Jules Alphonse Nicolas Hoffmann | |
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![]() Hoffmann in 2011 | |
Born | |
Nationality | French |
Alma mater | University of Strasbourg |
Awards | Balzan Prize (2007) Keio Medical Science Prize (2010) Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2011) Gairdner Foundation International Award (2011) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Biology |
Institutions | CNRS, University of Strasbourg |
Doctoral advisor | Pierre Joly |
Jules Alphonse Nicolas Hoffmann (French pronunciation: [ʒyl ɔfman]; born 2 August 1941) is a French[1] biologist. During his youth, growing up in Luxembourg, he developed a strong interest in insects under the influence of his father, Jos Hoffmann. This eventually resulted in the younger Hoffmann's dedication to the field of biology using insects as model organisms.[2] He currently holds a faculty position at the University of Strasbourg.[3] He is a research director and member of the board of administrators of the National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS) in Strasbourg, France. He was elected to the positions of Vice-President (2005–2006) and President (2007–2008) of the French Academy of Sciences.[3] Hoffmann and Bruce Beutler were jointly awarded a half share of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for "their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity,".[4] [More specifically, the work showing increased Drosomycin expression following activation of Toll pathway in microbial infection.]
Hoffmann and Bruno Lemaitre discovered the function of the fruit fly Toll gene in innate immunity. Its mammalian homologs, the Toll-like receptors, were discovered by Beutler. Toll-like receptors identify constituents of other organisms like fungi and bacteria, and trigger an immune response, explaining, for example, how septic shock can be triggered by bacterial remains.[5][6][7]