Awarding the Nobel prize in physiology or medicine to Francoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier for the discovery of HIV-1, the causative agent of AIDS (1), is timely given the harm that the virus continues to inflict on the people of the world. While these awardees fully deserve the award, it is equally important to recognize the contributions of Robert C. Gallo. Gallo definitively proved HIV-1 as the cause of AIDS through the successful isolation and long-term cultivation of HIV-1 and developed a diagnostic kit that prevented new infections and saved thousands of lives. These contributions, together with Gallo's earlier discovery of interleukin-2 (fundamental for growing HIV-1 in vitro) and of HTLV-1, the first human pathogenic retrovirus, warrant equal recognition.
Unsung hero Robert C. Gallo
VACCAREZZA M;ZAULI G;
2009
Abstract
Awarding the Nobel prize in physiology or medicine to Francoise Barré-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier for the discovery of HIV-1, the causative agent of AIDS (1), is timely given the harm that the virus continues to inflict on the people of the world. While these awardees fully deserve the award, it is equally important to recognize the contributions of Robert C. Gallo. Gallo definitively proved HIV-1 as the cause of AIDS through the successful isolation and long-term cultivation of HIV-1 and developed a diagnostic kit that prevented new infections and saved thousands of lives. These contributions, together with Gallo's earlier discovery of interleukin-2 (fundamental for growing HIV-1 in vitro) and of HTLV-1, the first human pathogenic retrovirus, warrant equal recognition.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
