Malcolm Fraser elected fellow of American Academy of Microbiology | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Malcolm Fraser elected fellow of American Academy of Microbiology Malcolm Fraser elected fellow of American Academy of Microbiology Published: March 15, 2011 Author: Marissa Gebhard Malcolm J. Fraser Jr., professor of biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame, has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, an honorary leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology. The election recognizes Fraser’s long record of teaching and innovative research, especially in the fields of virology and transgenic engineering. Fraser discovered the piggyBac transposon, characterized its function and developed it as a “universal” transgenesis system. The system has been applied in many medically and economically important species that previously lacked efficient transformation systems, including the malaria-causing protozoan parasite, disease-carrying mosquitoes, silk moths, and grain beetles. The piggyBac system also is used as a tool for transgenesis in mouse and other mammalian systems, and is the preferred method for reprogramming mammalian cells, including human cells, to functional pluripotency, providing a viable alternative to embryonic stem cells. Among other things, the discovery could advance the search for a cure for neurodegenerative diseases such as Niemann-Pick Type C, a deadly genetic children’s disease. Fraser, who holds several patents, has received a prestigious Gates Grand Challenge award to develop innovative approaches to controlling mosquito-borne viral diseases. His recent work includes using piggyBac transformation to engineer novel dengue virus specific suppressor genes into mosquito cells. These suppressor genes act by specifically detecting an infecting dengue virus within the mosquito cell and inducing apoptotic cell death, thus averting transmission of the virus – an approach called “death upon infection.” He also has been instrumental in the recent successful development of transgenic silkworms that synthesize and spin artificial spider silks, providing not only a process for custom protein fiber engineering, but a means for commercial scale production of this important biomaterial as well. Fraser is a member of the Eck Institute for Global Health, which recognizes health as a fundamental human right and endeavors to promote research, training and service to advance health standards for all people, especially people in low-and middle-income countries, who are disproportionately impacted by preventable diseases. In addition to his innovative research, Fraser has enjoyed a long and successful teaching career. He has taught General Virology for 25 years and a course on AIDS for about 20 years, as well as participated in the teaching of the General Biology curriculum for the past three years. Fraser will be recognized as a fellow at the American Society for Microbiology’s General Meeting in New Orleans in May. Posted In: Research Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related October 05, 2022 Astrophysicists find evidence for the presence of the first stars October 04, 2022 NIH awards $4 million grant to psychologists researching suicide prevention September 29, 2022 Notre Dame, Ukrainian Catholic University launch three new research grants September 27, 2022 Notre Dame, Trinity College Dublin engineers join to advance novel treatment for cystic fibrosis September 22, 2022 Climate-prepared countries are losing ground, latest ND-GAIN index shows For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn