Faculty member honored with prestigious Bergey’s Medal

Dr. Dan Brown, an associate professor of bacteriology in the college’s department of infectious diseases and immunology, has been honored by the Bergey’s Manual Trust with its prestigious Bergey’s Medal for his contributions to the field of bacteriology.

The Bergey Medal is awarded to individuals who have made significant lifetime contributions to bacterial systematics and to recognize the service of trustees. Brown has been an associate member of the trust since 2009.

Brown’s main research interest is the cellular microbiology of Mycoplasma spp. and related organisms with a focus on mechanisms and evolution of virulence. His work provides important support for diagnosis, treatment, and control of infectious diseases of humans, animals and plants. Brown also curates the Mollicutes Collection, the world’s largest and most comprehensive assortment of the smallest living cells yet discovered.

The Bergey’s Manual Trust is an international trust of microbial systematists devoted to serving the needs of the global community of microbial taxonomists interested in bacteria and archaea. The trust supports the Bergey’s Manual of Systemic Bacteriology, a seminal international reference work for bacterial taxonomy.

The trust also sponsors the Bergey’s International Society for Microbial Systematics, which awards the medal each year to a distinguished recipient in the field. The society promotes research in microbial systematics and enhances global communication among taxonomists who study bacteria and archaea. It also advocates for research efforts on microbial systematics and diversity.