Modern virology owes a lot to Thomas Milton Rivers who was born on this date in 1888. Rivers, aka the “father of modern virology,” began his career at a time when virology was a very underdeveloped discipline. His 1926 statement that #viruses were “obligate #parasites” that needed #living #cells to survive became one of the most important ideas in the field and helped establish knowledge of this fundamental difference between viruses and #bacteria. Rivers went on to conduct vital research that contributed to the development of the yellow fever #vaccine and advanced understanding of #influenza and chicken pox. #PhotoOfTheDay #science #medicine #doctors #health #sick #biology #life #ill 📷 NIAID