a prestigious annual award given in six different categories to outstanding researchers, writers, and activists from around the world.

the part of the central nervous system located at the top of the spinal column and base of the brain; location of the motor neurons most often destroyed by poliovirus.

a chemical substance that can weaken or kill microorganisms (like bacteria and fungi) without significant harm to the person infected; not effective against viruses.

a molecule produced by the body in response to a specific antigen; for example, the presence of the poliovirus in the blood provokes the body to create amino acid molecules (antibodies) to counteract [..]

the process of weakening a virus and reducing its harmfulness; accomplished by passing the virus through different animal hosts until it is no longer strong enough to cause infection.

a research study using human volunteers to answer specific health questions. The clinical trials of the Salk vaccine used three groups: one received the vaccine, one received a placebo (harmless subst [..]

deoxyribonucleic acid; carrier of genetic information for most organisms; made up of chains of nucleotides.

a protein that produces or assists in creating change in substances; a catalyst.

when a disease occurs suddenly and spreads quickly through a community, with numerous people affected, and then disappears; polio epidemics occurred in the summer months.

the complete set of hereditary codes (genes) contained in a species’s chromosomes.