Description
From 1977 to 1987, Harald zur Hausen led a team of researchers across several institutions in Germany to investigate whether the human papillomavirus (HPV) caused cervical cancer. Zur Hausen's first experiment tested the hypothesis that HPV caused cervical cancer rather than herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), the then accepted cause. His second and third experiments detailed methods to identify two previously unidentified HPV strains, HPV 16 and HPV 18, in cervical cancer tumor samples. The experiments showed that HPV 16 and 18 DNA were present in cervical tumor samples. Zur Hausen concluded that HPV, not HSV-2, caused cervical cancer, which enabled researchers to develop preventions, such as the HPV vaccine.
Details
Title
- Harald zur Hausen's Experiments on Human Papillomavirus Causing Cervical Cancer (1976–1987)
Contributors
- Kim, Grace (Author)
- Abboud, Carolina J. (Editor)
- Arizona State University. School of Life Sciences. Center for Biology and Society. Embryo Project Encyclopedia. (Publisher)
- Arizona Board of Regents (Publisher)
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2017-03-09
Subjects
Keywords
- Experiment
Collections this item is in