This year’s recipients are Harald zur Hausen who discovered that human papilloma virus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer, and Luc Montagnier and Françoise Bareé-Sinoussi, who discovered the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) that causes AIDS. Dr. Hausen received ½ of the prize, and Drs. Montagnier and Bareé-Sinoussi shared the remaining half. Both of these discoveries were made in the 1980’s and have led to major developments and breakthroughs in the detection, prevention and treatment of these diseases.
HPV is a very common virus – more than 50% of the world’s population has been infected by HPV – and in most people, the immune system effectively fights the infection and clears the virus within a year or so. But sometimes, the virus remains in the body, and over the course of years, the viral DNA can get inserted into the normal DNA of a human cell, which can develop into cancer. And a pretty shocking statistic? Just 2 of the 100 different types of HPV cause about 70% of cervical cancers, the 3rd most common cancer in the world. Dr. zur Hausen’s discovery of HPV DNA in cancer cells was an important first step in understanding how this process works, and just a few years ago, the first “cancer vaccine” was developed to prevent infection by certain types of HPV that cause cervical cancer. (I put the vaccine quotation marks because the vaccine is not directly preventing cancer, it’s preventing HPV; a small, but significant difference in my opinion.)
A view of the medals awarded today, from Nobel.
The link between HIV and AIDS was made just 2years after the first case of AIDS was diagnosed in 1981. Since then, 25 million people have died from AIDS and over 30 million people are currently living with HIV worldwide. HIV is a particularly tricky virus because it infects part of our immune system that normally helps fight off infections – the helper T-cells. HIV is a retrovirus, meaning that its genetic information is in the form of RNA instead of DNA. In order for a virus to insert its genes into the infected human cell, the RNA must first be converted into DNA. This allows many new copies of the virus to be produced to go and infect other T-cells. The French researchers’ discovery was critical for the development of HIV testing and treatment, as well as the understanding of how to prevent infection. An HIV vaccine has yet to be developed, but scientists are still working hard toward that goal and to develop more effective medicines.
Like any good Nobel prize announcement, these prizes are associated with a bit of controversy. It has been argued for years that HIV-1 was also discovered by a third scientist, Dr. Robert Gallo of the United States, and the scientists have battled for many years over who was the true discoverer of HIV. (Dr. Gallo graciously congratulated the winners and Dr. Montagnier did issue a statement acknowledging Dr. Gallo’s work.) On the HPV side, doctors, politicians and families disagree about who should be getting the vaccine – young women only, all women, men and women – it’s a tough call for many people to make for themselves and their families.
Some US government organizations have lots of great information about HPV and HIV (lots of information here). Some other places for more information: KidsHealth and AVERT. You may want to talk about this with a parent or other adult – some of this information can be hard to understand and it can help to talk about it.
Tomorrow….Physics!!!!
