Citation | Professor Mark Achtman, Professor of Bacterial Population Genetics, Department of Microbiology and Infection, Warwick University
As a PhD student Mark Achtman initiated the genetic analysis of the F sex factor. He co-pioneered the development of bacterial population genetics and carried out influential studies characterising strains associated with epidemics of meningococcal disease in Africa. He has undertaken remarkable and highly innovative studies on the human gut pathogen, Helicobacter pylori, showing its ancient association with humans and the ability of genetic studies of this pathogen to complement linguistic and human genetic studies to trace the ancient migrations of its human host. Finally, he has carried out elegant and incisive genetic studies of Yersinia pestis to explore the origins and spread of plague pandemics.
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