- The "New" American Academy of Microbiology
- American Academy of Microbiology
- International Activities
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The "New" American Academy of Microbiology
As its 50th anniversary approaches, the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM) is redoubling its efforts and focusing on the AAM mission of recognizing excellence and fostering knowledge in the microbiological sciences. Years of growth and recent initiatives by the Board of Governors (BOG) are strengthening the AAM, solidifying its role as the only honorific membership group devoted entirely to microbiologists and the science of microbiology.
Then and Now
Incorporated in 1955, the Academy began as an independent organization founded by distinguished scientists from ASM, then called the Society of American Bacteriologists. The BOG met in 1956 and began operations with the formation of the Election to Membership Committee and the Certification Committee. In 1968, the AAM and ASM agreed to merge, "with the assurance that this merger will retain the identity and purpose of the Academy." As ASM President D. W. Watson explained, the Academy would become another "arm" of the ASM (minutes, ASM Council Policy Committee, December 1968). A 1970 change in the ASM constitution finalized the Academy's current position within the Society.
Certification boards for the credentialing of microbiologists were the Academy’s first programs. The American Board of Microbiology (later renamed the American Board of Medical Microbiology) was born in 1958, followed by the National Registry of Microbiologists in 1960 and the American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology in 1977.
AAM programs have grown substantially since that time. In 1997, the three certification boards and the Committee for Postgraduate Educational Programs (CPEP) were organized within the AAM under the governing board of the American College of Microbiology. College activities encompass the certification of more than 5,200 Diplomates and Registrants and 12 CPEP-accredited training programs.
Today, there are 1,818 Fellows of the Academy. The group includes 218 members of the National Academy of Sciences, representatives of all subspecialties of microbiology, and members from 37 countries. In 1991, the Academy added to its honorific activities and assumed responsibility for ASM scientific achievement awards then administered by units throughout the Society. The AAM now coordinates the corporate sponsorship, nomination, selection, and presentation of as many as 23 annual prizes.
A hot-topics workshop held in 1988 is the ancestor of today’s AAM critical issues colloquia program. In use for more than a decade, the colloquium format differs from traditional workshops and conferences. There are no formal presentations of specific research. Instead, colloquia rely on invited, often interdisciplinary, scientists who bring the sum of their knowledge and experience to the table. The bulk of colloquium participants’ time is spent in small working groups focused on in-depth deliberation of the scientific issues and developing the intellectual material for a report.
Published colloquia reports have covered topics ranging from the scientific foundations of bioremediation (1992) to the potential of DNA vaccines (1997), the microbial quality of water (1995, 2001), and the developing science of geobiology (2001). The documents are designed to provide scientifically well-founded treatment of the issues and practical recommendations for the future. Since 1992, more than 175,000 of the Academy’s 14 colloquia reports have been distributed.
Focused on the Future
The Board of Governors in Port Ludlow, Wash. (l-r) Marie Coyle, David Stahl, Carol Colgan (Academy staff director), Abraham Sonenshein, Joe Campos, Julian Davies, John Collier, Lucia Rothman-Denes, James Dahlberg, Eugene Nester, (Chair), Arnold Demain. "The strength of the Academy rests with its members," says Eugene Nester, chair of the Board of Governors, about the ability of the AAM to fulfill its mission. Making sure that scientists representing the very highest levels of achievement and expertise are included in the Academy is crucial. Over 500 Fellows, more than a fourth of the total Academy membership, participate in Academy programmatic activities every year.
A new system for election to Fellowship was adopted in 2002. "Patterned in part on procedures used by other scientific, honorific organizations, our approach is twofold," Nester explains, "first, to help ensure that highly qualified individuals who deserve to be nominated are indeed nominated and, second, to help ensure that, once nominated, the nominees are intensively evaluated for election."
The new, annual election process was developed by a committee headed by BOG member John Collier and differs significantly from the system used in the past. Nominations received from Academy Fellows throughout the year are forwarded to the Committee on Election to Fellowship (COE), which meets face-to-face to discuss and vote on the credentials of every nominee. This key committee was recently expanded to 10 elected members to ensure that a breadth of scientific specialty areas is represented. Nominations approved by a two-thirds vote of the COE are sent on to the Board of Governors for further review of each dossier and extensive discussion. Successful candidates must be affirmed by 7 members of the 10-person Board.
This year, new Academy Fellows were recognized by Eugene Nester during the Fellows Luncheon at the General Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. A complete list of the 2002 Academy Fellows can be found on page 399.
Other new initiatives relate to the Academy’s mission of recognizing excellence and fostering knowledge. A revitalized Committee on Diversity met for the first time at the General Meeting and adopted the following statement of purpose: "To increase the participation and visibility of underrepresented minority scientists within the American Academy of Microbiology." Chaired by Marian Johnson-Thompson, the Committee intends to encourage the nomination of qualified minority scientists to the Academy and for ASM awards and to identify individuals with appropriate expertise for participation in Academy colloquia.
BOG member Lucia Rothman-Denes is also chairing a future-oriented group for the Academy, the International Initiatives Committee. A subgroup of the Committee will convene during the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS) meeting in Paris, France, to plan two international colloquia for 2003. The Committee will focus on developing colloquia on scientific topics of global significance and issues that address the differential impacts and specific concerns in various regions of the world.
Andrea Lohse
Andrea Lohse is an American Academy of Microbiology manager at ASM.American Academy of Microbiology
The American Academy of Microbiology is honored to welcome these new Fellows, elected in recognition of scientific excellence:
Lisa Alvarez-Cohen, Ph.D.
University of California, BerkeleyFrederick M. Ausubel, Ph.D.
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.Mark J. Bailey, Ph.D.
Natural Environment Research Council, Oxford, EnglandTania A. Baker, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, CambridgeBonnie L. Bassler, Ph.D.
Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.Edward A. Bayer, Ph.D.
Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, IsraelGregory A. Bohach, Ph.D.
University of Idaho, MoscowArturo Casadevall, M.D., Ph.D.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y.Arun K. Chatterjee, Ph.D.
University of Missouri, ColumbiaFrancis V. Chisari, M.D.
The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, Calif.Franklin R. Cockerill, III, M.D.
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.Ronald C. Desrosiers, Ph.D.
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.Paul H. Edelstein, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, PhiladelphiaCharles O. Elson, III, M.D.
University of Alabama, BirminghamLajos R. Ferenczy, D.Sc.
Jozsef Attila University, Szeged, HungaryMary K. Firestone, Ph.D.
University of California, BerkeleyErrol C. Friedberg, M.D.
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, DallasWilliam E. Goldman, Ph.D.
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.Ricardo Guerrero, Ph.D.
University of Barcelona, SpainNancy K. Hall, Ph.D.
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma CityDavid J. Hampson, BVetMed, Ph.D., D.Sc.
Murdoch University, Perth, AustraliaRobert E. W. Hancock, Ph.D.
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CanadaMichael Hecker, Ph.D.
Universitat Greifswald, GermanyErik A. Henchal, Ph.D.
U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Md.Roger W. Hendrix, Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh, Pa.George C. Hill, Ph.D.
Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn.C. Ronald Kahn, M.D.
Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Mass.Paul S. Keim, Ph.D.
Northern Arizona University, FlagstaffTodd Klaenhammer, Ph.D.
North Carolina State University, RaleighBruce S. Klein, M.D.
University of Wisconsin Medical School, MadisonElmer W. Koneman, M.D.
University of Colorado School of Medicine, DenverMichael M. C. Lai, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Southern California Health Sciences Campus, Los AngelesAlan M. Lambowitz, Ph.D.
University of Texas, AustinPaul T. Magee, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, St. PaulJames L. Manley, Ph.D.
Columbia University, New York, N.Y.Rowena G. Matthews, Ph.D.
University of Michigan, Ann ArborMichael R. Maurizi, Ph.D.
National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Md.Lord Robert M. May, Ph.D.
University of Oxford, EnglandMargaret J. McFall-Ngai, Ph.D.
Pacific Biomedical Research Center, Honolulu, HawaiiI. George Miller, M.D.
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.Harry L. T. Mobley, Ph.D.
University of Maryland School of Medicine, BaltimoreE. Richard Moxon, M.D.
University of Oxford, EnglandGary J. Nabel, M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Md.Carl F. Nathan, M.D.
Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, N.Y.Frederick S. Nolte, Ph.D.
Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Ga.Sjur Olsnes, M.D.
The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, NorwayIan M. Orme, Ph.D.
Colorado State University, Fort CollinsL. Nicholas Ornston, Ph.D.
Yale University, New Haven, Conn.Timothy G. Palzkill, Ph.D.
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.Margaret A. Riley, Ph.D.
Yale University, New Haven, Conn.Jon E. Rosenblatt, M.D.
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.Susan R. Ross, Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania, PhiladelphiaEdward G. Ruby, Ph.D.
University of Hawaii, HonoluluJoan V. Ruderman, Ph.D.
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.Clarence A. Ryan, Ph.D.
Washington State University, PullmanMax Salfinger, M.D.
New York State Department of Health, AlbanyThomas M. Schmidt, Ph.D.
Michigan State University, East LansingGisela Storz, Ph.D.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, Md.Gerald W. Tannock, Ph.D.
University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandRobert V. Tauxe, M.D., M.P.H.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga.Robert A. Weisberg, Ph.D.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, Md.Gail L. Woods, M.D.
Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pa.The ASM Underrepresented Members Committee
ASM is proud to have a diverse group of members, though many may not be adequately represented within the fabric of the Society. In an effort to ensure that ASM effectively reflects all segments of its membership, the Membership Board established the Underrepresented Members Committee (UMC).
The mission of the UMC is to promote full and complete participation of all of ASM’s diverse members at all levels of the Society’s activities, with a specific focus on racial and ethnic minority members. The UMC serves as a major resource to the Society to ensure that the underrepresented groups are recognized as valuable members and are included in all aspects of ASM. George Counts, UMC chair, explains, "the UMC is devoted to examining and addressing impediments that in the past may have served to facilitate the underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities throughout the leadership of the Society, including as conference speakers and awards recipients."
In 2000, the UMC contacted the approximately 1,200 persons who identified themselves as racial and ethnic minorities for the purpose of encouraging increased participation as volunteers. Each member was asked to submit a volunteer data form along with a copy of a resume or curriculum vitae. The committee reviewed 57 forms and sent forward 146 recommendations, involving 51 members.
As a result, 39 members (76.5%) were newly selected to serve on committees, boards, and as ad hoc ASM journal reviewers. Counts is encouraged at this success, and is optimistic that additional minority volunteers will become actively involved with the Society. He says that next steps will include expanding the pool of minority scientists willing to become more involved and to continually urge their serious consideration by leaders of the Society. He reflects, "In time, there should not be a need for a committee to address a problem of underrepresentation of any group within ASM."
ASM Salutes Its 50-Year Members
ASM proudly recognizes those members of the Society for whom 2002 marks the 50th year of their membership. The participation and achievements of the following members have helped to make ASM one of the most prominent and prestigious scientific societies in the world. The Society thanks its 50-year members and is pleased to acknowledge their significant contributions to ASM and to science.
Richard S. Berk
S. Gaylen Bradley
Robert M. Chanock
R. Reece Corey
Edwin A. Dawes
Elliot C. Dick
Herman C. Ellinghausen, Jr.
Roland L. Girolami
Helene N. Guttman
Gerhard J. Haas
William Hann
Lawrence I. Hochstein
Henry D. Isenberg
Roy M. Johnson
Peter Jurtshuk, Jr.
Frank A. Kapral
Norma A. Kinsel
Micah I. Krichevsky
Leonard F. Laskowski
James S. Legg
Joseph Lein
Pamela Low
Charles R. Manclark
Rafael J. Martinez
William S. Miller
Robert T. O'Brien
General Peter G. Olenchuk
Leo W. Parks
Josephine L. Pyle
Bernard P. Sagik
Theodore Sall
George R. Savage
Saul A. Schepartz
Bernard F. Shema
Nathan L. Shipkowitz
Ellen M. Simon
Jane S. Smoot
Bruce A. D. Stocker
Byron S. Tepper
Robert R. Wagner
James M. Williams
Ralph S. Wolfe
Norris P. Wood
Charles Yanofsky
David S. Yohn
Awards
Ridgway The National Water Research Institute (NWRI) awarded the ninth Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize for excellence in water research to microbiologist Harry F. Ridgway on 20 June 2002. Ridgway is Research Director of the Water Resources & Technology Department at the Orange County Water District in Fountain Valley, Calif.
Ridgway has pioneered significant studies on membrane technology, particularly the discovery of the crucial role that microorganisms play in influencing the structure, function, and effectiveness of membrane materials used in purifying water and wastewater (the process known as biofouling). He has also developed new methodologies to observe, measure, and quantify bacterial attachment to membranes under controlled conditions in the laboratory. Currently, Ridgway is building a database to determine the ability of membranes to reject organic contaminants of concern, such as pharmaceuticals, insecticides, and disinfection byproducts. His overall goal is to develop models that will help the water industry identify membranes that can remove target organic contaminants.
NWRI established the Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize in 1993 to award outstanding research scientists who have implemented better water science research and technology. The prize, which includes a gold medallion and $50,000 award, is presented annually.
Sidney Pestka, professor and chairman of the Department of Molecular Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, received the National Medal of Technology in June. President George W. Bush presented this award for scientific and technologic accomplishment to four individuals and one corporate recipient during a White House ceremony in June.
Pestka was cited "for pioneering achievements that led to the development of the biotechnology industry, to the first recombinant interferons for the treatment of cancers, leukemias, viral diseases such as hepatitis B and C, and multiple sclerosis; to fundamental technologies leading to other biotherapeutics; and for basic scientific discoveries in chemistry, biochemistry, genetic engineering, and molecular biology from protein biosynthesis to receptors and cell signaling."
The National Medal of Technology, which is the nation’s highest achievement for technology, was established by Congress in 1980 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce. It recognizes men and women who embody the spirit of American innovation and have advanced the nation’s global competitiveness. The medal recognizes groundbreaking contributions that help commercialize technologies, create jobs, improve productivity, and stimulate the nation’s growth and development.
Deceased Members
Noel T. Keen died on 18 April 2002. He was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, on 13 August 1940. He took his B.S. in botany and his M.S. in plant pathology at Iowa State University, Ames. He received his Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of Wisconsin with Paul Williams as his major professor in 1968. He joined the faculty of the University of California, Riverside in 1968, and remained there for his entire career.
Noel hit the ground running in Riverside. He reorganized the department's graduate course in physiology of plant disease, bringing it up to date and getting excellent reviews from students and faculty. From the beginning, Noel was interested in the chemical and biochemical characterization of the host-parasite interaction. His early contributions were in characterizing the toxic complex produced by Verticillium alboatrum, which was responsible for the wilting symptoms in cotton, and in characterizing an endopolygalacturonase from the fungus. He entered the phytoalexin field with his work on the phytoalexin from soybeans induced by Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae. This became a major theme of his research. He was the first to coin the term "elicitor" for the chemicals that are produced by a pathogen and recognized by the host resulting in the initiating of host defense responses, such as the production of phytoalexins. When he was thwarted in his quest to biochemically characterize the gene-for-gene hypothesis in soybean by the complex genetics of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae, he switched to another system where he could utilize the genetics of the bacterial pathogen of soybean, Pseudomonas glycinia. This was an example of Noel's ability to keep at the forefront of developing fields. His switch to the bacterial pathogen opened the door to the newly developing techniques of molecular biology and led to his characterization of the single gene involved in production of the elicitors from Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato, unprecedented secondary metabolites, the syringolides. The syringolides are responsible for the hypersensitive response of soybeans carrying the resistance gene Rpg4. His work with Pseudomonas also led to the cloning of pectate lyase genes and their insertion into Escherichia coli, converting a nonpathogen into a soft-rotting plant pathogen. Further collaborative work with X-ray crystallographers led to the discovery that the pectate lyase structure contained a new folding of the protein, the first discovered since the description of the alpha-helix and beta-sheets. The unique tertiary structure discovery has again opened new doors to study the active site of these enzymes and led to the finding by others of the generality of the new folding termed the "parallel beta-helix."
Noel’s work has influenced the direction of numerous research laboratories worldwide. The total package of his publications, ideas, discussions, and leadership is already recognized as being a major contribution in bringing biotechnology to agriculture. A large part of Noel’s success was hard work; he regularly worked nights and weekends during his whole career. If he was in town, he could be found sitting on his lab stool at the research bench. In addition, he had from the beginning an unusual ability to grasp the important ideas of biology, chemistry, and biochemistry and to use that understanding to design innovative approaches in plant pathology.
Noel became a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society in 1991 and received numerous honors and lectureships, among which were the Ruth Allen Award, American Phytopathological Society, 1995; the USDA Secretary's Honor Award for Personal and Professional Excellence, 1996; the Award of Merit, CSREES, USDA, 1996; William and Sue Johnson Endowed Chair in Molecular Plant Pathology, 1997; Elected Member, National Academy of Sciences, USA, 1997; Distinguished Lecturer Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 1998. He was a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 1997. He served as Vice President from 1999-2000, President-Elect from 2000-2001, and was serving as President of the American Phytopathological Society 2001-2002 at the time of his death.
Noel served on the editorial boards of Phytopathology, Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, the Journal of Bacteriology, the Journal of Phytopathology, Annual Review of Phytopathology, Plant Physiology, and Applied and Environmental Microbiology. In addition, he served on several scientific advisory boards.
Those who have visited or been a part of the UCR Plant Pathology Department over the years will remember many events where Noel was usually an organizer and always a participant. He was always at the center of departmental social activities.
Noel passed away at 61 years of age and at the pinnacle of his career. He will be missed. His wife, Diane Ill Keen, survives him. The Noel Keen Memorial Fund, UCR Foundation, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521 has been set up in his honor.
Noel Keen will always be remembered as a friend, a colleague, and a man who dedicated his life to science.
Jim Sims
University of California, Riverside
DeCicco Benedict T. (Dick) DeCicco, Professor in the Department of Biology at the Catholic University of America, died 14 December 2001 after an 11-year battle with multiple myeloma. In the midst of his suffering, Dick always radiated an incredible determination to lead his life to the fullest. He inspired so many so often during the past several years.
He was born in Rahway, N.J., in 1938, the son of Ralph and Anna (Mancuso) DeCicco. He earned degrees in biology (B.A., 1960) and microbiology (M.S., 1962 and Ph.D., 1964) at Rutgers University. He moved to Bowie, Md., to join the Department of Biology at the Catholic University of America as an assistant professor in 1964. He was chair of the Department of Biology from 1973 to 1977 and 1986 to 1992. He was promoted to the rank of ordinary professor in 1978.
DeCicco was known for his research and expertise in the areas of environmental microbiology and the physiology of gram-negative nonfermenters. He authored and coauthored over 50 scholarly publications. He was mentor to many M.S. and Ph.D. students. He was devoted to teaching microbiology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He was regarded as an exemplary teacher by both students and colleagues.
In 1984 he founded the Microbial Applications Laboratory at Catholic University, a cooperative research venture with the pharmaceutical and health care industry to study the role of microorganisms in the contamination of health care and pharmaceutical products. Through his leadership, work in the Microbial Applications Laboratory on preservative efficacy and efficacy testing led to general principles applicable to a wide range of specific product and process improvements. He directed the Microbial Applications Laboratory until his death.
DeCicco served on numerous committees dealing with budget and planning issues at the Catholic University. He was awarded the Academic Vice President’s Service Excellence Award in 1989. He was instrumental in obtaining and acted as the first director of a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Undergraduate Program Grant in 1994. He served as Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies from August 1998 to June 1999. He stepped down as Vice Provost because of his health.
DeCicco received numerous honors and awards throughout his career. He was named the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education District of Columbia Professor of the year in 1989. He was also one of seven national silver medalists in the council’s annual competition that year, which considered more than 500 professors from across the United States and Canada.
His many associations included service as a grant reviewer for NASA, membership on the Consumer Product and Quality Assurance Committee of ASM, and the Technical Evaluation Committee of the D.C. Office of Water Resources and Technology of the Department of the Interior.
He served on many D.C. and National ASM committees and was Vice President of the Washington, D.C. Branch from 1982 to 1983 and President from 1983 to 1984. He was Councilor to the National ASM from the D.C. Branch from 1984 to 1986.
DeCicco is survived by his wife of 41 years, Dori; his children and their spouses, Richard DeCicco, Lauren DeCicco and Robert Dowgiallo, Michael and Donita DeCicco, Daniel and Kara DeCicco, Anthony and Pamela DeCicco, Kathleen DeCicco; his brother and sister-in-law, Ralph and Rosalie DeCicco; and his grandchildren Luca, Noah, Angelo, Liam, and Jakob.
DeCicco will be sorely missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and former students. He gave much of himself to others.
In his honor, donations may be sent to the Benedict T. DeCicco Graduate Research Fellowship Fund, Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, c/o Donna Pauletti.
International Activities
XXXIII National Congress of Microbiology, Mexican Association of Microbiology
The ASM International Committee (IC), as part of its focus on Latin America, is developing a pilot project to enhance microbiology education in Mexico. For this and other reasons, the IC is intensifying its activities in this Latin American neighbor that lies just south of the United States. Last year the president of ASM, Martha Howe, and a representative of the IC, Lily Schuermann, director of International Activities, participated in the Mexican Congress of Microbiology, and this year Abigail Salyers, current president of ASM, and Stephen A. Lerner, chair of the IC, represented ASM and participated in the Congress once again. This year's Congress was held in Monterrey, Mexico, on 5-10 April 2002.
Lerner chaired a symposium on "The Future of Microbiology in Mexico," and also spoke in the session on the program of educational enhancement under development by the IC in conjunction with the Mexican Association of Microbiology. Later, Salyers chaired a symposium on “Antibiotic Resistance.” She led off the session with a talk on “New Perspectives on Antibiotic Resistance;” this was followed by Lerner’s talk on “Evolution of ß-Lactamases." Participation in the Congress allowed Salyers and Lerner to discuss collaboration of our two organizations with the leadership of the Mexican Association and to meet with two ASM Ambassadors in Mexico, Edmundo Calva and Juan Carlos Tinoco, regarding their activities on behalf of ASM and their views of future projects.
2002 UNESCO-ASM Travel Award Recipients
The recipients of the 2002 UNESCO-ASM Travel Awards have been announced. The UNESCO-ASM Travel Awards are presented to provide the opportunity for promising young scientists from throughout the world to travel to another country or a distant site to obtain expertise in a method, procedure, or specific topic, but are not intended to provide travel to obtain a degree at the host institution. The awards of $4,000 per recipient are equally funded by UNESCO and ASM. This year’s recipients are:
Aderounmu Adeola Omotayo Aderounmu, Tropical Diseases Research Laboratory, Dept. of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Lagos College of Medicine, Idiaraba, Lagos, Nigeria. Host: Professor Klavs Berzins, Dept. of Immunology, Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. Award: $4,000. Project: Assessment and purification of natural materials for use against drug-sensitive and -resistant malaria parasites, formulation and development of new and inexpensive culture system for Plasmodium falciparum, studies on the immunity of parasites using mice models.
Denis Karuhize Byarugaba, Dept. of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Host: David Smith and Joan Kelly, CABI Bioscience U.K. Centre, Egham, United Kingdom. Award: $4,000. Project: Produce an inventory of fungi isolated in East Africa; train in microbial identification, preservation, and collection management; and assist in the development of a proposal to establish the East Africa Biological Resource Centre.
De Keya De, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Calcutta, India. Host: Dr. Ronald K. Taylor, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, N.H. Award: $4,000. Project: Further molecular characterization of rough strains of Vibrio cholerae with special emphasis on comparative expression of TCP in smooth and rough strains and their regulation and comparative contribution to colonization in an animal model system.
Anjan Debnath, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Calcutta, India. Host: Dr. James H. McKerrow, Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco. Award: $4,000. Project: To learn the use of genomics, proteomics, and functional proteomics technologies to identify drug targets in protozoan organisms and the development of small-molecule protease inhibitors targeting Entamoeba histolytica, trypanosomes, and helminth parasites.
Hoque Kazi Mirajul Hoque, National Institiute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Calcutta, India. Host: James W. Putney, Jr., National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH), Research Triangle Park, N.C. Award: $4,000. Project: NAG-ST and capacitative calcium entry. Molecular events leading to diarrhea mediated by the bacterial toxin.
Krajaejun Theerapong Krajaejun, Dept. of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Host: Leonel Mendoza, M.Sc., Ph.D., Dept of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing. Award: $4,000. Project: Training in preparation of antigens to serologically diagnose pythiosis, including immunodiffusion, ELISA, and western blot analyses. Training in detection of Pythium insidiosum hyphae from infected tissues.
Kuruvilla Sam Kuruvilla, Centre for Biotechnology, SPIC Science Foundation, Guindy, Chennai, India. Host: Dr. Rajini Rao, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md. Award: $4,000. Project: To learn yeast molecular biology and membrane biology protocols.
Ousman Secka, MRC Laboratories, Fajara, Banjul, Gambia. Host: Dr. Douglas E. Berg, Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, Mo. Award: $4,000. Project: To obtain data on unstudied H. pylori and to learn new molecular genetic methods.
For more information on the UNESCO-ASM Travel Awards, please contact ASM's Department of International & Minority Activities by e-mail at international@asmusa.org or by fax at 202-942-9328.
ASM Branches and Divisions on the Web
The following ASM Branches have established numerous websites
Email: webmaster@asmusa.org