In this episode of "This Week in Virology," renowned vaccinologist Dr. Stanley Plotkin joins the hosts to discuss his extensive career and share his perspectives on the past, present, and future of vaccines. Dr. Plotkin recounts his journey from the Bronx High School of Science to the Wistar Institute, detailing his foundational work on vaccines for polio, rabies, and most notably, rubella. He provides a firsthand account of developing the RA27/3 rubella vaccine using the then-controversial WI-38 human diploid cell line to combat the devastating effects of congenital rubella syndrome. The conversation also explores his long-standing efforts to create a vaccine for cytomegalovirus (CMV), the challenges of post-exposure rabies treatment, and the current state of polio eradication. Dr. Plotkin offers critical commentary on the rise of anti-vaccine sentiment, which he attributes to failures in early science education and the spread of misinformation, and expresses deep concern over the dismantling of public health infrastructure.
A Conversation with Vaccinologist Dr. Stanley Plotkin: A Career in Review
(4:19) Early Inspiration: Dr. Plotkin credits two books he read at age 15, Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis and Microbe Hunters by Paul de Kruif, for solidifying his decision to pursue a career in medical research.
(12:08) Entry into Virology: After joining the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service, a fortunate assignment in Philadelphia allowed him to connect with Dr. Hilary Koprowski at the Wistar Institute, where he began working on the first oral polio vaccine.
(22:12) A Critique of Polio Eradication Strategy: Dr. Plotkin argues that global health organizations should have switched from the oral polio vaccine (OPV) to the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) sooner to prevent cases of vaccine-derived polio.
(24:53) The Fight Against Rubella: The devastating rubella pandemic of the 1960s, which caused thousands of birth defects, became the impetus for his work. He established the virology needed to diagnose the infection and began developing a vaccine.
(32:08) A Controversial but Safer Vaccine Substrate: Dr. Plotkin made the pivotal decision to use the WI-38 human diploid cell strain, developed by Leonard Hayflick, to create the RA27/3 rubella vaccine. He chose this human cell line because he believed it was a safer alternative to animal cells, which were known to harbor contaminating viruses.
(38:26) The Feasibility of Rubella Eradication: He states that rubella has been eliminated from the Western Hemisphere and most of Europe, and believes global eradication is now a feasible goal if routine vaccination is correctly applied.
(43:58) The Long Quest for a CMV Vaccine: Dr. Plotkin describes the development of a vaccine for cytomegalovirus (CMV) as the "love of his life." He explains that progress has been slow due to the virus's biological complexity and early reluctance from companies to pursue a live vaccine for women of childbearing age.
(52:22) Developing the Modern Rabies Vaccine: Dr. Plotkin was instrumental in conducting the human trials for the Wistar Institute's rabies vaccine, which proved its high efficacy and dramatically reduced the number of required doses from over 20 to just three or four.
(1:06:39) On the Rise of Anti-Science Sentiment: He attributes the current anti-vaccine climate to a widespread lack of foundational science education, starting in grade school. He argues for teaching the scientific method and critical thinking to counter the rampant misinformation spread on social media and podcasts.
(1:11:21) Experience in Academia vs. Industry: Dr. Plotkin recounts his seven years leading vaccine development at Pasteur Mérieux in Paris. He contrasts the immense resources of industry with its profit-driven decision-making and internal competition, which differs greatly from the collaborative nature of academia.
(1:42:11) The Next Frontier in Vaccinology: He identifies inducing effective mucosal immunity as the biggest unsolved problem in vaccine development. He believes cracking this challenge is essential for creating successful vaccines against pathogens that infect through mucosal surfaces, such as HIV.