For scientists everywhere, this is the most exciting week of the year, the week in which the Nobel prizes are announced. The announcements were kicked off with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine being awarded to three scientists, Bruce A Beutler, Jules A Hoffmann and Ralph M Steinman for their work in the realm of immunity. Of course, that?s a simplistic way of putting it but, understandably, the work they have been given the award for is highly technical. In simple terms, Beutler and Hoffman won half of the?10 million Swedish kronor (around $1.5 million) award for their discoveries in the 1990s of receptor proteins that recognise bacteria and other alien organisms as they enter the body and activate the body?s innate immunity, the first line of defence. Steinman won the other half of the award for the discovery?two decades earlier?of a new form of cells, dendritic cells, which deal with the next stage of immunity, called adaptive immunity, when the invading micro-organisms are purged from the body. These cells play a key role in activating antibodies and in the body?s ability to remember the invading organism and deal with it effectively the next time it is encountered. Both these discoveries have greatly enhanced the understanding of the body?s immune system and how it works, and so have also proved invaluable in the development of new methods of treatment and prevention, including improved vaccines and new methods to attack tumours. Just to put things in context, last year?s Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to Robert Edwards for his fertility research, which led to the world?s first test tube baby?a groundbreaking development, by all accounts.
The Physics, Chemistry, Economics and much awaited Peace awards are due later in the week, but going by the example Medicine has already set, it?s going to be a good show.
