Washington, DC – May 15, 2007—Jorge L. Benach, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases, at Stony Brook University, has been elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology.
Dr. Benach is the co-discoverer of the Lyme disease spirochete. He pioneered many new concepts in Lyme disease, such as the complement-independent nature of bactericidal antibodies, the role of plasminogen in the pathogenesis of Lyme disease, and the etiology of Lyme neuroborreliosis. He received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University.
Fellows of the American Academy of Microbiology are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-reviewed process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. There are now over 2,500 Fellows representing all subspecialties of microbiology, including basic and applied research, teaching, public health, industry, and government service.
For more information regarding Dr. Benach, election to Fellowship, or specific programs of the American Academy of Microbiology, contact Peggy McNult at 202-942-9225 or via email at pmcnult@asmusa.org.
