listen to this articleStony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology has been selected as a “Milestones in Microbiology” site. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) recognized the sector’s advances in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases worldwide.
“It is an honor for the Department of Microbiology and Immunology to be named a Milestone in Microbiology site and recognizes the impact the Department has had through its groundbreaking discoveries,” said David, Head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.・Tanassi said in last week’s magazine. News release regarding designation.
“This honor not only reinforces the significant contributions of former and current faculty, students, and staff, but also increases the department and university’s profile to the broader scientific community,” Tanassi added. .
The department is the second on Long Island to earn this recognition, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has also held this designation since 2012. There are 20 other organizations that have received this award.
“ASM is pleased that Stony Brook University’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology will be recognized as a ‘Milestones in Microbiology’ home for its significant contributions to microbial science,” said Theresa Koehler, ASM President. he said in a news release.
“The university’s pioneering research into the causative agents of human disease has had far-reaching impacts on science and society as a whole,” Professor Köhler added.
The award was given for a variety of accomplishments, according to a news release. These achievements include the “groundbreaking discovery” by the department’s founding chair, Joseph Cates, that “viruses may be able to package the enzymes necessary for their replication, and vaccinia It was demonstrated for the first time that a virus encapsulates a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase enzyme, laying the foundation for targeting viral polymerases as a broad therapeutic strategy. ”
Another achievement was the discovery by Jorge Benaja and colleagues of Borrelia burgdorferi, the “causative agent of Lyme disease,” which, “along with its isolation from patients and the characterization of its environmental reservoir,” advanced antibiotic therapy. I let it happen.
Further achievements were the “first description of de novo chemical biochemical synthesis of a virus (poliovirus) in the absence of a natural template” and “co-discovery of the human receptor for poliovirus” by Eckard Wimmer. . This marked the beginning of microbial total synthesis in the absence of natural templates, enabling new strategies in viral vaccine development. ”
Department leaders said the recognition was an inspiration.
“As a faculty member for decades, it has been exciting to witness the emergence of ideas and discoveries whose results have had such profound impact,” Distinguished Professor Carol Carter said in a news release. “Over the years, I have worked with wonderful colleagues, students, and support staff.”
