Q: Who is Jules A. Hoffmann?
A: Jules A. Hoffmann is a Luxembourg-born French biologist who is a research director and member of the board of administrators of the National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS) in Strasbourg, France.
Q: What did Jules A. Hoffmann discover?
A: Jules A. Hoffmann discovered the function of the fruit fly Toll gene in innate immunity which led to the discovery of its mammalian homologues, the toll-like receptors.
Q: What are toll-like receptors?
A: Toll-like receptors are mammalian homologues of the fruit fly Toll gene discovered by Jules A. Hoffmann which identify constituents of other organisms like fungi and bacteria and trigger an immune response.
Q: What is innate immunity?
A: Innate immunity refers to the body's first line of defense system which is non-specific and activated immediately upon pathogenic challenge.
Q: What is septic shock?
A: Septic shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when sepsis, which is a serious infection, progresses to a point when blood pressure drops rapidly and eventually leads to organ failure.
Q: Why did Jules A. Hoffmann receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2011?
A: Jules A. Hoffmann received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2011 for his discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity, including the discovery of the function of the fruit fly Toll gene in innate immunity.
Q: What is the French Academy of Sciences?
A: The French Academy of Sciences is a learned society of distinguished scholars and researchers that promotes scientific excellence in France. Jules A. Hoffmann became its President in 2007.
