Question

The 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine was awarded to Barry Marshall and Robin Warren of Australia for their discovery of
A. Human papillomavirus, causing cervical cancer
B. Helicobacter pylori bacterium, causing peptic ulcer
C. Prions, a new biological principle of infection
D. Human Immunodeficiency virus

Answer 1

A Swedish chemist, industrialist, and engineer named Alfred Nobel who during his death, bequeathed all his assets in his will in 1896, stating that they are utilized to establish prizes. According to him, there must be five prizes which became known as “Nobel Prizes”. These were awarded in the fields of Literature, Chemistry, Physics, Physiology or Medicine, and Peace.

Complete answer: For a very long time an Australian physician named Barry Marshal observed patients suffering from stomach ulcers to such an extent that they either bled to death or had to have their stomachs surgically removed. The stomach ulcers were assumed to be caused due to stress or due to the consumption of spicy food and about 10 percent of adults were afflicted with it. In 1979, Robin Warren a pathologist also from Australia discovered a cork-shaped bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori in the biopsy of the ulcers from ailing patients. In the year 1981, Barry Marshal along with Robin Warren began to culture these bacteria from the ulcers of ailing patients. They were able to trace the ulcers and even cancer of the stomach to the infection caused by this bacteria. They were able to visualize the bacterial colonies during 1982 when they had unintentionally left the Petri-dishes incubating for five days containing the bacterial culture unattended during the Easter weekend. They realized that the cure to this was merely the utilization of antibiotics. Their discovery was dismissed by the mainstream gastroenterologists as the traditional belief during those times was that no bacteria could survive in the human stomach’s acidic environment. To prove his discovery, he tested the drug on himself, the only human patient that would be considered an ethical recruit. He obtained the Helicobacter pylori from the gut of an infected person, mixed it in a broth, and consumed it. He developed gastritis after a few days, and then began vomiting, felt sick and exhausted and his breath began to stink. These were all the precursors to an ulcer. He biopsied his gut and cultured the Helicobacter pylori bacteria in his lab, ultimately proving that the bacteria was the major underlying cause of the stomach ulcers. This led to great achievement in the field of physiology or medicine and saved many lives. Their efforts and discovery were recognized in the year 2005 and they were awarded the Nobel Prize in the field of Physiology or Medicine.
Therefore the correct answer is option B, i.e.,Helicobacter pylori bacterium, causing peptic ulcer.

Note: It was in the year 1901 that the first Nobel Prize was awarded. Each laureate (recipient) is awarded a diploma, a gold medal, and a monetary award during the annual prize ceremony. As of 2020, there have been 962 laureates with 603 Nobel prizes.