In case you haven't seen the news yet, three researchers were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine earlier today for their work in immunology. The New York Times reports:
Dr. [Ralph] Steinman was awarded one-half the prize. The other half went to Dr. Bruce A. Beutler of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif., and Dr. Jules A. Hoffmann of France.
They are being honored for discoveries of essential steps in the immune system’s response to infection. Dr. Hoffmann in 1996 discovered the cell receptors in laboratory fruit flies that are activated by pathogenic bacteria or fungi.
In a very sad twist to the news, the Times also reports Steinman recently passed away.
