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Published online 6 October 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.1154
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Virus discoveries secure Nobel prize in medicine
Work on HIV and human papilloma virus already offers health benefits.
This year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine honours three Europeans who discovered viruses that cause deadly diseases, and whose findings have led to major medical advances.
Harald zur Hausen, former director of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, Germany, was honoured for his work on the human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer.
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In my opinion, these are two greatest Nobel Prices of Medicine. In addition, I agree with Kiechle-Bahat, head of the department of gynaecology at the Technical University of Munich, who says "And now, as a direct result of his work (i.e. of zur Hausen. ndr!), we have a vaccine to protect young girls, before they start to have sex". However, one must underscore if ALL young girls between 16 and 20 years have to undergo the vaccination against HPV. This is an important practical aspect.
I disagree with these being the two most notable Nobel Prizes in Medicine. In addition, the HPV vaccine should undergo more rigorous testing before it is introduced in large scale clinical trials. It is often corporations that seek their interest this way since they are not driven by evidence but by profits. Here is a good summary from NEJM for holding off large scale vaccinations: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/359/8/861
Really great to present Nobel Prize to Montagnier and his colleague Barre Sinoussi for the discovery of HIV virus in 1983 even though Montagnier's name was not there in the published article by Barre sinoussi which was coauthoured by Gallo and Sarangadharan.I appreciate the justice done even though a bit late. Prof.K.A.Salim.
It's nice to see that Nature is not immune to the occasional ramblings of the nutcase set. Please check your spelling next time. Congratulations zur Hausen, Barré-Sinoussi, Montagnier. A well-deserved Nobel.
Thanks God this year's Nobel Prize did not jump onto the iPS bandwagon or was not carried away by the "biological airplane". Otherwise it may take another Nobel Prize discovery to find out that some new forms of diseases are actually caused by man-made cancer cells used for the so-called "regenerative medicine".------Shi V. Liu (SVL@logibio.com; http://im1.biz; http://blog.sina.com.cn/im1)
Hearty Congratulations to zur Hausen, Barré-Sinoussi, Montagnier. I pesonaly met Prof.Zur hausen in a cervical cancer workshop held at Bangalore. He was very modest and gentle man. HPV association to cervical cancer is a very remarkable discovery. From there lot of progress has been done in that field and its well deserved.
Congratulations to Zur Hausen, Barré-Sinoussi, Montagnier.They really did the excellent work for the society, who discovered viruses that cause deadly diseases, and whose findings have led to major medical advances. May these drugs are early and easily available to the common person for their benefit and healthy life. Sandesh Jaybhaye My Prof. Maheshawar Sharon Dr.Madhuri Sahron and NTRC Birla College Parivar pray to mighty god these scientist have Happy and Healthy life to continue research. Trusting God won't make the mountain smaller but it will make climbing easier. Hope you will be able to climb all your mountains always.