Professor Stefan S. Nicolau (1896–1967) a Founder of Virology in Romania*

Forty years have passed since Professor Stefan S. Nicolau deceased. He was the founder of the Institute of Virology in to Romanian Academy’ structure. As assistant of outstanding scientist Constantin Levaditi (1874–1953), Nicolau was trained at the Pasteur Institute. Their collaboration was exceptionally fruitful, producing new concepts in virology. Between their most cited contributions was the concept of viral oncolysis. Oncolytic viruses are capable of selective replication in malignant cells and therefore offer levels of potency and specificity that are potentially far higher than conventional treatments for tumour. Viral oncolytic therapy is today under intense investigation as a novel anticancer strategy, both alone and in combination with other conventional treatment modalities. Nicolau was among the first to observe a possible analogy between viruses and gene, and hence to anticipate the future importance of molecular biology. In Romania, it was in his Institute were people of different specialities, biologists, biochemists, and doctors debated the implications of genetic engineering long before it was possible in practice that science fiction became fact, as the use of DNA synthesis, restriction enzymes and plasmids.