Barbara Iglewski
American microbiologist (1938–2023)
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Through Gram-negative bacteria
Early life and education
Barbara Hotham Iglewski was born on March 23, 1938, in Freeport, Pennsylvania. Her father was a country physician and she would accompany him on house calls during her youth. She attended Allegheny College, earning a B.S. in biology in 1960. She then studied microbiology at Pennsylvania State University, earning her M.S. in 1962 and her Ph.D. in 1964.
Iglewski instructed at Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine before she was hired as a professor by the University of Rochester Medical Center. She was the first woman to chair a department at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, heading the department of microbiology and immunology from 1986 to 2009. From 1995 to 1998 she was the vice provost for research and graduate education, and the first female to hold this position.
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Research
Iglewski's research centered on the pathogenesis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium. She discovered that a type I quorum sensing system globally regulated virulence in a human pathogen. She discovered exoenzymes and toxins including exo S, a type 3 secreted Pseudomonas toxin. She was well known for describing the molecular mechanism of action of Pseudomonas toxin A.
Her work with Peter Greenberg demonstrated that gram-negative bacteria produce AHL signals that control processes such as biofilm formation in neighbouring cells of the same species.
From 2007, she studied the regulation of proteases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with a focus on biofilm development and virulence, with the support of a MERIT Award from the NIH.
Iglewski published more than 150 research papers and book chapters. She held seven patents. She was recognized by the Institute for Scientific Information as a highly cited researcher.
Personal life and death
Iglewski lived in Gorham, New York. She had two sons, Eric (Connie) Iglewski and Bill Iglewski.
Barbara Iglewski died on December 10, 2023, at the age of 85.