Frederik Barry Bang (1916–1981) was an American medical researcher who developed the

Limulus amebocyte lysate Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) is an aqueous extract of blood cells (amoebocytes) from the Atlantic horseshoe crab ''Limulus polyphemus''. LAL reacts with bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a membrane component of gram-negati ...

(LAL) test for bacterial

endotoxin Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are large molecules consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide that are bacterial toxins. They are composed of an O-antigen, an outer core, and an inner core all joined by a covalent bond, and are found in the outer ...

s. He was influential in applying marine biology to medical research, especially immunology.

Biography

Frederik Bang attended

Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hem ...

earning an A.B. in 1935 and went on at the university's School of Medicine receiving his MD in 1939. Bang continued at the university as a researcher with his first faculty post as assistant professor of medicine in 1946. In 1953, he was named chairman of the department of parasitology at the School of Hygiene. He was director of the university's Centers for Medical Research Training in India and Bangladesh from 1961 to 1976. Along with a colleague, Jack Levin, Bang is remembered for his development of the

Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) is an aqueous extract of blood cells (amoebocytes) from the Atlantic horseshoe crab ''Limulus polyphemus''. LAL reacts with bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a membrane component of gram-negati ...

(LAL). The LAL test could be used to find bacterial

endotoxins Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are large molecules consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide that are bacterial toxins. They are composed of an O-antigen, an outer core, and an inner core all joined by a covalent bond, and are found in the outer me ...

using

horseshoe crab Horseshoe crabs are marine and brackish water arthropods of the family Limulidae and the only living members of the order Xiphosura. Despite their name, they are not true crabs or crustaceans: they are chelicerates, most closely related to arachn ...

blood, which is blue. Based upon their observations, they found that horseshoe crab blood clots in the presence of gram-negative bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis, thus providing a testing medium. The LAL test can return a result in as little as 45 minutes and can detect the presence of endotoxins at levels of less than one part per trillion, and it is used in pharmaceuticals and medical devices that come in contact with blood. Bang was a leader in the use of marine models in medical research, especially immunology. In 1977 the

U.S. Food and Drug Administration The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food ...

(FDA) approved the LAL test for drugs, products and devices that come in contact with the blood.

Personal life

His wife was the biologist and illustrator Betsy Bang. They had three children: Caroline (1941–1996), Axel and the illustrator

Molly Bang Molly Garrett Bang (born December 29, 1943) is an American illustrator. For her illustration of children's books she has been a runner-up for the American Caldecott Medal three times and for the British Greenaway Medal once. Announced June 2015, ...

. While serving in the

United States Army Medical Corps The Medical Corps (MC) of the U.S. Army is a staff corps (non-combat specialty branch) of the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) consisting of commissioned medical officers – physicians with either an M.D. or a D.O. degree, at least one ye ...

, he directed research studies on malaria and other tropical diseases in Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan. Bang died in 1981 in New York City of a heart attack while traveling to Sweden and West Germany to present scientific papers.

Honors

Bang was named a National Research Council fellow in

pathology Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in ...

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is a graduate medical school of Vanderbilt University located in Nashville, Tennessee. Located in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center on the southeastern side of the Vanderbilt University campus, the S ...

. Bang and Lewis were awarded a

Golden Goose Award The Golden Goose Award is a United States award in recognition of scientists whose federally funded basic research has led to innovations or inventions with significant impact on humanity or society. Created by Congressman Jim Cooper of Tennessee i ...

for their work on the LAL test in 2019.

Selected publications

* Bang, Frederick B., and William C. Reeves. "Mosquitoes and Encephalitis in the Yakima Valley, Washington. III. Feeding Habits of Culex tarsalis Coq., a Mosquito Host of the Viruses of Western Equine and St. Louis Encephalitis." ''Journal of Infectious Diseases'' 70 (1942). * Bang, Frederick B., and J. L. Frost. "The toxic effect of a marine bacterium on Limulus and the formation of blood clots." ''Biological Bulletin''. Vol. 105. No. 2. 7 MBL ST, WOODS HOLE, MA 02543:

Marine Biological Laboratory The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is an international center for research and education in biological and environmental science. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution that was independent ...

, 1953. * Bang, Betsy G., and Frederik B. Bang. "Laryngotracheitis virus in chickens: a model for study of acute nonfatal desquamating rhinitis." ''

Journal of Experimental Medicine ''Journal of Experimental Medicine'' is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal published by Rockefeller University Press that publishes research papers and commentaries on the physiological, pathological, and molecular mechanisms that encompass th ...

'' 125.3 (1967): 409-428. * Bang, Betsy G., and F. B. Bang. "Localized lymphoid tissues and plasma cells in paraocular and paranasal organ systems in chickens." ''

The American Journal of Pathology ''The American Journal of Pathology'' is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal covering pathology. It is published by Elsevier on behalf of the American Society for Investigative Pathology, of which it is an official journal. The editor-in-chi ...

'' 53.5 (1968): 735. * Bang, Betsy G., and Frederik B. Bang. "Replacement of virus-destroyed epithelium by keratinized squamous cells in vitamin A-deprived chickens." ''Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine'' 132.1 (1969)

Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine The Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (abbreviated SEBM) is a nonprofit scientific society dedicated to promoting research in the biomedical sciences. Founding The SEBM was founded in 1903, after Samuel J. Meltzer proposed founding a ...

50-54. * Bang, Betsy G., Frederik B. Bang, and Marie A. Foard. "Lymphocyte depression induced in chickens on diets deficient in vitamin A and other components." ''The American Journal of Pathology'' 68.1 (1972): 147. * Bang, Betsy G., Marie A. Foard, and Frederik B. Bang. "The effNat Gertlerect of vitamin A deficiency and Newcastle disease on lymphoid cell systems in chickens." ''Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine'' 143.4 (1973): 1140-1146. * Schultz, Warren W., and Frederick B. Bang. "Virus-induced lysosomal enzyme dissolution of nasal turbinate cartilage." ''The American Journal of Pathology'' 87.3 (1977): 667. * Bang, Frederick B. "History of tissue culture at Johns Hopkins." ''Bulletin of the History of Medicine'' 51.4 (1977): 516-537. *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bang, Fred 1916 births 1981 deaths Johns Hopkins University alumni Medical researchers United States Army Medical Corps officers United States Army personnel of World War II