Harald zur Hausen was a German virologist who discovered that human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2008 for his discovery.
What did Harald zur Hausen discover? How did Harald zur Hausen discovered HPV?
Zur Hausen began his research on HPV in the early 1970s. He hypothesized that HPV could be a cause of cervical cancer, as it was known to cause genital warts.
He worked with a team of researchers to isolate and identify the HPV strains that were most likely to cause cervical cancer.
In 1983, zur Hausen and his team published a paper in the journal Nature that identified two HPV strains, HPV 16 and HPV 18, as the most likely causes of cervical cancer. This discovery led to the development of HPV vaccines, which are now used to prevent cervical cancer.
Zur Hausen’s discovery of HPV has had a major impact on the prevention of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, and it is the leading cause of cancer death in women under the age of 35. HPV vaccines have been shown to be highly effective in preventing cervical cancer, and they have the potential to save millions of lives.
Zur Hausen’s work has also led to a better understanding of the role of HPV in other types of cancer, such as penile cancer, anal cancer, and head and neck cancer. HPV vaccines are also being developed to prevent these types of cancer.
Zur Hausen’s discovery of HPV is a major scientific breakthrough that has had a significant impact on public health. His work has helped to save millions of lives and has improved the lives of millions more.
