Announcements

We are delighted to announce the winner of the TropicalMed 2022 Young Investigator Award—Dr. Haley Adcox, from Virginia Commonwealth University, USA. Additionally, we would like to thank the award committee for their excellent work in the hard task of selecting a winner from such excellent candidates, as well as everyone who participated in this award and helped to make it a huge success.

Dr. Haley Adcox completed her Ph.D. on microbiology and immunology and has an outstanding publication record, currently comprising 14 publications in peer-reviewed international journals with several more in progress. Her Scopus Scientific Citations number is 172, and her Hirsch index is 7. Dr. Adcox is a rising star in the field of obligate intracellular pathogens.

The following is an interview with Dr. Haley Adcox:

1. Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little bit about your fields of interest?

Hi! My name is Haley Adcox, and I am currently a post-doctoral fellow in Dr. Jason Carlyon’s lab at Virginia Commonwealth University, and this summer I will be transitioning into Dr. Isabelle Derré’s lab at the University of Virginia. I have been conducting research on bacteria since my undergraduate studies at Kenyon College, but my interest in host–pathogen interactions began after college when I was a Research Assistant/Lab Manager in Dr. John Gunn’s lab at the Ohio State University. Here, my research was focused on Salmonella Typhimurium serovar Typhi and how it forms biofilms to persist on gallstones. This introduction into the competition between host and pathogen stimulated my desire to pursue a doctoral degree. Since entering Dr. Carlyon’s lab, I have worked on a subset of ankyrin repeat effector proteins secreted by Orientia tsutsugamushi, a causative agent of the potentially fatal disease scrub typhus. By virtue of containing ankyrin repeats, eukaryotic-like protein motifs, these effectors can mimic eukaryotic proteins and infiltrate host–cell pathways. During my next post-doctoral position, I will be working on Inc effectors employed by the vacuolar-adapted pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis. The effectors are secreted by the bacterium, embed in the vacuolar membrane, and face the cytosolic milieu to mediate contact with other host–cell membranes. My Ph.D. and postdoctoral experience influenced my desire to pursue a career as a Principal Investigator into the versatility of bacterial effector proteins and their capacity to hijack host–cell resources, interfere in host–cell pathways, and manipulate post-translational modifications.

2. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?

I think finessing genetic manipulation will be an interesting topic in the future of the obligate intracellular bacteria field. While there are methods available, they are often laborious or unsuccessful, and in the case of Orientia, they are still under development. Large-scale omics will continue to build on existing foundations and provide an opportunity to enhance our understanding of bacterial requirements. I am also hopeful that in the future there will be further collaborations between specialties, whether these involve cell biology, epidemiology, pathology, immunology, or biochemistry, just to name a few. There is so much that we can learn from each other that will enhance our scientific acumen.

3. Can you briefly describe the key to a happy laboratory life?

Maintaining a balance of comfortability and support with that of professionalism and constructive criticism is paramount for the success of a lab. Collaboration and communication within and outside the lab improve one’s ability to discuss their science and formulate questions about others’ research. Science is challenging enough as it is; negativity in the lab environment does not need to add to that. Positivity is key. To quote Randy Pausch from The Last Lecture, “I know you're smart. But everyone here is smart. Smart isn't enough. The kind of people I want on my research team are those who will help everyone feel happy to be here”.

4. What is your opinion of the Open Access model of publishing?

I think science builds on collaboration and awareness. There have been several times where my non-science friends have discussed a topic that would have been enriched if they had access to publications. In restricting access to scientific reports and studies, we limit the public’s ability to confirm or contradict claims that they hear from news outlets or other media sources. For these reasons, I support Open Access publishing.

5. As the winner of this award, is there anything you would like to express?

I am flattered to have been considered and selected for this award. There are so many young investigators that will take the field by storm and push our understanding of viral, bacterial, vector, and host–cell biology to help limit and prevent diseases. To the next generation, cheers!