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2010 General Meeting Award Laureates Print E-mail
The Committee on Awards is pleased to present part three of a three-part series on the 2010 General Meeting award laureates.  

Abbott-ASM Lifetime Achievement Award  

shapiroThe Abbott-ASM Lifetime Achievement Award is ASM's premier award for sustained contributions to the microbiological sciences. The 2010 award will be presented to Lucy Shapiro, Ph.D., Director, Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford University. "Shapiro is the leading figure in the field of the biology of bacteria," according to her nominator, Richard Losick, Ph.D., of Harvard University.  

Shapiro's three decades of work on Caulobacter crescentus has provided the most thorough understanding of the cell cycle in bacteria. Her research has shown that the cell is an integrated system in which its transcriptional circuitry is interwoven with the three-dimensional deployment of key regulatory and morphological proteins. By using the advanced technologies of cell biology, molecular genetics, genomic analyses, and molecular imaging of this bacterium, Shapiro and her coworkers made significant advances in understanding three fundamental problems-the complete genetic network that controls bacterial cell cycle progression; how a dividing cell can produce two progeny with different cell fates; and how subcellular structures are built at specific sites on the cell and at specific times in the cell cycle.  

Shapiro demonstrated that progression through the cell cycle requires the precise coordination and timing of multiple biochemical and morphological events, including DNA replication, DNA methylation, chromosome segregation, cytokinesis, and the biogenesis of polar organelles such as a stalk, a flagellum, and pili. Her work showed that each event occurs at a specific stage in the cell cycle and requires the expression and function of a discrete set of genes. The genome-wide transcriptional analysis carried out by her lab revealed fundamental rules for bacterial cell cycle control: the time of transcription of genes required for a given event occurs at the time of the execution of that event; genes encoding products that function together as molecular complexes are coexpressed; and temporal control of multiprotein structure biogenesis is accomplished by temporal cascades of gene expression.  

Shapiro also discovered two master regulatory proteins, CtrA and GcrA, that are key components of a genetic circuit that drives cell cycle progression and asymmetric polar morphogenesis in C. crescentus. The circuit drives out-ofphase temporal and spatial oscillation of CtrA and GcrA concentrations producing time and space dependent transcriptional regulation of genes that implement the cell cycle process.  

Losick concludes, "Shapiro's research has yielded important insights and has created important paradigms for understanding the function of the cell as an integrated system in which the transcriptional circuitry of the cell is interwoven with the three-dimensional deployment of key regulatory and morphological proteins."  

ASM Founders Distinguished Service Award  

murrayAn ASM member since 1974, Patrick R. Murray, Ph.D., D(ABMM) is honored with the ASM Founders Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions and commitment to the ASM.Murray, Chief, Clinical Microbiology Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, has been an active ASM volunteer since 1981 and is honored for his years of service to multiple ASM programs. Nominated by Kimberle Chapin, M.D., D(ABMM), she writes, "Murray continues to be enthusiastically involved with the ASM and promotes that same energy to those around him to become involved in whatever capacity possible."  

Murray's most visible leadership role has been as the Editor-in-Chief of four consecutive editions of the Manual of Clinical Microbiology, a premier ASM publication. He also served for 15 years on the Editorial Board and as an Editor of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.  

Certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM) in 1978, Murray began volunteering to the Board in 1981. Over 13 years, Murray served in virtually every ABMM leadership position and ultimately was elected Board Chair in 1991.  

While juggling his commitments to ASM Publications and certification, he served as a member of the Academy's Board of Governors; of the General Meeting and ICAAC Program Committees; and of the Lab Capacity Building Committee, various award selection committees, and countless ad hoc committees of various ASM Boards. Murray was also Chair of the ASM Public and Scientific Affairs Board Committee on Laboratory Practices and Division C Chair and Councilor. "There is no questioning the breadth and depth of service that Murray has given to the ASM, but one must also recognize the outstanding quality of that service," remarked Michael A. Pfaller, M.D., a supporter of Murray's nomination.  

BD Award for Research in Clinical Microbiology  

dumlerJ. Stephen Dumler, M.D., Professor, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md., is the 2010 laureate of the BD Award for Research in Clinical Microbiology. Dumler's most important contributions have been to the field of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). He played the key roles in the discovery of HGA, identification of its etiologic agent, description of the disease, development of serological and molecular diagnostic methods, and investigation of the antimicrobial sensitivity of Anaplasma phagocytophilum.  

Dumler's nominator, David H. Walker, M.D., The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, writes, "His contributions to understanding HGA demonstrate the ideal effects that application of new clinical microbiologic methods can have on the fields of infectious diseases, epidemiology, ecology, and classification of the organisms." Dumler's work fulfilled Koch's postulates for A. phagocytophilum by infecting horses with organisms cultured from clinical cases and then recovering the agent from the infected animals. This work contributed to the identification of the tick vector lxodes scapularis which is the basis of our knowledge of HGA epidemiology.  

Dumler has also significantly contributed to our understanding of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. His work on these organisms include their initial discovery, phenotypic characterization, taxonomic classification, development of diagnostic tools that are the current laboratory standards, identification of the reservoirs and vector hosts of these pathogens, and characterization of the virulence factors and mechanisms of pathogenesis.  

Other tick-transmitted diseases have also been of interest to Dumler. He developed or evaluated numerous diagnostic tests for them, and they are now the standard for most laboratories. In closing Walker states, "His focus on tick-transmitted infections has made an indelible mark on clinical microbiology practice."  

D. C. White Research and Mentoring Award  

nealsonKnown as one of the founding fathers of geobiology, Kenneth H. Nealson, Ph.D., Wrigley Professor of Geobiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, has been selected the 2010 D. C. White Research and Mentoring Award laureate. This award honors D. C. White, who is known for his interdisciplinary scientific approach and for being a dedicated and inspiring mentor. Nealson's scientific research and mentoring activities embody the intent of the award.

Nealson's interdisciplinary approach is seen in his work between the geological and microbiological sciences. His geobiology work began in the 1970s with his research on the biochemistry of Fe and Mn in freshwater and marine environments. It led to the isolation and characterization of one of the first dissimilatory metal-reducing microbes, Shewanella oneidensis, that has developed into an important model environmental microorganism.  

A pioneer of the bioluminescence field, Nealson was the first to describe the phenomenon of quorum sensing in luminescent bacteria that were symbionts in various marine organisms. This work encompassed microbial ecology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics. "Clearly the breadth of Nealson's scientific contributions have had tremendous impact in the field of environmental microbiology and this impact has spread to other disciplines including the geological and space sciences," states his nominator, James K. Frederickson, Ph.D., Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash.  

Recently, Nealson and colleagues have researched the function of microbial fuel cells, carbon and nitrogen processing in cyanobacteria using nano-SIMS, the genomics of important metalbiotransforming microorganisms, and the mechanisms of microbial mineral formation and dissolution. They have made exciting discoveries leading to applications such as removal of toxic metals in water and electricity production. He is a key member of the astrobiology community and trusted NASA advisor. His creative thinking, scientific interests, and dedication to mentoring inspire the scientific community and students alike.  

Eli Lilly and Company Research Award  

bieniaszThe Eli Lilly and Company Research Award is ASM's oldest and most prestigious prize. Presented since 1936, it rewards fundamental research of unusual merit in microbiology or immunology by an individual on the threshold of his or her career. The 2010 award laureate is Paul D. Bieniasz, Ph.D., Staff Investigator, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, and Associate Professor and Head, Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, N.Y., and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute.  

Bieniasz received his Ph.D. from the Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine, University of London, United Kingdom, and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University, Durham, N.C. He was recruited by the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in 1999. His earlier work included the characterization of the TRIM5a restriction system in primate, rodent, and human cells, and its overlap with cyclophilin A effects on virus replication. He also worked on the so-called L-domains and their interaction with the ESCRT system for enveloped virus budding, as well as the identification of the site and route of virus assembly and release at the cell surface. Bieniasz, in collaboration with his wife Theodora Hatziioannou, generated a virus containing parts of the simian immunodeficiency virus and the human immunodeficiency virus that replicates well in monkeys. Stephen P. Goff, Ph.D., Columbia University, New York, N.Y., and a supporter of Bieniasz, remarked "This is a major breakthrough that will facilitate study of vaccines and drugs in a primate model."  

Bienasz's most recent and exciting work is his identification of the gene he calls "tetherin." A newly identified antiviral molecule, tetherin is expressed on the surface of cells and blocks the release of freshly assembled viral particles. This is a novel mechanism by which hosts can defend themselves against viruses. It appears that the tetherin protein is an active component of the interferoninduced innate immune response. It was known that the block was antagonized by Vpu. It was Bienasz's dissection of how the absence of Vpu causes retention of new HIV-1 particles on the surface of interferon-treated cells that lead to the discovery of tetherin. His nominator, David D. Ho, M.D., Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, writes, "This piece of work represents an outstanding combination of experimentation and deduction to bring new insight into a previously mysterious area of virus biology."  

Maurice Hilleman/Merck Award  

katzMaurice R. Hilleman is known for his work on the development of vaccines that have saved the lives of millions throughout the world. The Maurice Hilleman/Merck Award was established in 2009 to honor Dr. Hilleman and others for major contributions to pathogenesis, vaccine discovery, vaccine development, and/ or control of vaccine-preventable diseases. The 2010 Maurice Hilleman/Merck Award laureate is Samuel L. Katz, M.D., Wilburt C. Davison Professor Emeritus, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C. Katz earned his medical degree from Harvard University and was a Research Fellow in Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Medical Center, Boston, under John F. Enders. While working with Enders, Katz developed the attenuated measles virus and developed it into the live vaccine used today worldwide. Katz has also been involved in vaccine development studies related to vaccinia, polio, rubella, influenza, pertussis, HIV, and others.  

Long recognized as a leading authority on vaccine research and development, Katz has worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Institute of Medicine, and the World Health Organization in planning and organizing efforts for vaccine development and disease prevention throughout the world. He chaired the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Committee on Issues and Priorities for New Vaccine Development for the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council Committee on Development of a Polio Antiviral and its Potential Role in Global Poliomyelitis Eradication, and countless other committees. "Katz has been a thought leader and prime mover in pediatric educational and research programs in over 30 countries," states his nominator, Barton F. Haynes, M.D., Duke University. Katz also chaired the Department of Pediatrics at Duke from 1968 to 1990.  

Procter & Gamble Award for Applied and Environmental Microbiology  

harwoodInternationally recognized for her discovery and characterization of the genes and enzymes in the pathway used for photosynthetic bacteria for the degradation of lignin components, Caroline S. Harwood, Ph.D., Gerald and Lyn Grinstein Professor of Microbiology, The University of Washington, Seattle, has been selected the 2010 laureate of the Procter & Gamble Award for Applied and Environmental Microbiology.  

The pathway discovered by Harwood is known to be the major route used by all anaerobic organisms for the degradation of aromatic compounds. It plays a major role in the degradation of environmental pollutants and the redistribution of carbon in nature. Harwood led the genome sequencing effort on the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris and followed this with work on the development of a light-driven nitrogenase process for the production of hydrogen as a nonpolluting energy source. Additionally, her lab was the first to establish the critical role that chemotaxis plays in the aerobic biodegradation of a wide range of aromatic environmental pollutants.  

Currently, Harwood is working on biodegradation and signal transduction with the identification of a novel p-coumaroyl-homoserine lactone that accelerates the biodegradation of lignin compounds. "These exciting studies in quorum sensing open the door to the concept of interspecies signal transduction and place Harwood at the forefront of biodegradation, signal transduction, and biofuel research," according to her nominator, David T. Gibson, Ph.D., University of Iowa, Iowa City.  

Promega Biotechnology Research Award  

olsonMaynard V. Olson, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, has been selected to receive the 2010 Promega Biotechnology Research Award for his work in genomics.  

"No other individual has played a more important role in the conceptual, experimental, and policy decisions which led to perhaps the single greatest accomplishment in modern biology- the sequencing of the human genome," states Olson's nominator, Eugene W. Nester, Ph.D., University of Washington. Olson began his career in chemistry but his interests changed to molecular genetics after spending five years in the University of Washington's Genetics Department. He realized the study of complex genomes would require the separation of large DNA molecules. He developed the orthogonalfield- alternation gel electrophoresis technique which allows the separation of such molecules. Olson was also aware that cloning would be necessary to further characterize and manipulate these molecules. To accomplish this, he developed the YAC (yeast artificial chromosome) system. This system was immediately put to use in mapping the human genome and was also vital to the completion of the Caenorhabditis elegans map. It also led to the development of the BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) cloning system which in time became a key feature in the sequencing program of the human genome.  

The size and complexity of the human genome necessitated identification of positions of landmark sequences along the chromosome to guide the assembly of the entire sequence. Developments in PCR allowed him to devise the sequence-tagged site (STS) strategy. It located positive clones within a YAC library by screening for PCR gene target sequences. STS mapping quickly became the basis of human genome maps. He also developed the use of multiplecomplete- restriction digestion as a mapping technique which provides redundant coverage of the DNA to be mapped.  

Olson has also been a force in the development of genome policy. He formulated policies that pushed the international effort for sequencing the human genome and also contributed to the development of the plan of the National Research Council's sequencing effort.