Three scientists share 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medincine

According to Xinhua, "The 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine shall be divided, with half jointly to Bruce A. Beutler and Jules A. Hoffmann for their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity and the other half to Ralph M. Steinman for his discovery of the dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity," said Goran Hansson, Secretary of the Nobel Assembly.

"This year's Nobel Laureates have revolutionized our understanding of the immune system by discovering key principles for its activition," the Assembly explained in a statement.

The discoveries of the three laureates have revealed how the innate and adaptive phases of the immune response are activated and thereby provided novel insights into disease mechanism.

Beutler and Hoffmann discovered the receptor proteins that can recognize certain microorganisms and activate innate immunity, the first step in the body's immune response.

Steinman discovered the dendritic cells of the immune system and their unique capacity to activate and regulate adaptive immunity, the later stage of the immune response during which microorganisms are cleared from the body.

"Their work has opened up new avenues for the development of prevention and therapy against infections, cancer and inflammatory diseases," the statement said.

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