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Theodor Otto Diener

April 13, 2024

Theodor Otto Diener (28 February 1921 – 28 March 2023) was a Swiss-American plant pathologist.[1] In 1971, he discovered that the causative agent of the potato spindle tuber disease is not a virus, but a novel agent, which consists solely of a short strand of single-stranded RNA without a protein capsid, eighty times smaller than the smallest viruses. He proposed to name it, and similar agents yet to be discovered, viroids. Viroids displaced viruses as the smallest known infectious agents.

Theodor Otto Diener
Born(1921-02-28)28 February 1921
Zürich, Switzerland
Died28 March 2023(2023-03-28) (aged 102)
Beltsville, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materSwiss Federal Institute of Technology (Dr sc. ETH 1946)
Known forDiscovery of viroids
Spouses
  • Shirley Baumann
    ​
    (divorced)​
  • Sybil Fox
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1968; died 2012)​
Children3
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsPlant pathology
InstitutionsWashington State University, United States Department of Agriculture

Biography edit

Diener was born in Zürich, Switzerland on 28 February 1921.[2][3] He attended the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, from which he graduated with a Dr.sc.nat.ETH degree in 1946.[4] After graduation, he worked as a research assistant at the Swiss Federal Experiment Station for Viticulture and Horticulture at Wädenswil,[4] where he discovered on leaves of a cherry tree the first occurrence in more than 100 years of a rust fungus (Puccinia cerasi), a fungus which is common south of the Alps, but is rarely seen in the north.[5]

In 1949, he emigrated to the United States, where, after a brief tenure at the Rhode Island State College, he accepted a position as assistant plant pathologist at Washington State University's outlying Irrigation Experiment Station in Prosser,[4] where he showed that an unusual amino acid, pipecolic acid, accumulates only in peach leaves bearing symptoms of Western-X-Disease.[6] and that injection of the amino acid into healthy peach seedlings resulted in abnormalities which strikingly resembled disease symptoms, thus indicating that pipecolic acid is intimately associated with the disease's molecular pathogenesis.[7]

In 1959, Diener joined the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service Pioneering Laboratory for Plant Virology at the Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland,[4] where he investigated the cause of the potato spindle tuber disease. This led to the unexpected discovery of the causative agent, a small RNA molecule, eighty times smaller than the smallest known viruses, for which he proposed the term viroid.[8][9] Later, viroids were characterized as single stranded covalently closed circular RNA molecules occurring as highly base-paired rod-like structures.[10] Viroids, together with viroid-like satellite RNAs have been officially endorsed by the International Committee for Virus Taxonomy (ICTV) as a novel order of subviral agents,[11] which, in its 2014 publication, encompassed 2 families, 8 genera and 32 species.[12]

In 1989, Diener hypothesized that the unique properties of viroids make them more plausible candidates as "living relics" of a hypothetical, pre-cellular RNA world than are Introns or other RNAs then considered as such.[13] In 2016, Diener reevaluated his hypothesis, with the result that both reviewers agreed that Diener's hypothesis was still valid, but that alternative hypotheses positing a more recent origin of viroids from cellular RNAs needed also to be considered.[14]

Diener had three sons with his first wife, Shirley Baumann, before they divorced. He was then married to Sybil Fox from 1968 until her death in 2012.[15] Diener died at his home in Beltsville, Maryland on 28 March 2023, at the age of 102.[15]

Diener published 2 books on viroids, 120 peer-reviewed articles, 53 chapters in books, and lectured on viroids worldwide

Awards and honors edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Washington Post obituary
  2. ^ Lebensdaten nach American Men and Women of Science, Thomson Gale 2004
  3. ^ Who's who in Frontiers of Science and Technology. Marquis Who's Who. 1985. ISBN 978-0-8379-5702-9.
  4. ^ a b c d Independent Academia
  5. ^ Diener, T.O. (1949) Ein Rostpilz auf Kirschenblättern. Schweriz. Zeitschr. f. Obst-und Weinbau. 58:228-230.
  6. ^ Diener, T.O., Dekker, C.A. (1954) Isolation and identification of L-pipecolic acid from Western-X-diseased peach leaves. Phytopathology: 44:643-645.
  7. ^ Diener, T.O., and Weaver, M.L. (1957) On the significance of proline and pipecolic acid accumulation in Western-X-diseased peach leaves. Phytopathology: 47:8 ISBN 978-1-47872253-3.
  8. ^ Diener TO (1971). "Potato spindle tuber "virus". IV. A replicating, low molecular weight RNA". Virology. 45 (2): 411–28. doi:10.1016/0042-6822(71)90342-4. PMID 5095900.
  9. ^ Diener TO (1972). "Potato spindle tuber viroid. 8. Correlation of infectivity with a UV-absorbing component and thermal denaturation properties of the RNA". Virology. 50 (2): 606–9. doi:10.1016/0042-6822(72)90412-6. PMID 4636118.
  10. ^ Sänger HL, Klotz G, Riesner D, Gross HJ, Kleinschmidt AK (1976). "Viroids are single-stranded covalently closed circular RNA molecules existing as highly base-paired rod-like structures". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 73 (11): 3852–6. Bibcode:1976PNAS...73.3852S. doi:10.1073/pnas.73.11.3852. PMC 431239. PMID 1069269.
  11. ^ King, A.M.Q., Adams. M.J., Carstens, E.B., Lefkovitz, E.J. et al. (2012) Virus Taxonomy . Elsevier Academic Press, PP. 1221-1259, TN: 949565
  12. ^ Di Serio F, Flores R, Verhoeven JT, Li SF, Pallás V, Randles JW, Sano T, Vidalakis G, Owens RA (2014). "Current status of viroid taxonomy". Archives of Virology. 159 (12): 3467–78. doi:10.1007/s00705-014-2200-6. PMID 25216773.
  13. ^ Diener TO (1989). "Circular RNAs: relics of precellular evolution?". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 86 (23): 9370–4. Bibcode:1989PNAS...86.9370D. doi:10.1073/pnas.86.23.9370. PMC 298497. PMID 2480600.
  14. ^ Diener TO (2016). "Viroids: "living fossils" of primordial RNAs?". Biology Direct. 11 (1): 15. doi:10.1186/s13062-016-0116-7. PMC 4807594. PMID 27016066.
  15. ^ a b Langer, Emily (14 April 2023). "Theodor Diener, scientist who discovered the tiny viroid, dies at 102". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  16. ^ Ruth Allen Award
  17. ^ National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) (1885). Report of the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies. pp. 57–. NAP:12071.
  18. ^ Wolf Prize in Agriculture - 1987
  19. ^ The President's National Medal of Science
  20. ^ E.C. Stakman Award
  21. ^ Agricultural Research Service
  • USDA-ARS. 1989. Tracking the Elusive Viroid

April 13, 2024
theodor, otto, diener, february, 1921, march, 2023, swiss, american, plant, pathologist, 1971, discovered, that, causative, agent, potato, spindle, tuber, disease, virus, novel, agent, which, consists, solely, short, strand, single, stranded, without, protein,. Theodor Otto Diener 28 February 1921 28 March 2023 was a Swiss American plant pathologist 1 In 1971 he discovered that the causative agent of the potato spindle tuber disease is not a virus but a novel agent which consists solely of a short strand of single stranded RNA without a protein capsid eighty times smaller than the smallest viruses He proposed to name it and similar agents yet to be discovered viroids Viroids displaced viruses as the smallest known infectious agents Theodor Otto DienerBorn 1921 02 28 28 February 1921Zurich SwitzerlandDied28 March 2023 2023 03 28 aged 102 Beltsville Maryland U S Alma materSwiss Federal Institute of Technology Dr sc ETH 1946 Known forDiscovery of viroidsSpousesShirley Baumann divorced wbr Sybil Fox m 1968 died 2012 wbr Children3AwardsNational Medal of Science 1987 Scientific careerFieldsPlant pathologyInstitutionsWashington State University United States Department of Agriculture Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Awards and honors 2 See also 3 ReferencesBiography editDiener was born in Zurich Switzerland on 28 February 1921 2 3 He attended the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology from which he graduated with a Dr sc nat ETH degree in 1946 4 After graduation he worked as a research assistant at the Swiss Federal Experiment Station for Viticulture and Horticulture at Wadenswil 4 where he discovered on leaves of a cherry tree the first occurrence in more than 100 years of a rust fungus Puccinia cerasi a fungus which is common south of the Alps but is rarely seen in the north 5 In 1949 he emigrated to the United States where after a brief tenure at the Rhode Island State College he accepted a position as assistant plant pathologist at Washington State University s outlying Irrigation Experiment Station in Prosser 4 where he showed that an unusual amino acid pipecolic acid accumulates only in peach leaves bearing symptoms of Western X Disease 6 and that injection of the amino acid into healthy peach seedlings resulted in abnormalities which strikingly resembled disease symptoms thus indicating that pipecolic acid is intimately associated with the disease s molecular pathogenesis 7 In 1959 Diener joined the US Department of Agriculture s Agricultural Research Service Pioneering Laboratory for Plant Virology at the Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville Maryland 4 where he investigated the cause of the potato spindle tuber disease This led to the unexpected discovery of the causative agent a small RNA molecule eighty times smaller than the smallest known viruses for which he proposed the term viroid 8 9 Later viroids were characterized as single stranded covalently closed circular RNA molecules occurring as highly base paired rod like structures 10 Viroids together with viroid like satellite RNAs have been officially endorsed by the International Committee for Virus Taxonomy ICTV as a novel order of subviral agents 11 which in its 2014 publication encompassed 2 families 8 genera and 32 species 12 In 1989 Diener hypothesized that the unique properties of viroids make them more plausible candidates as living relics of a hypothetical pre cellular RNA world than are Introns or other RNAs then considered as such 13 In 2016 Diener reevaluated his hypothesis with the result that both reviewers agreed that Diener s hypothesis was still valid but that alternative hypotheses positing a more recent origin of viroids from cellular RNAs needed also to be considered 14 Diener had three sons with his first wife Shirley Baumann before they divorced He was then married to Sybil Fox from 1968 until her death in 2012 15 Diener died at his home in Beltsville Maryland on 28 March 2023 at the age of 102 15 Diener published 2 books on viroids 120 peer reviewed articles 53 chapters in books and lectured on viroids worldwide Awards and honors edit 1968 Campbell Award American Institute of Biological Sciences 1969 Superior Service Award U S Department of Agriculture 1973 Fellow Award American Phytopathological Society 1975 Alexander von Humboldt Award Alexander von Humboldt Society 1976 Ruth Allen Award American Phytopathological Society 16 1977 Elected Member U S National Academy of Sciences 17 1978 Elected Fellow American Academy of Arts and Sciences 1979 Elected Andrew D White Professor at Large Cornell University 1980 Elected member Leopoldina German Academy of Sciences 1987 Wolf Prize in Agriculture Wolf Foundation State of Israel 18 1987 National Medal of Science USA 19 1988 E C Stakman Award University of Minnesota 20 1988 Distinguished Service Award Potomac Division American Phytopathological Society 1989 Inducted into Science Hall of Fame Agricultural Research Service U S Department of Agriculture 21 1989 Named Distinguished Professor University of Maryland College Park MD 1994 Named Distinguished Professor Emeritus University of Maryland College Park MDSee also editViroid Potato spindle tuber viroidReferences edit Washington Post obituary Lebensdaten nach American Men and Women of Science Thomson Gale 2004 Who s who in Frontiers of Science and Technology Marquis Who s Who 1985 ISBN 978 0 8379 5702 9 a b c d Independent Academia Diener T O 1949 Ein Rostpilz auf Kirschenblattern Schweriz Zeitschr f Obst und Weinbau 58 228 230 Diener T O Dekker C A 1954 Isolation and identification of L pipecolic acid from Western X diseased peach leaves Phytopathology 44 643 645 Diener T O and Weaver M L 1957 On the significance of proline and pipecolic acid accumulation in Western X diseased peach leaves Phytopathology 47 8 ISBN 978 1 47872253 3 Diener TO 1971 Potato spindle tuber virus IV A replicating low molecular weight RNA Virology 45 2 411 28 doi 10 1016 0042 6822 71 90342 4 PMID 5095900 Diener TO 1972 Potato spindle tuber viroid 8 Correlation of infectivity with a UV absorbing component and thermal denaturation properties of the RNA Virology 50 2 606 9 doi 10 1016 0042 6822 72 90412 6 PMID 4636118 Sanger HL Klotz G Riesner D Gross HJ Kleinschmidt AK 1976 Viroids are single stranded covalently closed circular RNA molecules existing as highly base paired rod like structures Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 73 11 3852 6 Bibcode 1976PNAS 73 3852S doi 10 1073 pnas 73 11 3852 PMC 431239 PMID 1069269 King A M Q Adams M J Carstens E B Lefkovitz E J et al 2012 Virus Taxonomy Elsevier Academic Press PP 1221 1259 TN 949565 Di Serio F Flores R Verhoeven JT Li SF Pallas V Randles JW Sano T Vidalakis G Owens RA 2014 Current status of viroid taxonomy Archives of Virology 159 12 3467 78 doi 10 1007 s00705 014 2200 6 PMID 25216773 Diener TO 1989 Circular RNAs relics of precellular evolution Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 86 23 9370 4 Bibcode 1989PNAS 86 9370D doi 10 1073 pnas 86 23 9370 PMC 298497 PMID 2480600 Diener TO 2016 Viroids living fossils of primordial RNAs Biology Direct 11 1 15 doi 10 1186 s13062 016 0116 7 PMC 4807594 PMID 27016066 a b Langer Emily 14 April 2023 Theodor Diener scientist who discovered the tiny viroid dies at 102 The Washington Post Retrieved 14 April 2023 Ruth Allen Award National Academy of Sciences U S 1885 Report of the National Academy of Sciences National Academies pp 57 NAP 12071 Wolf Prize in Agriculture 1987 The President s National Medal of Science E C Stakman Award Agricultural Research Service USDA ARS 1989 Tracking the Elusive Viroid Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theodor Otto Diener amp oldid 1208315390, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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