About the prize

The bacterial cell cycle serves as a cornerstone of microbial physiology, influencing various fields ranging from host-microbe interactions to synthetic biology. Understanding this fundamental process not only sheds light on the intricate workings of bacterial cells but also holds implications for diverse areas such as agricultural microbiology, industrial biotechnology, human health, and the origins of life. In 2022, The Charles E. Helmstetter Prize was established by the collaborative efforts of Vic Norris, Arieh Zaritsky, and other specialists in the field, aiming to recognize and celebrate groundbreaking research that furthers our knowledge of bacterial cell cycle.

Novel Principles and Methods in Bacterial Cell Cycle Physiology: Celebrating the Charles E. Helmstetter Prize in 2022

Science and prizes: A case for rethinking the criteria for prizes in science (and for rewarding important discoveries in bacterial physiology)

About Charles E. Helmstetter

Charles E. Helmstetter's seminal contributions, spanning decades of dedicated research and innovation from the 1960s to the close of the 20th century, not only laid the groundwork for modern investigations into bacterial cell physiology, but also set a standard of excellence that continues to inspire researchers today. The Charles E. Helmstetter Prize stands as a testament to the profound impact of his pioneering work in advancing our understanding of the bacterial cell cycle.

Helmstetter, C. E., and D. J. Cummings. 1964. An improved method for selection of bacterial cells at division. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 82:608-610.

Cooper S., Helmstetter C. E. 1968. Chromosome replication and the division cycle of Escherichia coli B/r. J Mol Biol. 31:519–540.

Helmstetter C. E., Cooper S. 1968. DNA synthesis during the division cycle of rapidly growing Escherichia coli B/r. J Mol Biol. 1968; 31:507–518.

Helmstetter C. E., Krajewski C. A. 1982. Initiation of chromosome replication in dnaA and dnaC mutants of Escherichia coli B/r F. J Bacteriol. 149:685–693.

Advisory Board

Charles E. Helmstetter

Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, USA

Dr. Charles E. Helmstetter's seminal contributions, spanning decades of dedicated research and innovation from the 1960s to the close of the 20th century, not only laid the groundwork for modern investigations into bacterial cell physiology, but also set a standard of excellence that continues to inspire researchers today.

Terence Hwa

University of California San-Diego, USA

Dr. Terence Hwa is a bacterial physiologist. He established a number of bacterial growth laws and formulated a principle of proteomic resource allocation. These studies culminated in a theory of bacterial growth control, quantitatively predicting bacterial behaviors and gene expression for a variety of environmental and genetic perturbations.

Nancy Kleckner

Harvard University, USA

Dr. Nancy Kleckner is the Herchel Smith Professor of Molecular Biology at Harvard University. She compares and contrast dynamic chromosomal processes in E.coli and during mitosis and meiosis in eukaryotic cells including in budding yeast, filamentous fungi and mammalian cells. In the field of bacterial cell cycle, she is known by the discovery of SeqA, a protein involved in initiation of DNA replication.

Vic Norris

University of Rouen, France

Dr. Vic Norris is an emeritus professor in University of Rouen, France. He is known for discovering the molecular mechanisms that govern bacterial cellular processes, with a particular focus on signaling, stress response, and cellular organization.

Arieh Zaritsky

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

Dr. Arieh Zaritsky is an bacterial physiologist in Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. His research mainly focuses on the coupling chromosome replication and segregation with cell growth, division and shape. He is known for the discovery of 'transertion', a mechanism that links DNA and cell membrane.

Charles E. Helmstetter Prize

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