Nancy Atkinson, (also known as Nancy Cook and Nancy Benko; 9 March 1910 – 21 December 1999) was an Australian bacteriologist. In the 1950s, she was recognised as one of the world's leading authorities on bacteriology, and led research on ''

Salmonella ''Salmonella'' is a genus of rod-shaped (bacillus) Gram-negative bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The two species of ''Salmonella'' are ''Salmonella enterica'' and ''Salmonella bongori''. ''S. enterica'' is the type species and is fur ...

'' bacteria, antibiotic and vaccine development, and the isolation of the poliovirus.

Early life and education

Atkinson was born in Melbourne, Australia. She began studying a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, majoring in chemistry but eventually switching to the relatively new field of bacteriology. She graduated with the bachelor's degree in 1931, and with a Master of Science in 1932, then worked as a research scholar and demonstrator at the university's Department of Bacteriology from 1932 to 1937.

Scientific career

In 1937, Atkinson transferred to the

Government of South Australia The Government of South Australia, also referred to as the South Australian Government, SA Government or more formally, His Majesty’s Government, is the Australian state democratic administrative authority of South Australia. It is modelled o ...

's Laboratory of Pathology and Bacteriology in Adelaide. The next year, the laboratory was incorporated into the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science as part of the University of Adelaide. Atkinson continued to work part-time at the institute, whilst also lecturing in bacteriology at the university. She was promoted to lecturer-in-charge in 1942, and reader-in-charge of bacteriology in 1952, whereupon she joined the university full-time. Atkinson's early work at the IMVS involved the development, production and administration of the BCG vaccine in Australia to combat tuberculosis, as encouraged by Darcy Cowan. Atkinson and her team at the institute were responsible for manufacturing the first batch of

penicillin Penicillins (P, PCN or PEN) are a group of β-lactam antibiotics originally obtained from ''Penicillium'' moulds, principally '' P. chrysogenum'' and '' P. rubens''. Most penicillins in clinical use are synthesised by P. chrysogenum using ...

in Australia, after eighteen months of work produced enough of the antibiotic to cover a threepenny piece in 1943. She also regularly put out calls for samples of Australian flora such as the

Geraldton wax ''Chamelaucium uncinatum'', the Geraldton waxflower, Geraldton wax, is a flowering plant endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub 0.5 to 4m high, bearing white or pink flowers June–November. The name ''uncinatum'' means "hooked" in ...

and native fungi, which were then analysed to determine if they could be used to develop new anti-bacterial substances. In 1943, Atkinson developed penicidin, an antibiotic which was proposed to be used as an alterative to penicillin, however the drug was reclassified in the 1960s as a mycotoxin. Atkinson specialised in the study of ''

'' bacteria. She established and ran the Salmonella Reference Laboratory (later the Australian Salmonella Reference Centre, a national reference laboratory), and published extensively on the subject. In 1943, she discovered a new strain of the bacteria, which she named ''S. adelaide'' after South Australia's capital city.

Honours

At the New Years Honours 1951, Atkinson was made an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

. In 1957, the University of Adelaide awarded Atkinson with a Doctor of Science (DSc) degree for her work on antibiotics and salmonellas.

Personal life

Atkinson's first marriage was to Irving M. Cook, the manager of

British Empire Films British Empire Films (BEF) was an Australian film distributor, serving as the distribution arm of Greater Union. They distributed films of Cinesound Productions. They had a son, Jonathan, born in April 1948. Her second marriage was to architect Andrew Benko, with whom she founded and ran the Chalk Hill winery in the McLaren Vale region. Under her married name, Nancy Benko, she wrote two books on Australian art—''Art and Artists of South Australia'' and ''The Art of

David Boyd David Boyd may refer to: Entertainment * David Boyd (artist) (1924–2011), Australian artist * David Boyd (author) (born 1951), Canadian children's author * David Boyd (cinematographer), American cinematographer * David Boyd (singer) (born 1988) ...

''—as well as a biography of

Gustave Barnes Gustave Adrian "Gus" Barnes (9 May 1877 – 14 March 1921) was an English violinist, painter and sculptor with a significant career in South Australia, notably as curator at the Art Gallery. Biography Barnes was born in Islington, Middlesex, t ...

for the ''

Australian Dictionary of Biography The ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'' (ADB or AuDB) is a national co-operative enterprise founded and maintained by the Australian National University (ANU) to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's ...

''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkinson, Nancy 1910 births 1999 deaths Australian bacteriologists Australian women scientists University of Melbourne alumni University of Melbourne faculty University of Melbourne women University of Adelaide faculty Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire