BioMed Central Blog

Celebrating the life and work of Mary Mandels

Biotechnology for Biofuels has published a thematic series in recognition of the life and work of Mary Mandels.

Dr Mandels, who passed away in February 2008, spearheaded the US Army’s national bioconversion studies for four decades, and was an early proponent of efforts to convert biomass to useful products such as sugars and bio-ethanol for eventual use in fuel and chemical production.

With the renewed advent and funding of biomass to biofuels initiatives, Dr Mandels’ work with cellulase enzymes and the microbes that produce them remains relevant to current research.

The series features an Editorial and Obituary from friends and colleagues who worked in the field that Dr Mandels was instrumental in pioneering.

Following this is a republication of a seminal article by Mary Mandels and her collaborator Elwyn T. Reese, first published in 1976. The paper describes an assay for measuring cellulose activity - a method widely adopted at the time that is still used in research.

Also included is a previously unpublished commentary article written by Dr Mandels herself, “Reflections on the United States Military”, a poignant commentary, written in 1987, on joint ventures between the military and scientific establishments that has relevance today.

To conclude the ‘first wave’ of publications in the series, Christian Kubicek and colleagues both review recent developments in cellulase biosynthesis and, in outlining strategies for the improvement of cellulase production, look to the future of the field that Dr Mandels helped to establish.

Further articles from authors working in the field will be added to the series over the coming months.

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Posted by Ciaran O'Neill at 11:39    Comments (0)