2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Nobel prize medal

2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

The 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton, and Charles M. Rice for their significant contributions to the fight against blood-borne Hepatitis viruses, a major global health concern that causes a variety of liver diseases, including Hepatitis C. Their groundbreaking work led to the identification of the Hepatitis C virus, which has been crucial in developing diagnostic tests and treatments, significantly improving global health outcomes.

Background

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, commonly caused by viral infections. Among these, Hepatitis C is particularly concerning due to its ability to lead to chronic liver diseases and, in some cases, liver cancer. Before the discoveries made by the laureates, the identification and treatment of Hepatitis C were fraught with difficulties, as the virus could not be reliably detected, leading to a high risk of transmission through blood transfusions and other blood-related medical procedures.

Contributions of the Laureates

Harvey J. Alter, working at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), made the first critical discovery. He demonstrated that a majority of post-transfusion hepatitis cases were not caused by the known Hepatitis A or Hepatitis B viruses, suggesting the existence of an unknown virus, which was later named Hepatitis C.

Michael Houghton, while working for the pharmaceutical company Chiron, succeeded in isolating the genetic sequence of the Hepatitis C virus in 1989. This breakthrough was achieved through the creation of a cDNA library from infected chimpanzee RNA, leading to the identification of the virus.

Charles M. Rice, a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis, provided the final piece of the puzzle by using genetic engineering to generate a variant of the Hepatitis C virus that included the RNA sequence identified by Houghton. This variant was then used in studies that conclusively demonstrated its ability to cause hepatitis in chimpanzees, fulfilling the criteria to prove that the Hepatitis C virus was the causative agent of the disease.

Impact

The work of Alter, Houghton, and Rice has had a profound impact on public health. Their discoveries paved the way for the development of sensitive blood tests for the virus, significantly reducing the risk of transmission through blood transfusion and improving the safety of the blood supply. Furthermore, understanding the Hepatitis C virus at a molecular level has facilitated the development of antiviral drugs targeting the virus, leading to treatments that can cure the infection in most cases.

Awards and Recognition

The awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Alter, Houghton, and Rice in 2020 was in recognition of their decisive contributions to the fight against the Hepatitis C virus. Their work exemplifies the Nobel Prize's aim to honor those who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.

See Also

• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Liver cancer
• Viral hepatitis