Nobel prize in Medicine in 2008 has been awarded to Harald zur Hausen (Geramany), Françoise Barré-Sinoussi (France), and Luc Montagnier (France). Among them, Harald zur Hausen shared half of the Nobel Prize for his contributions as described by the Nobel foundation
“for his discovery of viruses causing cervical cancer”.
In 1983, Zur Hausen identified HPV 16 DNA in cervical cancer tumors. Papilloma virus is an ancient poisonous virus, which causes small tumors on skin. Human papilloma viruses cause cancer to human beings. They affect outer parts of skin and mucous membrane. He was the first to discover individual types of these viruses, and first to separate separated those that cause cervical cancer. This discovery has led to take preventive measures and for the development of a vaccine against cervical cancer.
Françoise Barré-Sinoussi shared one-fourth and Luc Montagnier shared one-fourth of noble prize for discovering HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
First Françoise Barré-Sinoussi discovered the existence of virus HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus). She constantly works on establishing permanent links between basic research and clinical research in the areas of prevention, clinical care and treatment of disease. Luc Montagnier discovered that HIV virus leads to AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome). When Montagnier’s group first published their discovery, they said HIV’s role in causing AIDS. Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier separated, reproduced lymph node cells from patients, that are swollen and that have symptoms of the early stage of AIDS. Their discovery led to find vaccination for AIDS. Montagnier has published research regarding emission of electromagnetic signals from infected DNA of a person suffering from different diseases.