E-Insight

June 2006

Dr. Herbert Schweizer Elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology

Dr. Herbert Schweizer, a Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, has been elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology. As a newly elected Fellow, he was recognized at the Academy Fellows Luncheon and Meeting during the 106^th American Society for Microbiology's General Meeting in Orlando, Fla., held May 21-25. During the luncheon, the American Academy of Microbiology welcomed 54 new Fellows, elected through a highly selective, peer-reviewed process in recognition of their scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology.

There are now just over 2,000 Fellows representing 41 countries and all subspecialties of microbiology, including basic and applied research, teaching, public health, industry and government service.

"We congratulate Dr. Schweizer on his election as a Fellow to the American Academy of Microbiology," said Dr. Lance Perryman. "This is an honor that reflects the importance of his research work in pathogen resistance to antibacterials, as well as new work focused on select agents as part of the Regional Center of Excellence, or RCE, for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases."

Dr. Schweizer, who joined Colorado State University in 1995, focuses his research on new drug targets and mechanisms underlying drug resistance, and understanding resistance mechanisms, most notably efflux pumps. Clinical bacterial isolates often are characterized by their resistance to established antibiotics, Dr. Schweizer noted, and an understanding of the underlying resistance mechanisms has important implications for therapy and the drug discovery process.

Dr. Schweizer's research team is working to define specific metabolic pathways, the key enzymes involved and their regulation at the molecular level. Biochemical and genetic studies are being employed to study the molecular architecture and regulation of efflux pumps in P. aeruginosa and related bacteria. To support these studies, the research team is developing new genetic tools for pathogenic bacteria, especially those of interest because of their potential use as biowarfare agents, including Burkholderia pseudomallei and B. mallei, which cause the diseases melioidosis and glanders, respectively.

The mission of the American Academy of Microbiology is to recognize scientific excellence and provide microbiological expertise in the service of science and the public. The Academy is the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology, founded in 1899, the world's oldest and largest single biological sciences membership organization with more than 45,000 members.