Hepatitis C virus saved tens of thousands of lives

The Nobel Committee announces the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine at Karolinska Medical University in Stockholm, Sweden, on the 5th (local time). Harvey Olter, deputy director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Michael Horton, professor at the University of Alberta, Canada (center), and Charles Rice, professor at Rockefeller University. Provided by the Nobel Committee

Three scientists who discovered the hepatitis C virus, a representative chronic viral disease, were selected as the winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

On the 5th (local time), the Nobel Committee of the Karolinska Medical University in Sweden selected Harvey Olter, vice president of the National Institute of Health (NIH) (85), Michael Horton, professor at the University of Alberta in Canada, and al Professor Charles Rice of Rockefeller University (68) as the 2020 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine. I said yes.

The Nobel Committee said: “They made a decisive contribution to the fight against blood-borne hepatitis, a major problem that causes liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.”

Viral hepatitis is one of the four main infectious diseases, along with malaria, tuberculosis, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The hepatitis C virus is the main cause. In Korea, 10% of liver cirrhosis and 20% of liver cancers are caused by the hepatitis C virus. Its discovery led to the development of a treatment that saved the lives of tens of millions of people who were infected with the hepatitis C virus. In the 1970s, Assistant Director General Alter studied hepatitis in patients who received blood transfusions and discovered that new viruses other than type A and B can cause hepatitis. Horton revealed the presence of the hepatitis C virus by looking for genetic material in the blood of chimpanzees infected with the virus. Professor Rice revealed for the first time the structure of the internal protein of the hepatitis C virus and succeeded in showing that the hepatitis C virus is transmitted through the blood. It was only 20 to 30 years after the winners discovered the hepatitis C virus, leading to the birth of a cure, marking a milestone in the history of infectious diseases. Choi Jong-ki, a professor at Asan Hospital in Seoul, said: “An oral antiviral drug has been available since 2015. Currently, more than 95% of the hepatitis C virus can be treated.” Kim Seung-taek, head of the common acquisition virus research team at Institut Pasteur Korea, said: “Unlike other chronic infectious diseases such as AIDS, which requires a lifelong antiviral drug, the hepatitis C virus it is the only case in which a cure has been developed. ” Researchers are active so far and deeply involved in research on various viruses in addition to hepatitis C virus. Professor Rice and Professor Horton are also involved in research on novel coronavirus infection virus (Corona 19). Hyo-young Jeong, a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Rice’s lab from 2008 to 2015, said: “Even after the virus was discovered, we discovered targets that attack the hepatitis C virus, developed in vitro culture technology, and studied other viruses. “It was impressive to see that he is actively researching viruses in all fields and encouraging young people.”

The Nobel Foundation Committee will present medals and certificates, as well as a prize money of 10 million crowns (about 1.3 billion won) to the Nobel Prize winners this year. The annual awards ceremony was held with a banquet in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 10, Alfred Nobel’s anniversary, but this year it was canceled due to Corona 19. Instead, the scenes of the winners winning awards in their countries of origin are broadcast on television.

Shin-Young Yoon, Dong-A Science Reporter [email protected]