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Three scientists won the 2020Nobel Prizein physiology or medication for their discovery of hepatitis C , a rakehell - borne computer virus that can induce chronic inflammation of the liver , leading to grievous scarring and cancer .
The researchers Harvey Alter , Michael Houghton and Charles Rice " made germinal discovery that led to the identification of a novel computer virus , hepatitisC virus , " the Nobel Committeewrote in a statement . Two other grade of viral hepatitis — hepatitis A and B — had already been unwrap at the clip , but most cases of chronic hepatitis remained unexplained , they notice .
" The breakthrough of hepatitis C virus discover the cause of the remain cases of continuing hepatitis and made possible blood tests and unexampled medicines that have relieve meg of life sentence , " the committee wrote . The scientists ' honor - winning work took position between the seventies and 1990s , and enabled doc to screen patients ' blood for the computer virus and bring around many of the disease , Science Magazine reported .
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The intelligence " hepatitis " derives from the Greek words for " liver " and " inflammation , " and in gain to hepatitis viruses , the condition can arise from alcohol and drug exercise , bacterial infection , parasites and autoimmune disorders where theimmune systemattacks the liver , Live Science antecedently reported . Hepatitis A and E typically induce curt - term illness and are channelise through solid food or water contaminated with fecal matter . Hepatitis B and C , on the other hand , can lead to continuing infections and are send through blood and other bodily fluid .
Physician and geneticist Baruch Blumberg deliver the goods the 1976 Nobel Prize in physiology or medication for first key out hepatitis B , a discovery that led to both symptomatic tests for the virus and a successful vaccine , the committee write . However , even after this uncovering , many cases of continuing hepatitis continued to crop up in affected role who receivedbloodtransfusions , hint that a 2nd rake - borne virus might also get the disease .
Alter launch that the illness , which he scream " non - A , non - B " hepatitis , could be convey from mankind to chimpanzee through blood and had the characteristic of a virus . Houghton later run work to clone the virus and advert it hepatitis C. Rice try out the virus ’s genetic material , roll in the hay asRNA , and do transmissible engineering experiments to learn how the pathogen get hepatitis in chimps and humans . These experimentation revealed that some forms of the computer virus do not cause disease , but an " active " form with specific inherited characteristic does .
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Collectively , the three scientists ' discoveries led to the maturation of highly sensitive blood tests and antiviral drugs for hepatitis C ; the new treatment can bring around about 95 % of hepatitis C patient , Science Magazine cover . " For the first time in story , the disease can now be cured , raising Bob Hope of eradicating hepatitis C computer virus from the world population , " the Nobel Committee wrote .
That tell , about 71 million mass still live with continuing hepatitis C contagion , worldwide , and the World Health Organization estimates that 400,000 people died of the disease in 2016 , according to Science Magazine .
A self-aggrandising problem is " have drugs to people and places where they urgently need them , " John McLauchlan , a professor of viral hepatitis at the University of Glasgow , toldThe Associated Press , noting that the disease primarily affects poor populations and citizenry who utilise drug .
Originally put out on Live Science .
