates. She then did major research on a group of tiny creatures called Apostomatida.

The Pasteur Institute noted that Marguerite started as a research assistant. She worked with her husband and other scientists. They studied the shape, structure, and life cycle of single-celled protozoa. Her own research looked at how certain tiny, whip-like organisms called flagellates got their food.

She discovered that a chemical substance called hematin could replace blood. This helped feed a specific type of flagellate. This finding was very important for the Lwoffs' research. They learned about what living things need to grow. They also figured out what chemicals are essential for life. They also studied how some organisms lose their ability to make certain substances.

While studying how bacteria called Haemophilus use energy, Marguerite and her husband made a big discovery. They found the role of a special helper molecule called a coenzyme. This coenzyme is known as cozymase.

In 1940, Marguerite Lwoff published her own research. It was about the metabolism of trypanosomes, which are types of parasites. She explained the role of hematin in their lives. Four years later, she became the Head of Laboratory at the Pasteur Institute.

Marguerite and André Lwoff continued to work together. They published their research both separately and as a team. However, André began to receive more recognition. Marguerite's contributions were sometimes seen as less important. Her husband received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1965.

Key Moments in Her Career

Marguerite Lwoff worked in many different places during her scientific career.

• 1933, Heidelberg, Germany: She went with André Lwoff to the Kaiser Wilhelm Institut. This is now called the Max Planck Institut. There, they worked with scientist O. Meyerhof.
• 1936, Cambridge, United Kingdom: She joined André Lwoff at the laboratory of D. Keilin.
• 1939–1953, Paris: She was named Secretary for the Bulletin de l'Institut Pasteur. This was a scientific journal.
• 1940: She defended her Ph.D. thesis. Her research was about how flagellate trypanosomes make their own substances.
• 1944: She became Head of Laboratory at the Pasteur Institute. She continued her research there. For example, she studied how blood-feeding insects (like reduviidae) get their food.
• 1954–1955, Pasadena, California: She went with André Lwoff to work in several laboratories. One of these was R. Dulbecco's lab in Pasadena.
• 1955–1970, Paris, Pasteur Institute: André and Marguerite Lwoff changed their research focus. They began to study animal viruses. Marguerite was in charge of growing cells for experiments. She found out how temperature affects the different stages of the Polio virus's life cycle. She also found "hot" and "cold" versions of the virus. She thought about how fever helps fight viral infections. She also considered what makes some virus strains weaker.
• 1970: Marguerite Lwoff retired from her work.