ASM News

Education Board SetsDirection of the Future

“I would like to see that we offer microbiologystudents the option to pursue science teaching.We should be promoting science teaching as acareer,” said Neil Baker,professor of microbiol-ogy at Ohio State Univer-sity and chair of the ASMEducation Board, duringa 2-day planning retreatin Washington, D.C. Hecontinued, “I’d like to seethe Board working withundergraduate studentsmore; we should be moreinvolved with the ASMstudent chapters and recruit students to be in-volved in science teaching and outreach. Stu-dents often enjoy working with younger stu-dents and the community. This volunteer workcould be part of a service-learning program or astudent chapter activity.”

During a September meeting, the members ofthe Education Board developed a plan to workmore closely with elementary through highschool teachers to improve science education inthe nation’s schools. “If we all redirected ourefforts toward elementary and secondary educa-tion, then we could have a significant impact onschools,” said Kelly Cowan, dean and chief ex-ecutive officer of the Middletown campus ofMiami University in Oxford, Ohio, and chair ofthe Committee on Undergraduate Education.Along with Mary Sanchez-Lanier, associatedean of the College of Science at WashingtonState University in Pullman and chair of theASM Committee on Minority Education, Kellyproposed jointly to direct funds to establishundergraduate teaching fellowships. Maryadded, “These teaching fellowships could bepart of a senior capstone course or independentproject that allows microbiology students, espe-cially students from underrepresented minority

groups, a hands-on experience in kindergartenthrough high school (K-12) education.” ShelleyPayne, professor of molecular genetics and mi-crobiology at the University of Texas at Austinand chair of the Committee on Graduate andPostdoctoral Education, recommended a teach-ing postdoctoral fellowship program, saying“Postdocs, especially at research-intensive uni-versities and labs, have little opportunity to getinto the classroom and teach. We need to offer aprogram where postdocs spend time not onlydoing research but also developing and teachinga full course, writing a teaching statement, andultimately developing a research project that isappropriate for undergraduate students andtransportable to an undergraduate institution.”

The Board recognized that it could not do thiswork alone; it requires training and empoweringmembers including student members, forgingpartnerships with ASM Branches, universityprograms, and national teacher organizations,and utilizing technological advances to dissemi-nate resources rapidly and effectively. Thus, an-other major initiative of the Board will be todevelop partners, both individual members andorganizations, to achieve this outreach work.

Along with improving elementary and sec-ondary education, the Board recognized theneed to support ASM members, especially thoseinvolved in teaching and mentoring microbiol-ogy students. The Committee on UndergraduateEducation plans to continue its year-round res-idency program on evidence-based teaching,called the ASM Scholars-in-Residence Program(ASMSiR). “The ASMSiR Program fosters sig-nificant, long-lasting learning for all students;enhances the practice and profession of teach-ing; and brings to faculty members’ work aseducators the recognition and reward affordedto work in research and discovery. Now in itssecond year, the ASMSiR has trained more than30 microbiology educators about conductingresearch about student learning in microbiol-ogy, and the results are being published in theASM Journal of Microbiology and Biology Ed-

Baker

ASM

New

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ucation (formerly Microbiology Educa-tion Journal),” said Cowan. She added,“The pressure on colleges and universi-ties from accrediting bodies to respondto questions of accountability with re-gard to student learning has made thisprogram very popular.”

During the meeting, the Board ap-proved the renaming of the ASMCommittee on Pre-College Educationto the ASM Committee on K-12 Edu-cation. “K-12 signifies that we arecommitted to educating all studentsfrom kindergarten through highschool, and not only students who arecollege-bound. Our commitment is todevelop a scientifically informed pub-lic by working with all kindergartenthrough high school teachers,” saysMark Gallo, professor of biology atNiagara University in New York andchair of the Committee.

The Board reaffirmed its charge topromote access, excellence, profes-sional development, and advancementin microbiology education, serving stu-dents, postdoctoral scientists, and edu-cators. For educators, the Board offersan annual teaching conference, in-depth training through faculty insti-tutes and residencies, and Web-basedresources through MicrobeLibrary, includingthe Journal of Microbiology and Biology Edu-cation and curriculum and visual materials. Forstudents and postdoctoral scientists, the Boardoffers research fellowships, in-depth training ingrantsmanship, presentations and career plan-ning during the ASM Kadner Institute, and stu-dent presentations at the Annual BiomedicalResearch Conference for Minority Students(ABRCMS). For more information about theASM Education Board programs, visit http://www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid�369.

Strengthening the Relationshipbetween ASM and WHO

Through several joint initiatives, ASM and theWorld Health Organization (WHO) have devel-oped a strong and effective relationship thatutilizes the significant resources of both organi-zations. ASM is currently working with WHO/Lyon through the ASM International Com-

mittee (IC) on the “Capacity Building ofMicrobiology Laboratories in Aceh Province,Indonesia” program in response to the 2004tsunami that devastated the region. In addition,ASM members at WHO serve on various ASMreview committees and the newly formed Inter-national Laboratory Capacity Building Com-mittee (LABCAP). ASM is also the official NGOpartner for the Pan American Health Organiza-tion (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americasof WHO.

Recently, ASM has taken steps to expand itsrelationship with the WHO. Under the auspicesof the IC, a delegation was assembled from ASMto convene with leadership from seven WHOtechnical units to identify additional areas ofcompatibility between the two entities. The firstof these meetings took place at WHO/Genevaon 30 June and at WHO/Lyon on 3 July. Thefocus of discussion was ways in which ASM cancontribute to development of sustainable micro-

Academy Report Covers Win Awards

Two American Academy of Microbiology report covers, both designedby the Pensare Design Group, Washington, D.C., have received awardsin graphic design competitions. The cover of the Marine DiversityReport received an American Graphic Design Award for excellence incommunication and graphic design. The contest is sponsored byGraphic Design USA. The Academy Vaccine Report cover received aBronze Award in the 2006 Summit Creative Awards competition. Thecompetition included entries from 26 countries and was judged by aninternational panel of communications and design professionals.

Volume 1, Number 12, 2006 / Microbe Y 581

biology laboratory capacity in developing coun-tries.

During the Geneva meeting, Keiji Fukada, Co-ordinator of the Global Influenza Program, stated“As we all agree, sustainability is accomplishedthrough training. And although funding is avail-able, it is difficult to find quality people for influ-enza laboratory training. With members posi-tioned all over the world, ASM can help WHO inthis area.” International capacity for quality assur-ance, care, and diagnostics were identified as areasof expertise that could be provided by ASM.

Mike Ryan, Director, Epidemic and Pan-demic Alert and Response (EPR) attended themeeting on behalf of Margaret Chan, WHOAssistant Director-General, CommunicableDiseases. Ryan identified biosafety and bio-security as another potential area of collabo-ration between ASM and WHO. “Many coun-tries do not have any programs on biosafety,”said Ryan.

Leopold Blanc, Coordinator, TB Strategyand Operations (TBS), Stop TB Department,and Diane Bennett, Coordinator, HIV DrugResistance Surveillance, also proposed ASM/WHO collaborations. As a result of thesemeetings, a detailed action plan was outlinedand Lily Schuermann, ASM Director of Inter-national Affairs, has organized a follow-upconference in November.

In a recent letter, members of the ASMInternational Committee and the Public andScientific Affairs Board identified the lack oflaboratory capacity in many countries as theAchilles heel of public health efforts to combat

infectious diseases (R. Berkelman, G. Cas-sell, S. Specter, M. Hamburg, and K. Klug-man, Clin. Infect. Dis. 42:1503–1504,2006). “WHO is the organization with theinternational legitimacy to drive an agendafor development of laboratory capacity byMinistries of Health globally, and we at theInternational Committee of ASM are com-mitted to working with them to achievethese goals,” says Keith Klugman, Chair ofthe IC.

International EducationCommittee: New Strategic Planfor 2006–2009

The International Education Committee (IEC),formerly the International Microbiological Educa-tion Committee (IMEC), held a strategic planningretreat from 26–27 August 2006 at ASM Head-quarters in Washington, D.C. Participants trav-eled from across theUnited States and abroadto develop a new strategicplan for 2006–2009 thatreflects the current educa-tional and training needsof the international micro-biological community.Newly appointed IECChair Linda Kenney ledthe retreat with the partic-ipation of 16 IEC mem-bers, board liaisons, committee chairs, officers,and ASM staff. The diverse background of attend-ees, representing seven countries including SouthAfrica, India, Mexico, Argentina, Panama, China,and Nigeria, ensure the international microbiolog-ical community is effectively and appropriatelyserved.

As a standing committee of the InternationalCommittee (IC), the IEC is charged with accom-plishing Goal One of the IC Strategic Plan: “Pro-mote the microbiological sciences worldwide byproviding a diverse array of educational pro-gram and services.” Through the developmentand successful implementation of internationalfellowship and professorship programs, travelawards, online mentoring programs, translatornetworks, and other initiatives, the IEC has builta strong foundation for disseminating microbi-

Left to right: Lily Schuermann, ASM Director, International Affairs; Keith Klugman, ASMChair, IC; Stanley Maloy, ASM Past-President; Steven Specter, ASM Chair, LABCAP; CliffHouston,ASM President-Elect.

Kenney

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ological information and skills. However, asstated by Kenney, “this effort has been largelyconfined to Latin America and India. The chal-lenge presented to the current IEC is to expandcurrent programs to new focus areas, as well asto develop new programs that address the addi-tional needs of the international community.”Of principal importance during the retreat wasidentifying ways to integrate the efforts of theother standing committees of the IC, the Inter-national Membership Committee (IMC), andInternational Laboratory Capacity BuildingCommittee (LABCAP) to create a more efficientand effective strategy.

Participants focused on three key componentsin order to develop a cogent strategic plan. Thefirst component was regional. It was determinedthat the IEC should continue to build on pastsuccesses in Latin America and expand all pro-grams to new areas of focus in Africa and Asia.The second component focused on partnershipswhere factors such as funding and sustainabilityof programs were deliberated. Potential partner-ships were categorized into two categories, in-ternal partners and external partners. Internally,an effective strategy for collaboration betweenthe IEC, the IMC, and LABCAP was outlinedwith the involvement of IMC Chair EdmundoCalva and LABCAP Chair Steven Specter. Ac-cording to Calva, “The IMC and IEC must findway to combine their efforts. For example, edu-cational efforts should be channeled throughASM’s international Ambassadors where wehave well-connected and enthusiastic represen-tatives on the ground to effectively adapt exist-ing programs to the needs of each country.” Theactivities of the LABCAP committee to supportlaboratory capacity in Africa also lend them-selves to the development of educationalprograms on that continent. A list of externalpartners consisting of government agencies,foundations and private sector companies was

identified based on member contacts and prob-ability of enthusiastic cooperation. The third dis-cussion focused on the specific type of activitiesand disciplines the IEC should be promoting.

The intensive two-day retreat produced thefollowing Mission Statement and StrategicGoals: “The mission of the International Educa-tion Committee (IEC) is to promote and facili-tate the exchange of microbiological and publichealth education and skills internationally.”The new IEC strategic goals intended to accom-plish this mission are: (i) provide high-qualityeducation and training programs to microbiolo-gists and institutions at all levels; (ii) promoteexcellence in the microbiological sciencesthrough scholarly exchange; (iii) promote theprofessional development of international mi-crobiologists through the ASM website; (iv) en-sure the expansion and sustainability of ASMeducational programs worldwide; and (v) en-hance visibility of IEC programs through pub-licity and marketing.

Keith Klugman, Chair of the InternationalCommittee, was delighted by the commitmentof the participants to integrating their efforts insupport of the IC goals. “We have an historicopportunity to expand the influence of ASMinto developing countries where the burden ofinfectious disease is greatest, and capacity to dealwith microbiological issues is severely limited.”

The full plan can be found on the Interna-tional Education Committee page of the ASMwebsite at www.asm.org/International/index.asp?bid�16322

Linda J. Kenney

Linda J. Kenney is an Associate Professor at theUniversity of Illinois at Chicago and Chair of theASM IEC.

Todd Peterson

Todd Peterson is a Manager, International Affairs atASM.

Volume 1, Number 12, 2006 / Microbe Y 583

Education Board

New Resources Available in the

MicrobeLibrary

The MicrobeLibrary (www.microbeLibrary.org) is pleased to announce thepublication of new resources in the Atlas-Protocol, Curriculum, Focus on Microbi-ology Education, and Visual Collections.Viewing the curriculum activities, FOME,and the Protocols requires a subscriptionof $25.00 for ASM Members and $50.00for non-members. Visit the ASM eStore(www.estore.asm.org) to subscribe.

New Atlas-Protocol Projects

CAMP Testby Anne Hanson, University of Maine,Orono

ELISAby Samuel Fan, Bradley University, Peoria,Ill.

LB and LA Media and Their Usesby Min-Ken Liao, Furman University,Greenville, S.C., and Maria MacWilliams,University of Wisconsin—Parkside

Mannitol Salt Agarby Patricia Shields and Anne Tsang, Uni-versity of Maryland—College Park

Plaque Assayby Diana Sue Katz, Rodgers State Univer-sity, Claremore, Okla., and Marie Panec,Moorpark College, Moorpark, Calif.

Spread Plateby Kathryn Wise, Minnesota State Univer-sity, Moorhead

New Curriculum Activities

A Laboratory Exercise Exploring Biotech-nology via Creation of a Transgenic Ara-bidopsis thaliana Plant Using a Floral DipMethodby Sabrina Kramer, Anne Y. Tsang, CarenChang, and Ann Smith, University ofMaryland—College Park

A Laboratory Project Investigating Pheno-typic Diversity Among Soilborne Strepto-mycetesby Kim Mogen, University of Wisconsin—River Falls, and Linda Kinkel, Universityof Minnesota, St. Paul

An In-Class Growth Curve Critical Think-ing/Active Learning Activity

by Donald Breakwell, Brigham YoungUniversity, Provo, Utah; Sue Merkel, Cor-nell University, Ithaca, N.Y.; Janice Hag-gart, North Dakota State University,Fargo; and Susan Pfiffner, University ofTennessee, Knoxville

Exploring and Enriching for Nitrogen Cy-cling Microbes: Nitrogen Fixation, Am-monia Oxidizing Lithotrophy, and Anaer-obic Nitrate Reductionby Sarah Boomer, Western Oregon Uni-versity, Monmouth

Enumeration and Identification of Entericand Pseudomonad Proteobacteria fromAgriculture-Impacted Rivers, and an Ex-ploration of Fecal Viruses and Protozoaby Sarah Boomer, Western Oregon Uni-versity, Monmouth

Functional Genomics: Using Reverse Ge-netics to Test Bioinformatics Predictionsby Brad Goodner, Hiram College, Hiram,Ohio

Table of Contents For Focus on Microbi-ology Education, Fall Issue 2006

FEATURES

Addressing Current Issues in InfectiousDiseases via Case-Based Learning UsingMolecular Biology SimulationsKaren Klyczek and Mark Bergland, Uni-versity of Wisconsin—River Falls, andMary Lundeberg, Michigan State Univer-sity, East Lansing

A Bioinformatics Problem Space to StudyClostridium difficile OutbreakRuth Gyure, Western Connecticut StateUniversity, Danbury, Conn.

Using Misinformation to Get Students toBe Rational SkepticsJeffrey Pommerville, Glendale Commu-nity College, Glendale, Ariz.

NUTS AND BOLTS

“Constructing Knowledge” Actively inBacterial Genetics Using Synthetic Biol-ogyCarlos Rios-Velazquez, University ofPuerto Rico at Mayaguez.

MEETINGS

ASMCUE 2006: Recombination of Ideasin Teaching MicrobiologyDonald Breakwell, Brigham Young Uni-

versity, Provo, Utah, and Jackie Reynolds,Richland College, Dallas, Tex.

JOURNAL WATCHJennifer A. Herzog, Herkimer CountyCommunity College, Herkimer, N.Y.

WEB WATCHGary Kaiser, Community College of Balti-more County, Catonsville, Md.

New Visual Resources

Animation of Peptidoglycan Synthesis inGram-Positive Bacteria and Inhibition byAntibioticsJuliet Spencer and Stephanie Wong, Uni-versity of San Francisco, Calif.

Bacterial Identification by the AnalyticalProfile Index System—Analytical ProfileIndex E20 for Enterobacteriaceaeby Hussein Shoeb, Cairo University,Cairo, Egypt

Baculovirus Cytopathic Effect in Sf9 Cellsby Patrick Cummings, John Hopkins Uni-versity, Baltimore and Rockville, Md.

Brain Cells Grown in Vitroby Patrick Cummings, John Hopkins Uni-versity, Baltimore and Rockville, Md.

Gram-Stained Fusobacteriumby Gustavo Gini, University Del Valle deGuatemala

Immunofluorescence for Herpes SimplexVirus Antibodyby Patrick Cummings, Kristina Obom,Maria DeBernardi, and Garry Brooker,John Hopkins University, Baltimore andRockville, Md.

Primary Chicken Embryo Liver Cells inCultureby Patrick Cummings, John Hopkins Uni-versity, Baltimore and Rockville, Md.

Transfection of CHO cells with Green Flu-orescent Protein Plasmidby Patrick Cummings, John Hopkins Uni-versity, Baltimore and Rockville, Md.

International Affairs

2004 International Fellowship for

Latin America

In 2003, Maria Florencia Delgado was adoctoral student in the Department of Bi-ological Sciences at the University of Bue-nos Aires in Argentina. While a student,

584 Y Microbe / Volume 1, Number 12, 2006

she was very active in the biological com-munity, teaching Cell Biology and Histol-ogy for the Department of Biological Sci-ences at the School of Pharmacy andBiochemistry. In 2003, Delgado submittedthe winning application and was chosenfrom over a hundred candidates to workfor the Infant Foundation, a joint projectbetween the Johns Hopkins BloombergSchool of Public Health and the Universityof Buenos Aires. Her project involved un-derstanding the mechanisms of antibody-mediated protection in respiratory syncy-tial virus (RSV). Through this program,she met Fernando Polack, an AssistantProfessor at the Bloomberg School incharge of the joint research. Her work atthe time stemmed from Polack’s observa-tion on the pathogenesis of enhanced syn-cytial virus disease.

Delgado subsequently applied for theASM International Fellowship for LatinAmerica with the aim of working withPolack and the Infant Foundation in Balti-more. While on the fellowship in Balti-more, Delgado and Polak cooperated onthe development of a safe vaccine againstRSV. Because fatal complications occurredin the initial version of the vaccine in 1967,no RSV vaccine has been licensed since.Delgado and Polack worked to develop asafe version of the RSV immunization thatused a purified virus and RSV proteins.Delgado calls her experience with ASM a“great opportunity” and encourages otheryoung scientists with an interest in aca-demia to apply. As a result of her Fellow-ship work, Delgado published an articlewith Polack entitled “Involvement of An-tibody; Complement and Cellular Immu-nity in the Pathogenesis of Enhanced Res-piratory Syncytial Virus Disease” inExpert Review of Vaccines in December2004.

The next deadline for the ASM Interna-tional Fellowship for Latin America is 15April 2007 for fellowships taking place inthe fall or winter of 2007. For programinformation and the 2007 applicationform, please visit http://www.asm.org/International/index.asp?bid�2778.

Second International Symposium

on Hospital Acquired Infections

The Ministry of Health in Bolivia has iden-tified the spread of health care-acquiredinfections and infection control in hospi-

tals as major national issues. Bolivia, oneof the poorest countries in the SouthAmerica, experiences elevated rates of in-fant mortality due, in part, to these infec-tions—16 per 1,000 births, compared to9–12 per 1,000 births which the PanAmerican Health Organization (PAHO)quotes as typical for developing countries.

A Pan American Health and EducationFoundation (PAHEF) grant to the Na-tional Institute of Health Laboratories(INLASA) is supporting a two-year projectto improve and expand infection preven-tion and control initiatives throughout Bo-livia. As part of this effort, the SecondInternational Symposium on Hospital Ac-quired Infections was held in La Paz, Bo-livia, from 23–25 August 2006. PAHEFtrustee and ASM member Luis Jaureguipresented computer equipment for a na-tional coordinated network of infectioncontrol and microbiology laboratory unitsto INLASA’s Director, Walter Agreda,and the head of INLASA’s National Ref-erence Bacteriology Laboratory, ChristianTrigroso. ASM International Committeemember Janet Hindler presented a talk on“Laboratory Detection and Reporting ofAntimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococ-cus aureus.”

In addition to physicians and otherhealth care workers, clinical microbiolo-gists from throughout Bolivia attended thesymposium. These included representa-tives from 25 hospitals participating in theClinical Microbiology and Hospital Ac-quired Infections Network, sponsored byPAHEF. Along with a lecture component,there were several workshops designed toupdate clinical microbiologists in labora-tory techniques for identification and anti-microbial susceptibility testing of bacteriacommonly isolated from diagnostic speci-mens. During the workshops, Hindler en-gaged the microbiologists in identifyingseveral potential areas of collaborationwhere ASM might assist in improving clin-ical microbiology practices in Bolivia.

One area that Hindler identified as arole for ASM would be to provide instruc-tion on the importance of the preanalyticaland postanalytical components of testing.This would include developing guidelinesfor determining what tests to perform,what specimens to obtain, how to ensurespecimen quality when an infection is sus-pected, and how to effectively communi-

cate results. The INLASA directors andHindler felt that a focus on blood cultureswould be an appropriate place to begin,with the expectation that the programcould be developed from that startingpoint.

A comprehensive monograph detailingcurrent laboratory identification and sus-ceptibility testing methods, problems withresistance, clinical presentation of infec-tions, and suggested guidelines for antimi-crobial therapy and for prevention andcontrol of nosocomial infections caused bystaphylococci and enterococci is beingpublished by INLASA and PAHEF for freedistribution to Bolivian physicians andclinical microbiologists. This work aims tofacilitate the dialogue between clinical mi-crobiologists, practicing physicians, andinfection control practitioners faced withthe mutual goal of correctly identifying,treating and preventing health care associ-ated infections. A follow-up InternationalSymposium is planned for October 2007.

Janet F. Hindler

ASM International Committee memberUCLA Medical Center

Third International Minicourse

The third and final minicourse organizedunder the Caribbean Basin Research andTraining Network on Infectious Diseaseprogram “Host Parasite Interactions andVector Biology” was held 3–15 September2006 in Caracas, Venezuela, in conjunc-tion with the Venezuelan Institute of Sci-entific Research (IVIC). Funded by the El-lison Medical Foundation, the programseeks to build regional capacity to addressinfectious disease concerns by providingtraining to young scientists from the Ca-ribbean Basin in modern theoretical andpractical approaches to infectious diseaseresearch.

The objective of this course was to bet-ter understand the host parasite interac-tions of vector-borne parasitic diseases,and in particular, those which are relevantto public health problems in the region.Prominent international scientists were in-vited to lecture in situ or by teleconferenceon different topics to illustrate the use ofgenetic tools, molecular epidemiology,bioinformatics, and geographical informa-tion systems (GIS) in the research of host-parasite-vector interactions. Local scien-

Volume 1, Number 12, 2006 / Microbe Y 585

tists gave essential overviews of theepidemiology, pathology, and therapeuticinterventions as related to parasitic dis-eases (e.g., leishmaniasis, Chagas’ disease,and malaria). The laboratory sections ofthe course were run through a joint effortof IVIC, the Institute of Advances Studies(IDEA), and the Central University of Ven-ezuela (UCV). Methods covered includedapplication of molecular markers to diag-nosis and detection of drug-resistant para-sites, microarray technology, real-timePCR, and confocal microscopy. Studentsalso received computer training in bioin-formatics and GIS as useful tools to under-stand the dynamic of parasitic diseases in atrip from genome to environment.

In order to further promote North-South collaboration, the following scien-tists from the United States, the UnitedKingdom, and Mexico concurred viavideoconferences: David Roos (Universityof Pennsylvania), Fotis Kafatos (ImperialCollege, U.K.), Rita Colwell (University ofMaryland), Stephen L. Hoffman (SanariaInc.), Tim Palmer (ECMWF, U.K.), andEdmundo Calva (UNAM, Mexico).

The students will be taking the knowl-edge and contacts acquired during thisminicourse back to the following coun-tries: Colombia (3), Cuba (1), Dominica(1), Guatemala (1), Panama (1), Trinidadand Tobago (2), and Venezuela (6). Mostwere Ph.D. students or active researchersin the field of parasitology. The overallfeedback on the course has been very pos-itive both regarding the lectures and labo-ratory activities. As follow-up to the mini-course, we will encourage students and

faculty to maintain the networkcreated during the two-week work-shop so that future collaborationscan be developed.

Membership

ASM Members Elected

to IOM

Eleven ASM members are amongthe 65 new members of the Instituteof Medicine (IOM) announced on12 October. With the addition ofthese members, the total activemembership of the IOM is now1,501. In addition, the Institutehonored five individuals by electionto foreign associate membership,

bringing the total members in thatcategory to 82. With another 68 membersholding emeritus status, the total IOMmembership is now 1,651.

The following ASM members areamong those elected in 2006.

Chi Van Dang, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hop-kins Family Professor of Oncology Re-search, professor of medicine, cell biology,oncology, and pathology, and vice deanfor research, Johns Hopkins UniversitySchool of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.

Stephen J. Elledge, Ph.D., investigator,Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Gre-gor Mendel Professor of Genetics and ofMedicine, department of genetics, Har-vard Medical School; and department ofmedicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospi-tal, Boston, Mass.

Gary R. Fleisher, M.D., Egan Family Foun-dation Professor of Pediatrics, HarvardMedical School, and pediatrician in chiefand chair, department of medicine, Chil-dren’s Hospital Boston, Boston, Mass.

Stephen P. Goff, Ph.D., investigator,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, andHiggins Professor of Biochemistry andMolecular Biophysics and professor of mi-crobiology, Columbia University MedicalCenter, New York City, N.Y.

Francisco Gonzalez-Scarano, M.D., pro-fessor and chair, department of neurology,School of Medicine, University of Pennsyl-vania, Philadelphia

Mitchell A. Lazar, M.D., Ph.D., Sylvan H.

Eisman Professor of Medicine; professorof genetics and chief, division of endocri-nology, diabetes, and metabolism; and di-rector, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity andMetabolism, School of Medicine, Univer-sity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Susan L. Lindquist, Ph.D., investigator,Howard Hughes Medical Institute; mem-ber, Whitehead Institute for BiomedicalResearch; and professor of biology, Mas-sachusetts Institute of Technology, Cam-bridge

James D. Marks, M.D., Ph.D., professorof anesthesia and pharmaceutical chemis-try, and chief of anesthesia, San FranciscoGeneral Hospital; and vice chair, depart-ment of anesthesia and perioperative med-icine, University of California, San Fran-cisco

Joan Massague, Ph.D, investigator,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, andAlfred P. Sloan Chair, cancer biology andgenetics program, Memorial Sloan-Ketter-ing Cancer Center, New York City, N.Y.

Walter A. Orenstein, M.D., professor ofmedicine and director, program for vac-cine policy and development, departmentof medicine, Emory University, Atlanta,Ga.

Guy Hughes Palmer, D.V.M., Ph.D.,D.A.C.V.P., professor, department of vet-erinary microbiology and pathology,Washington State University, Pullman

Awards

Thomas W. Jeffries, a research microbiol-ogist at the USDA Forest Service ForestProducts Laboratory in Madison, Wis.,has received the 2006 Chief’s HonorAward for Technology Transfer. Theaward was presented in a recent Washing-ton ceremony by Dale Bosworth, chief ofthe Forest Service, who cited Jeffries for his“exceptional creativity and determinationin the development and commercializationof technology for converting wood sugarsinto fuels and chemicals.”

Jeffries’ research has aimed at improv-ing the ability of yeast to ferment xylose, atype of sugar found in hardwoods and agri-cultural residues. Xylose is much more diffi-cult to break down than the sugar in cornstarch, which is currently widely used tomake ethanol. “The ability to make ethanol

Third International Minicourse participants. (Left toright) Xenon Serrano (Venezuela), Jinnay Rodriguez(Cuba), Claudia Machuca (Venezuela), Laura Grajeda(Guatemala), Rocio Cardenas (Colombia), Sue MinNathaniel (Trinidad), Luis Urena (Panama), CarlosMuskus (Colombia), Melvin Challenger (Domenica),Esther Durrego (Venezuela), Robinson Ramirez (Co-lombia), and Rhada Goseinn (Trinidad).

586 Y Microbe / Volume 1, Number 12, 2006

and other valuable chemicals from xylose isimportant for several reasons,” Jeffries says.“One, the plant-based fuels tend be to beclean, producing few if any pollutants orby-products, including greenhouse gases.Also, chemicals made from biomass are usu-ally biodegradable, unlike many petroleum-based chemicals.” Jeffries notes that there isenough available woody biomass to produce60 to 100 billion gallons of ethanol eachyear, which could significantly reduce thecountry’s dependence on foreign oil andother fossil fuels.

The USDA Forest Service Forest Prod-ucts Laboratory was established in 1910 inMadison, Wis., with the mission to con-serve and extend the country’s wood re-sources. Information is available at FPL’swebsite, www.fpl.fs.fed.us.

Arnold L. Demain, Research Fellow in Mi-crobial Biochemistry of the Research Insti-tute for Scientists Emeriti (R.I.S.E.) at DrewUniversity in Madison, N.J., won twoawards in 2006. In June, at the 10th Inter-national Symposium on the Genetics of In-dustrial Microorganisms, he was awardedthe Patocka Medal from the CzechoslovakSociety for Microbiology just before hisopening plenary lecture in Prague. In July, hewas presented the Charles Porter Awardfrom the Society for Industrial Microbiologyin Baltimore prior to his banquet addressthere. Demain continues his writing andconsulting work as well as continuing hisresearch at Drew University working withundergraduate students on antimicrobialsand antitumor agents.

E. Richard Stanley, Ph.D., professor andchair of developmental and molecularbiology at Albert Einstein College of Med-icine of Yeshiva University in Bronx, N.Y.,has been selected to receive the 2006 E.Donnall Thomas Prize, presented annuallyby the American Society of Hematology.

The Prize, estab-lished in 1992, rec-ognizes a researcherwhose ground-breaking work hascontributed greatlyto the field of hema-tology. In conjunc-tion with receivingthe honor, Stanleywill present the E.

Donnall Thomas Lecture at the AmericanSociety of Hematology’s annual meetingin December in Orlando, Fla.

A native of Australia, Stanley receivedhis bachelor’s degree from the Universityof Western Australia and his Ph.D. degreein medical biology from the University ofMelbourne. Stanley has been a member ofthe Einstein faculty since 1977. He wasappointed chair of developmental and mo-lecular biology and named the Renee andRobert A. Belfer Professor of Develop-mental Biology at Einstein in 1987.

Stanley’s research has concentrated onthe biology and action of the growth fac-tor colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1).He isolated and identified CSF-1 as theprimary regulator of tissue macrophageand osteoclast production. He defined itsreceptor, physiology, and roles in develop-ment and cancer. He identified and eluci-dated the function of several intracellularsignaling molecules that act downstreamof the CSF-1 receptor. He and his col-leagues established several mouse modelsto investigate the roles of CSF-1 and theCSF-1 receptor in development and dis-eases that include leukemia, solid tumors,osteoporosis, nephritis and atherosclero-sis. His studies also have furthered generalunderstanding of the role of growth fac-tors in regulation of cell proliferation, dif-ferentiation and function.

Deceased Member

Galen E. Jones, a nationally recognizedmarine microbiologist, died on 19 July2006. Jones received his A.B. and M.A. inbiology from Dartmouth College and Wil-liams College, respectively. He went on toreceive his Ph.D. in Microbiology fromRutgers University in 1956. After gradua-tion, Jones joined the faculty at the ScrippsInstitute of Oceanography as a researchmicrobiologist. He joined ASM in 1955.

Jones’s early work in the laboratory ofRobert Starkey at Rutgers University fo-cused on the fractionation of the stableisotopes of sulfur and the role of microor-ganisms in sulfur deposition. In a series ofpapers in 1956 and 1957, Jones, Starkey,and others reported in pioneering workthe effects of temperature on sulfur isotopefractionation by sulfate-reducing bacteria.Jones and Starkey (1957) also demon-strated the production of surface-active

agents by Thiobacillus thiooxidans in thewetting of elemental sulfur. After movingto Scripps in 1957, Jones worked with,among others, Holger Jannasch, evaluat-ing methods for enumerating bacteria inseawater.

In 1963, Jones accepted a tenure-trackposition in microbiology at Boston Uni-versity, and in 1966 he joined the facultyof The University of New Hampshire(UNH) as a full pProfessor for the remain-der of his career. At UNH, Jones super-vised the planning and construction of TheJackson Estuarine Laboratory, one of themost eminent estuarine laboratories in theUnited States. He served as the laborato-ry’s first director from 1966–1972 andthen again from 1984 until his retirementin 1991.

Jones was also active in the communitywherever he lived. While at Scripps, hewas recruited by Roger Revelle to helpgarner support in San Diego County tolaunch a branch of the University of Cali-fornia. In New Hampshire, he participatedin his community’s successful effort toblock the development of an oil off-load-ing platform and refinery on the NewHampshire coast. Jones served on numer-ous government and scientific special pan-els related to marine science, including theSanta Barbara Oil Spill Panel under theauspices of the Office of Science and Tech-nology (1969), and the Ocean ScienceCommittee for the National Academy ofSciences (1971), which produced a bookentitled “Marine Environmental Quality –Suggested Research Programs for Under-standing Man’s Effect on the Ocean.”

Jones and his wife Eleonore retired to LaJolla, Calif., in 1991. Jones was an out-standing mentor and colleague, and he waswell-known for his kindness and camara-derie. He loved the UNH Wildcat icehockey team and regularly shared his tick-ets with friends, staff, and graduate stu-dents. He leaves behind a large group offriends and admirers throughout theworld. Personally, I (J.S.) owe Dr. Jonesmany thanks for launching my career inmicrobiology as well as introducing me tomy wife of 18 years.

John Sanseverino

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Mark E. Hines

The University of Massachusetts, LowellStanley

Volume 1, Number 12, 2006 / Microbe Y 587

UC Davis ASM Student Chapter

“Picnic Day”

Last spring at the University of California,Davis, annual “Picnic Day,” the UC DavisASM Student Chapter presented a varietyof exhibits to demonstrate to visitors theintricacies of the microbial world. Since1912, Picnic Day has been organized bythe UC Davis student committee who havestrived to offer a vast array of exhibits,events and entertainment showcasing andcelebrating the richness of campus life andthe diverse achievements of UCD students,staff, and faculty.

Armed with inoculating loops, agarplates, a little creativity and a profoundknowledge of the microscopic world, themicrobiology students of UC Davis and theUC Davis ASM Student Chapter set out toentice and mystify the masses with displaysthat portray the fun, intrigue, and excite-ment that is microbiology. 2006 was the firstyear the microbiology exhibit was show-cased in the newly constructed $47.3 millionScience Laboratory Building The sophisti-cated machinery not only created an atmo-

sphere representative of today’s modern re-search laboratories, but allowed visitors toobserve microbial characteristics throughthe eyes of a researcher. To illustrate bacte-rial movement, the “Microbial Motility”station was equipped with two phase-con-trast microscopes. One featured wet mountsmade from liquid cultures of both Pseudo-monas and Escherichia coli to demonstratebacterial swimming, while the other fea-tured flagella stains of the two bacteria illus-trating both the polar and peritrichous ori-entation of their flagella, respectively.

To highlight the fact that microbe playmany roles other than that of harmfulpathogens, the “Human Microbes” dis-play stressed the importance of our naturalflora and its role in preventing harmfulbacterial growth, illustrating this conceptwith a handwashing experiment showingagar plates featuring the colonial growthof samples taken from washed and un-washed hands.

The interactive portions of the exhibitallowed partakers to share in and relate tothe experiences of a typical microbiologylaboratory student. A favorite among vis-

itors was the Gram stain station, inwhich participants made Gram stainsof bacteria collected from their mouthsand viewed the results under a micro-scope. Another exhibit favorite, espe-cially among our future microbiologists,was the “Tools of the Trade” stationwhich displayed the tools and culturemedia used for the selection, isolation,and purification of bacteria. This exhibitconveyed the message that survival ofmicroorganisms in the laboratory, aswell as in nature, depends on their abilityto grow under certain chemical andphysical conditions.

UCD microbiology graduate studentsKevin Holden and Kou-San Ju invited theCalifornia State University Chico StudentChapter of ASM to present the microbi-ology graduate program and its vast arrayof research opportunities. The participa-tion of CSU Chico in this annual eventallowed for bridge-building between thetwo ASM Student Chapters. Next year thegoal is to expand this invitation to otherStudent Chapters in the Northern Sacra-mento region.

588 Y Microbe / Volume 1, Number 12, 2006