French AIDS specialist Professor Luc Montagnier gestures during a press conference in Paris in this January 1, 1993 file picture. One German and two French scientists won the 2008 Nobel prize for medicine or physiology for their discoveries of two viruses that cause severe human diseases, the prize awarding institute said on Monday. The prize of 10 million Swedish crowns ($1.4 million) recognised Harald zur Hausen of Germany for his work into the cause of cervical cancer and Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier of France for their discovery of the virus that causes AIDS, Sweden's Karolinska Institute said. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/Files (FRANCE) 

French Professor Luc Montagnier speaks in Paris in this December 1, 1993 file picture. One German and two French scientists won the 2008 Nobel prize for medicine or physiology for their discoveries of two viruses that cause severe human diseases, the prize awarding institute said on Monday. The prize of 10 million Swedish crowns ($1.4 million) recognised Harald zur Hausen of Germany for his work into the cause of cervical cancer and Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier of France for their discovery of the virus that causes AIDS, Sweden's Karolinska Institute said. REUTERS/Christine Grunnet/Files (FRANCE) 

Luc Montagnier of France, joint 2008 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine, is pictured in this July 8, 1996 file photo in Vancouver. Germany's Harald zur Hausen and French researchers Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier were jointly awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, in Stockholm October 6, 2008. Hausen won "for his discovery of human papilloma viruses causing cervical cancer" and Barre-Sinoussi and Montagnier "for their discovery of human immunodeficiency virus". REUTERS/Jeff Vinnick/File photo (CANADA) 

Italian writer Umberto Eco laughs during the ceremony for the 2000 prize-winners of the Prince of Asturias Awards October 27, 2000 in Oviedo. Eco won the Communications and Humanities prize. At left is U.S. scientist Robert Gallo who won the Prince of Asturias prize for Scientific Research and Technology along with French Luc Montagnier.

DB/FMS 

U.S. scientist Robert Gallo (R) and French Luc Montagnier embrace after receiving their award from Crown Prince Felipe October 27, 2000 in Oviedo. Montagnier and Gallo, credited for identifying the HIV virus that causes AIDS, won the Prince of Asturias prize for Scientific Research and Technology.

DB 

Scientist Robert Gallo of the U.S. meets Crown Prince Felipe October 27, 2000 in Oviedo. Luc Montagnier of France and U.S. Robert Gallo, credited for identifying the HIV virus that causes AIDS, won the Prince of Asturias prize for Scientific Research and Technology.

DB 

Scientist Luc Montagnier of France meets Crown Prince Felipe October 27, 2000 in Oviedo. Montagnier and Robert Gallo of the U.S., both credited for identifying the HIV virus that causes AIDS, won the Prince of Asturias prize for Scientific Research and Technology.

DB 

Scientists Luc Montagnier of France (L) and Robert Gallo of the United States shake hands after a joint news conference in Oviedo October 26, 2000. Montagnier and Gallo, credited for identifying the HIV virus that causes AIDS, arrived in Spain to jointly receive the prestigious Prince of Asturias prize for Scientific Research and Technology from Spanish Crown Prince Felipe.

ES/CLH/ 

French scientific Luc Montagnier (L), who discovered the AIDS virus in 1983, talks with Uruguay's President Julio Sanguinetti during his second day in the country, February 11. Montagnier is attending a conference about AIDS.

URUGUAY-MONTAGNIER 

Professor Luc Montagnier from France, one of the Discoverers of the HIV - Virus, pose for the press in front of a poster showing a cartoon figure with a condom on his head, prior to his speech at the "Sixth European conference on clinical Aspects and Treatment of HIV - Infection" in Hamburg yesterday night, October 12. The Congress with about 2,500 participants will end at October 15. 

Leading French researcher Dr. Luc Montagnier addresses delegates during the distinguished lecturer series at the XI International Conference on AIDS in Vancouver, July 8. 

FILE PHOTO JUL96 - Luc Montagnier, the French co-discoverer of the virus that causes AIDS, is moving much of his research base from the famous Pasteur Institute in Paris to a publicly-run Queens College in New York, April 25. Montangier, seen in this July 8, 1996 file photo taken at an international conference on AIDS in Vancouver, will begin running the new AIDS research centre in October.

AIDS-MONTAGNIER 

AIDS researcher Professor Luc Montagnier, addresses an International AIDS summit chaired by French Health Minister Simone Veil (R), June 17. Some 40 countries attended the conference 

AIDS researcher Professor Luc Montagnier, addresses an International AIDS summit , June 17. Some 40 countries attended the conference 

From L - R: Christophe Dechavanne, Professor Luc Montagnier, Line Renaud, French Health Minister Philippe Douste Blazy, and Frederic Mitterrand seen at the start of the joint effort by the media to fight the spread of AIDS, April 7th 

French Professor Luc Montagnier, who discovered the AIDS virus speaks during a joint media effort by French television to help fight the spread of AIDS and public prejudice, April 7th. Around him are other members of the programme presentation team and figures in the health and struggle to fight the disease 

Professor Luc Montagnier the French scientist who first identified the killer virus 

French AIDS specialist Professor Luc Montagnier gestures during a press conference in Paris,January 1993