Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015 was divided, one half jointly to William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura  “for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites” and the other half to YouyouTu “for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria”. William C Campbell is a research fellow emeritus at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. Satoshi Omura is a professor emeritus at Kitasato University in Japan and is from the central prefecture of Yamanashi.

What is River Blindness?

River Blindness is caused by Onchocerca volvulus, a nematode which is carrief by black fly. The disease is common in sub-Saharan Africa and is second most common cause of blindness due to infection after trachoma. It can lead to irreversible blindness.

What is Lymphatic Filariasis?

Lymphatic Filariasis causes chronic swelling and leads to Elephantiasis and Scrotal Hydrocele. Both of them are caused by the parasitic worms.

What was discovery of William C Campbell and Satoshi Omura?

William C Campbell and Satoshi Omura discovered a new drug called Avermectin, the derivatives of which have radically lowered the incidence of River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis.

Satoshi Omura has searched for bioactive substances from the soil and isolated a new microorganism (Streptomyces Avermitilis) with remarkable medicinal properties. William C. Campbell has identified the anti-parasitic activity of Omura’s microbial culture and characterized the effective component, named Avermectin, against a variety of parasitic worms in domestic and farm animals. Ivermectin, which is an Avermectin-derivative, is able to eradicate River Blindness and Lymphatic Filariasis.

What is role of YouyouTu in Malaria treatment?

YouyouTu is chief professor at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.In her quest for a therapy against Malaria, YouyouTu has turned to traditional herbal medicine and ancient literature.

Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, is caused by single-cell parasites (Plasmodium), which invade red blood cells, causing fever, and in severe cases brain inflammation and death.

She has identified an extract from the plant Artemisia annua that inhibited parasite growth. She has isolated the active component (Artemisinin) from the plant that was highly effective against malaria. Currently, Artemisinin-based drug combination therapy has profoundly reduced the incidence and mortality of malaria, saving millions of lives worldwide.