Hepatitis C

Winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2020, from left to right, Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice

Body & Mind

Nobel Prize for Medicine awarded to trio behind hepatitis C discovery

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2020 has been awarded to a trio of scientists for their pioneering work concerning hepatitis C, first identifying the novel virus and then enabling testing methods and drugs that saved millions of lives.

An artist's impression of a virus being attacked by the new antiviral molecules

Infectious Diseases

Sugar-derived molecules kill viruses in groundbreaking new treatment

Viruses are difficult to kill – most of the drugs and chemicals that do are also harmful to human health. But now, scientists have developed a new virucidal substance derived from sugar, making it deadly to a wide range of viruses but safe for us.

Although the technique was trialed using kidneys, the researchers are hopeful that it could eventually apply to lungs, livers and hearts as well

Body & Mind

Infected kidneys save lives

On average, 22 people die in the US daily while waiting to receive an organ transplant. Typically, organs from patients with diseases that can be spread to recipients are simply discarded. But a new approach from researchers could change that, increasing the organ pool available to surgeons.

The US Irvine team says that a new approach using a urine sample can greatly cut the resources and time needed to screen for the hepatitis C virus

Infectious Diseases

One-step urine test to simplify diagnosis of hepatitis C

Researchers have developed a one-step test that can detect hepatitis C using only a urine sample, offering the potential to boost the availability of diagnosis and efforts to curb the virus around the world.