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Richard High Ebright is an American molecular biologist. He is the Board of Governors Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rutgers University and Laboratory Director at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology.

Early life and education

Ebright received a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in biology from Harvard University in 1981 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in microbiology and molecular genetics from Harvard University in 1987. He was a junior fellow of the Harvard Society of Fellows from 1984 to 1987.

Career

Ebright was appointed as a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at Rutgers University and as a Laboratory Director at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology in 1987. He was co-appointed as an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute from 1997 to 2013.

Ebright's research has included the experimental demonstration that amino-acid-base contacts mediate DNA sequence recognition in protein-DNA interaction, the determination of the three-dimensional structural organization of the transcription initiation complex; the demonstration that transcription start-site selection and initial transcription involve "DNA scrunching", the demonstration that transcription activation can proceed by a "recruitment" mechanism, the demonstration that bacterial transcription-translation coupling involves direct physical bridging of RNA polymerase and a ribosome by NusA and NusG, the demonstration that bacterial Rho-dependent transcription termination involves the molecular-motor activity of the termination factor Rho, and the identification of novel antibacterial drug targets in bacterial RNA polymerase.

In 1994, Ebright was awarded the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Schering-Plough Award for his research on transcription activation. In 1995, he received the Academic Press Walter J. Johnson Prize. In 2013, he received a National Institutes of Health MERIT Award. He was elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 1996, the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2004, the Infectious Diseases Society of America in 2011, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016. He is featured in a high school textbook published by NCERT (recommended by the CBSE) in India, in a piece titled 'The Making of a Scientist,' which is adapted from an article of the same name written by Robert W. Peterson for Boy's Life magazine.

He has opposed the proliferation of laboratories working on biological weapons agents and has supported the strengthening of biosafety and biosecurity measures to reduce risks of release of biological weapons.

COVID-19 origins

Ebright has stated that the genome and properties of SARS-CoV-2 provide no basis to conclude the virus was engineered as a bioweapon, but he also has stated that the possibility that the virus entered humans through a laboratory accident cannot be dismissed and has called for a thorough investigation of the origin of the pandemic and for measures to reduce the risk of future pandemics.

Ebright has accused NIAID director Anthony Fauci, NIH director Francis Collins and deputy director Lawrence Tabak of "lying to the public", about their past and continuing denials of NIH funding having been utilized for gain-of-function research experiments at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Ebright and fellow Rutgers University professor Bryce Nickels, who founded the non-profit advocacy group Biosafety Now with Ebright, have been vocal proponents of the COVID-19 lab leak theory. The Los Angeles Times's Michael Hiltzik has said that Ebright has "been posting online insinuations or accusations" of fraud, perjury, and murder regarding scientists that have supported a zoonotic origin of COVID-19 and dismissed the lab leak theory. Ebright has compared Fauci to Cambodian leader Pol Pot and claimed that Fauci's actions "likely killed 20 million people" and wrote that Peter Daszak was the author of a grant that "many people consider" to be the "‘Blueprint’ for SARS-CoV2". In 2024, Ebright was the subject of a formal complaint to Rutgers by 12 researchers, some of who said that Ebright was engaging in defamation and intimidation against them for their research that found a zoonotic origin of COVID-19 to be the most likely origin and found the lab leak to be "implausible". In response, Ebright said that the complaint misrepresented him, and that he had never "threatened or incited violence against any of the signatories" and in response to the letter he referred to the signatories of the letter as "provably coauthors of fraudsters and perjurers", claiming that the letter was "a crude effort to silence their opponents and, thereby, to prop up their collapsing narrative."

References

1. ^ "Ebright, Richard H." Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
2. ^ "Dr. Richard H. Ebright". Waksman Institute, Rutgers University. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
3. Ebright, R. H.; Cossart, P.; Gicquel-Sanzey, B.; Beckwith, J. (1984). "Mutations that alter the DNA sequence specificity of the catabolite gene activator protein of E. coli". Nature. 311 (5983): 232–235. Bibcode:1984Natur.311..232E. doi:10.1038/311232a0. PMID 6090927. S2CID 4261408.
4. Mekler, V.; Kortkhonjia, E.; Mukhopadhyay, J.; Knight, J.; Revyakin, A.; Kapanidis, A.; Niu, W.; Ebright, Y.; Levy, R.; Ebright, R. H. (2002). "Structural organization of bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzyme and the RNA polymerase-promoter open complex". Cell. 108 (5): 599–614. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(02)00667-0. PMID 11893332. S2CID 4938696.
5. Zhang, Y.; Feng, Y.; Chatterjee, S.; Tuske, S.; Ho, M. X.; Arnold, E.; Ebright, R. H. (2012). "Structural Basis of Transcription Initiation". Science. 338 (6110): 1076–80. Bibcode:2012Sci...338.1076Z. doi:10.1126/science.1227786. PMC 3593053. PMID 23086998.
6. Chakraborty, A.; Wang, D.; Ebright, Y.; Korlann, Y.; Kortkhonjia, E.; Kim, T.; Chowdhury, S.; Wigneshweraraj, S.; Irschik, H.; Jansen, R.; Nixon, B.T.; Knight, J.; Weiss, S.; Ebright, R. H. (2012). "Opening and closing of the bacterial RNA polymerase clamp". Science. 337 (6094): 591–595. Bibcode:2012Sci...337..591C. doi:10.1126/science.1218716. PMC 3626110. PMID 22859489.
7. Kapanidis, A. N.; Margeat, E.; Ho, S. O.; Kortkhonjia, E.; Weiss, S.; Ebright, R. H. (2006). "Initial transcription by RNA polymerase proceeds through a DNA-scrunching mechanism". Science. 314 (5802): 1144–1147. Bibcode:2006Sci...314.1144K. doi:10.1126/science.1131399. PMC 2754788. PMID 17110578.
8. Revyakin, A.; Liu, C.; Ebright, R. H.; Strick, T. (2006). "Abortive initiation and productive initiation by RNA polymerase involve DNA scrunching". Science. 314 (5802): 1139–1143. Bibcode:2006Sci...314.1139R. doi:10.1126/science.1131398. PMC 2754787. PMID 17110577.
9. Winkelman, J.; Vvedenskaya, I.; Zhang, Y.; Bird, J.; Taylor, D.; Gourse, R.; Ebright, R.; Nickels, B. (2016). "Multiplexed protein-DNA cross-linking: Scrunching in transcription start site selection". Science. 351 (6277): 1090–1093. Bibcode:2016Sci...351.1090W. doi:10.1126/science.aad6881. PMC 4797950. PMID 26941320.
10. Heyduk, T.; Lee, J.; Ebright, Y.; Blatter, E.; Zhou, Y.; Ebright, R. H. (1993). "CAP interacts with RNA polymerase in solution in the absence of promoter DNA". Nature. 364 (6437): 548–549. Bibcode:1993Natur.364..548H. doi:10.1038/364548a0. PMID 8393148. S2CID 4248533.
11. Benoff, B.; Yang, H.; Lawson, C. L.; Parkinson, G.; Liu, J.; Blatter, E.; Ebright, Y. W.; Berman, H. M.; Arnold, E.; Ebright, R. H. (2002). "Structural basis of transcription activation: the CAP-alphaCTD-DNA complex". Science. 297 (5586): 1562–1566. Bibcode:2002Sci...297.1562B. doi:10.1126/science.1076376. PMID 12202833. S2CID 17422837.
12. Feng, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Ebright, R. H. (2016). "Structural basis of transcription activation". Science. 352 (6291): 1330–1333. Bibcode:2016Sci...352.1330F. doi:10.1126/science.aaf4417. PMC 4905602. PMID 27284196.
13. Wang, C.; Molodtsov, V.; Firlar, E.; Kaelber, J.; Blaha, G.; Su, M. & Ebright, R. H. (2020). "Structural basis of transcription-translation coupling". Science. 369 (6509): 1359–1365. Bibcode:2020Sci...369.1359W. doi:10.1126/science.abb5317. PMC 7566311. PMID 32820061.
14. Molodtsov, V.; Wang, C.; Firlar, E.; Kaelber, J. & Ebright, R. H. (2023). "Structural basis of Rho-dependent transcription termination". Nature. 614 (7947): 367–374. Bibcode:2023Natur.614..367M. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-05658-1. PMC 9911385. PMID 36697824.
15. Rashid, F. & Berger, J. (2023). "Protein structure terminates doubt about how transcription stops". Nature. 614 (7947): 237–238. Bibcode:2023Natur.614..237R. doi:10.1038/d41586-023-00121-1. PMID 36697726.
16. Mukhopadhyay, J.; Das, K.; Ismail, S.; Koppstein, D.; Jang, M.; Hudson, B.; Sarafianos, S.; Tuske, S.; Patel, J.; Jansen, R.; Irschik, H.; Arnold, E. & Ebright, R. H. (2008). "The RNA polymerase "switch region" is a target for inhibitors". Cell. 135 (2): 295–307. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2008.09.033. PMC 2580802. PMID 18957204.
17. Maffioli, S.; Zhang, Y.; Degen, D.; Carzaniga, T.; Del Gatto, G.; Serina, S.; Monciardini, P.; Mazzetti, C.; Guglierame, P.; Candiani, G.; Chiriac, A. I.; Facchetti, G.; Kaltofen, P.; Sahl, H.-G.; Dehò, G.; Donadio, S. & Ebright, R. H. (2017). "Antibacterial nucleoside-analog inhibitor of bacterial RNA polymerase". Cell. 169 (7): 1240–1248. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2017.05.042. PMC 5542026. PMID 28622509.
18. "ASBMB/Schering-Plough Research Institute Award". Retrieved October 8, 2011.
19. "The Walter J. Johnson Prize, 1995". Journal of Molecular Biology. 251 (3): 329. 1995. PMID 7650734.
20. "Gifts & Grants". Rutgers University Faculty and Staff Bulletin. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
21. "American Academy of Microbiology Fellowship Directory". Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
22. "AAAS Council Honors 308 Members for Their Contributions to Science" (Press release). AAAS. November 1, 2004. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
23. "Congratulations, New IDSA Fellows!". IDSA News. July–August 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
24. "American Academy of Arts and Sciences Elects 213 National and International Scholars, Artists, Philanthropists, and Business and Civic Leaders" (Press release). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
25. Footprints Without Feet (December 2017 ed.). India: NCERT. 2007. pp. 32–38. ISBN 978-81-7450-709-9.
26. Peterson, Robert (1982). The Making of a Scientist. Boy's Life.
27. See, for example, the following:
    Sources describing his opposition to proliferation of laboratories working on biological weapons agents:
    • Connell, N.; Ebright, R. H. (2002). "Bioweapon agents: more access means more risk". Nature. 415 (6870): 364. Bibcode:2002Natur.415..364E. doi:10.1038/415364b. PMID 11807521.
    • Shane, S. (March 1, 2005). "U.S. Germ-Research Policy Is Protested by 758 Scientists". The New York Times.
    • Broad, W. (June 29, 2005). "In a Lonely Stand, a Scientist Takes On National Security Dogma". The New York Times.
    • Lipton, E.; Shane, S. (August 3, 2008). "As biodefense field grows, so may risks". The New York Times.
    Sources describing his support for strengthening of biosafety and biosecurity measures:
    • Ebright, R. H. (2012). "Mitigate the risks of release". Nature. 481 (7381): 257–259. doi:10.1038/481257a. PMC 7095491. PMID 22246325.
    • Grady, D.; McNeil, D. (December 26, 2011). "Debate Persists on Deadly Flu Made Airborne". The New York Times.
    • Fausset, R.; McNeil, D. (July 13, 2014). "After Lapses, C.D.C. Admits a Lax Culture at Labs". The New York Times.
    • Grady, D. (July 19, 2014). "Pathogen Mishaps Rise as Regulators Stay Clear". The New York Times.
    • McNeil, D. (September 24, 2014). "White House Issues New Regulations for Dangerous Biological Research". The New York Times.
    • McNeil, D. (December 19, 2017). "A Federal Ban on Making Lethal Viruses Is Lifted". The New York Times.
    • Grady, D.; McNeil, D. (December 24, 2017). "Ebola Sample Is Mishandled at C.D.C. Lab in Latest Error". The New York Times.
28. Taylor, A. (January 29, 2020). "Experts debunk fringe theory linking China's coronavirus to weapons research". The Washington Post.
29. Firozi, P. (February 17, 2020). "Tom Cotton keeps repeating a coronavirus fringe theory that scientists have disputed". The Washington Post.
30. Cohen, J. (January 31, 2020). "Mining coronavirus genomes for clues to the outbreak's origins". Science.
31. Warrick, J.; Nakashima, E.; Harris, S.; Fifield, A. (May 1, 2020). "Chinese lab conducted extensive research on deadly bat viruses, but there is no evidence of accidental release". The Washington Post.
32. Zimmer, C.; Gorman, J. (June 7, 2021). "Fight Over Covid's Origins Renews Debate on Risks of Lab Work". The New York Times.
33. Schemmel, Alec (October 21, 2021). "NIH letter appears to conflict with Fauci, Collins claims about Wuhan lab". Retrieved November 9, 2021.
34. "The repeated claim that Fauci lied to Congress about 'gain-of-function' research". Washington Post. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
35. ^ Kaiser, Jocelyn (March 15, 2024). 'Lab-leak' proponents at Rutgers accused of defaming and intimidating COVID-19 origin researchers (Report). Science. doi:10.1126/science.znoov39.
36. ^ Hiltzik, Michael (March 20, 2024). "Column: Two Rutgers professors are accused of poisoning the debate over COVID's origins. Here's why". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 20, 2024.

External links

• Waksman Institute faculty webpage
• Publications by Richard H. Ebright on Google Scholar

• 21st-century American biochemists
• American biophysicists
• American geneticists
• American microbiologists
• American molecular biologists
• Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Howard Hughes Medical Investigators
• Rutgers University faculty
• Harvard College alumni
• Living people
• 1959 births
• Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni